Phd Postion: Emergent Behavior and Responsibility in Mixed-traffic Interactions
Delft University of Technology
Deadline: April 4, 2021
https://www.tudelft.nl/over-tu-delft/werken-bij-tu-delft/vacatures/details?jobId=2155&jobTitle=PhD%20Position%20Emergent%20Behavior%20and%20Responsibility%20in%20Mixed-traffic%20Interactions
Challenge: Mitigate responsibility gaps associated with automated
vehicles (AVs)
Change: Understand emergent phenomena in multi-agent human-AV interactions
Impact: Provide concrete measures and models of emergent behaviors in
complex human-AV interactions
Job description
Modelling and analysis of human interactions in traffic is notoriously
complex. The introduction of automated vehicles (AVs) in mixed-traffic
interactions further increases this complexity and can contribute to emergent
behaviors leading to responsibility gaps, situations in which there is no human
who is responsible for avoiding undesirable consequences. Current research on
human-AV interactions focuses mainly on the interactions between one human and
one automated vehicle, however, the same computational approaches are unlikely
to scale up to multiple interacting heterogeneous agents.
You will study and model traffic interactions of multiple human-driven
and autonomous vehicles by combining experiments in a driving simulator,
cognitive modeling, and multi-agent simulations. You will develop novel
experimental approaches to study traffic interactions, and investigate how to
measure, model, and predict novel human and AV behaviors emerging in these
interactions. The cornerstone of this project is the notion of human
responsibility; you will develop ways of quantifying responsibility in the
context of mixed-traffic interactions and provide insights into how it can be
facilitated through interaction design. Your work will, first, contribute to a
better understanding of emergent effects and diffusion of responsibility due to
autonomous vehicle penetration, and second, provide guidelines for the
development of automated vehicles capable of handling complex, multi-agent
traffic interactions.
HERALD Lab is a Delft Artificial Intelligence Lab. Artificial
Intelligence, Data and Digitalisation are becoming increasingly important when
looking for answers to major scientific and societal challenges. In a DAI-lab,
experts in ‘the fundamentals of AI technology’ along with experts in ‘AI
challenges’ run a shared lab. As a PhD, you will work with at least two
academic members of staff and three other PhD candidates. In total TU Delft
will establish 24 DAI-Labs, where 48 Tenure Trackers and 96 PhD candidates will
have the opportunity to push the boundaries of science using AI. You will be a
member of the thriving DAI-Lab community that forsters cross-fertilization
between talents with different expertise and disciplines.
Each team is driven by research questions which arise from scientific and
societal challenges, and contribute to the development and execution of domain
specific education. You will receive a 5-year contract and will be deployed for
AI-related education for the usual teaching effort for PhD students in the
faculty plus an additional 20%. The extra year compared to the usual 4-year
contract accommodates the 20% additional AI, Data and Digitalisation education
related activities. All team members have many opportunities for
self-development.
HERALD Lab is led by Luca Laurenti and Arkady Zgonnikov. You will work at
the Department of Cognitive Robotics (Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and
Materials Engineering) and will closely collaborate with the Interactive
Intelligence group (Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer
Science). You will be supervised by Arkady Zgonnikov and Luciano Cavalcante
Siebert.
Requirements
Need to have:
An MSc degree in artificial intelligence, complex systems,
transportation, human factors, cognitive sciences, or related areas.
Open-mindedness and motivated interest in interdisciplinary research.
Affinity with teaching and supervising students.
Solid programming skills.
Ability to take initiative.
Proficient in verbal and written English.
In addition, experience with one or more of the following topics is
considered a plus: agent-based modeling, game-theoretic modeling, cognitive
modeling, experiments with human subjects, microscopic traffic simulation,
ethics of AI.
Conditions of employment
TU Delft offers DAI-Lab PhD-candidates a 5-year contract, with an
official go/no go progress assessment after one year. The duration of your
employment contract corresponds to the envisaged time of 5 years to complete
your Doctoral programme as agreed with you. As a DAI lab PhD candidate you will
be specifically deployed for AI-related education within the DAI labs
programme. Therefore the duration of your employment contract is 5 years
instead of a standard 4 year PhD contract. The extra year accommodates for the
additional teaching load with regard to AI, Data and Digitalization education
related activities.
Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour
Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2395 per month in the first
year to € 3217 in the fifth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in
the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an
inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic
staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing
your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.
The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on
health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution.
Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer
the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your
relocation.
TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As
creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft
is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It
delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address
challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital
society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial
problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we
embrace diversity and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of
Conduct). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to
have a positive impact on a global scale.
Challenge. Change. Impact!
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