Fully funded PhD position on Pragmatic Semantics for the Web of Data at VU University Amsterdam.

[Stefan Schlobach]

Fully funded PhD position (KRR group @ VU University Amsterdam)
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JOB OPENING: The Knowledge Representation and Reasoning group,
headed by Prof. Frank van Harmelen at the VU University Amsterdam
is looking for an enthusiastic PhD student for a 4 year full time
position on the project Pragmatic Semantics for the Web of Data funded
by the Dutch Science Foundation NWO.

WHAT WE OFFER: A world-class research team in semantic technologies,
a stimulating work environment, and life in a vibrant and multicultural
city that always ranks among the highest on the quality of life indexes.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR: A talented and motivated individual with a thorough
background in Computer Science and/or Artificial Intelligence. We are
particularly looking for students with experience with formal logical
methods, the ability to turn theories into practical programs and an
interest in validating their theories empirically in practical applications.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:  The Web of Data (WoD) connects data in a
similar way as the WWW connects documents. Atomic data-units
called resources are connected via typed links with arbitrary
resources anywhere on the Web, together forming a gigantic graph
of linked data. The meaning of the types can be fixed using
standardised ontology languages such as RDFS and OWL. The
semantics of these languages are based on logical paradigms that
were designed for small and hand-made knowledge bases, and come
with classical model-theory for assigning truth to formulas, and
entailment based on this truth. However, in highly complex,
dynamic, context-dependent, opinionated, contradictory and multi-
dimensional networks as the WoD, such classical semantics are
insufficient, as they are one-dimensional, often prone to logical
fallacies, and usually intractable.

On the Web in general, and the Web of Data in particular, every
bit of information is context-dependent, biased towards a
particular viewpoint, opinionated, dated, uncertain or vague. The
WoD is a market-place of ideas, not a database, and has to be
dealt with accordingly. We have to adapt the formal semantics of
existing formalisms to the new requirements. The goal of this
project is to develop such novel semantic paradigms for dealing
with the complex character of the Web of Data by integrating
market-place formalisms such as optimization of truth into the
semantics of the standard representation languages.

More information is available on: http://altsemantics.wordpress.com/

REQUIREMENTS
- A Master in Computer Science, Information Sciences, Artificial
   Intelligence, Logic or a related field
- Genuine interest in addressing real-world problems.

APPOINTMENT, SALARY, LOCATION: The appointment will be at the
VUA, starting at Sep 1 2012 at the earliest.
http://tinyurl.com/VU-personnel-guide contains a review of
working conditions at the VU.

INTERESTED? For more information please contact Dr. Stefan
Schlobach <k.s.schlobach@ vu.nl>. Please send your application
to Elly Lammers <elly.lammers at vu.nl> by email *before 15 June 2012*.