ARC PhD Scholarship in Knowledge Acquisition and Cognitive Modelling for Training SimulationsDivision of Information and Communication Sciences

Up to two postgraduate research scholarships funded by the ARC are available in the Department of Computing at Macquarie University commencing in 2006. The general research topic is virtual training environment for risk assessment and spans the fields of Cognitive Modelling / Knowledge Acquisition / Agent Based Systems for Human Learning / Virtual Reality and Game Technology. An indicative list of possible PhD research topics is the following:

• risk assessment and situated learning in virtual environments
• knowledge representation, acquisition and maintenance
• use of agent technology for human learning
• cognitive modelling, hand motions and sketching behaviour
• computer graphics, realistic representation of avatars in a game engine or virtual environment
• virtual reality engine development for the behavioural simulation of intelligent agents

Applicants should have completed, or expect to complete within the year, an Australian four-year undergraduate degree with at least Honours Second Class Division 1 in Computing or a related field, or equivalent qualifications.

The stipend for this award is currently at $19,231 plus a $5,000 top-up per annum tax exempt and the tenure is 3 years full time subject to satisfactory progress. Additional funds for research related expenditures are available from the Department. International applicants (excluding New Zealand) should note that this is a STIPEND ONLY award and you will be responsible for your full tuition, visa and compulsory overseas health cover costs.

Further information on the possible projects may be obtained by contacting A/Prof. Debbie Richards (richards@mq.edu.au).

Application forms, conditions for the award and further information on Australian Honours Equivalence are available from the Higher Degree Research Unit by phoning +61 (02) 9850 7277, by e-mailing pgschol@mq.edu.au or by downloading from www.ro.mq.edu.au/hdru/scholar.htm.