27 March: fyi -- research, Cork

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Intelligent Optimisation in Energy-Efficient Smart Buildings

The Cork Constraint Computation Centre (4C), Cork, Ireland, has
funding for multiple positions in intelligent optimisation and
decision support in the operation of smart buildings for energy efficiency.

ITOBO (http://zuse.ucc.ie/itobo) is a multi-disciplinary,
multi-institution research project, funded by Science Foundation
Ireland, studying the ICT developments required for the next
generation of energy efficient buildings. The project scope includes
integrated information models for buildings, sensor/actuator
networks, control systems, and IT architectures.

4C's role in the project is to develop the decision support and
optimisation techniques needed for this environment, including
resource management in sensor networks, automated configuration of
smart buildings, user preference modelling, and collaborative
scheduling of maintenance operations.

The appointed researchers will work with Dr Ken Brown, Professor Gene
Freuder and Dr Nic Wilson, and will involve close collaboration with
the other ITOBO academic and industry partners. Successful candidates
should have a good Honours degree in Computer Science or a related
discipline. Experience of Sensor Networks, Artificial Intelligence,
User Modelling, or Optimisation techniques would be an advantage.

The Cork Constraint Computation Centre (http://www.4c.ucc.ie) at
University College Cork is one of the leading academic centres of
constraint programming research in the world. The centre has about 50
members, including academics, research staff and students, from over
a dozen countries and collaborates with researchers from many
countries. It has an Industry Associates Program (www.4c.ucc.ie/iap)
with over 50 members. 4C is part of the Department of Computer
Science, but is based in its own building in the centre of Cork City,
a short walk from the main UCC campus.


Currently, we have vacancies for:

* PhD studentships in the above areas, with possible immediate start.
Funding includes a stipend and academic fees.
* Research programmer, to implement practical solutions for
deployment within building control systems, and to participate in the
research program. The level of appointment will depend on experience.

For initial enquiries, please contact Ken Brown (k.brown at
cs.ucc.ie) and Nic Wilson (n.wilson at 4c.ucc.ie)

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