Immediate PostDoc Opening at USC

Applications are invited for a post-doctoral research position in the Computational Emotion Group at the University of Southern California's Institute for Creative Technologies (USC/ICT). The successful applicant is expected to perform research activities in evaluating computational models of human social and emotional behavior. USC/ICT is recognized leader in multidisciplinary research on virtual humans. These are artificially intelligent programs that control (typically graphical) bodies and that are able to communicate with people through both verbal and nonverbal means in emotionally evocative settings. Such systems would obviously transform educational and entertainment software. But more importantly, they are a methodological tool by which we can concretize psychological theories of emotion and social interaction, evaluate those theories in ways that are not feasible in traditional laboratory settings, including the formulation and testing of predictions about dynamic social and cognitive processes. One of the unique aspects of USC's research is its emphasis on the role of emotion in such social interactions. USC's Computational Emotion Group is widely recognized for its work on computational models of emotional phenomena and its multidisciplinary focus. The Computational Emotion Group is currently seeking a post-doctoral research with a background in emotion and social psychology (ideally with a background in appraisal theories or attribution theories). A strong background in statistics, data analysis and experimental design is required. Familiarity with cognitive modeling and artificial intelligence research is preferred. The position involves working closely with the co-directors of the group, Jonathan Gratch (www.ict.usc.edu/~gratch) and Stacy Marsella (www.isi.edu/~marsella). Minimum Qualifications: PhD Please mail applications directly to Jonathan Gratch (gratch@ict.usc.edu)