Ph.D. Student Position (AIO)
Evolutionary Computation for
Mixed Continuous-Discrete Optimization
See also:
---------
http://www.cwi.nl/jobs/phd-student-in-evolutionary-computation-mixed-continuous-discrete-optimization
Institute:
----------
Founded in 1946, the Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI,
http://www.cwi.nl) is the national research institute for
mathematics and computer science in the Netherlands. It is
located at the Science Park Amsterdam and is part of the
"Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research" (NWO).
The institute is internationally focused and renowned for
its high quality research. Over 160 researchers conduct
pioneering research and share their acquired knowledge
with society. More than 30 researchers are employed as
professors at universities. The institute has generated
twenty-one spin-off companies.
CWI maintains excellent relations with industry and the
academic world, both in the Netherlands as well as abroad.
After their research careers at CWI, an increasing number
of young staff members find employment in these sectors,
for example in spin-off companies that are based on
research results from CWI. Of course, library and
computing facilities are first-rate. CWI's non-scientific
services to its personnel include career planning,
training and courses, and assistance in finding housing.
CWI has a vacancy for a PhD Student in the area of
Evolutionary Computation, more specifically regarding
Estimation-of-Distribution Algorithms, with applications
in Energy Networks in the research group "Multi-agent and
Adaptive Computation" (SEN4,
http://www.cwi.nl/research-groups/multi-agent-and-adaptive-computation)
in cooperation with Utrecht University (Computer Science).
Project description:
--------------------
Mixed continuous-discrete problems are hard non-linear
optimization problems that occur in many application
fields and are particularly difficult to solve. The
variables of mixed type problems belong to different kinds
of search spaces, such as continuous (or real-valued)
variables, ordinal discrete (or integer-valued) variables,
and nominal discrete variables, where the values have no
order between them. The goal of this research project is
to extend a class of meta-heuristic search algorithms -
namely Estimation-of-Distribution Algorithms (EDAs), which
are a type of Evolutionary Algorithms (EAs) - such that
they can be applied to mixed continuous-discrete problems.
EDAs have shown great success in both the purely
continuous domain as well as in the purely discrete
domain. This project concerns the design of novel EDA
approaches for solving mixed continuous-discrete problems.
To ensure that the techniques that are developed are
applicable to complex real world problems, a difficult but
representative problem is targeted within this project,
namely the Transmission Network Expansion Planning (TNEP)
problem. This is an important problem in the real-world
application area of future electricity networks.
The TNEP problem consists of defining when and where new
circuits should be installed to serve, in an optimal way,
the growing electric energy market, subject to a set of
electrical, economic, financial, social and environmental
constraints. Proper allocation and expansion decisions are
essential for stable and efficient operation of the
networks, with many durable suppliers.
This project is funded by NWO, The Netherlands
Organisation for Scientific Research, and entails a
collaboration between CWI and Utrecht University. The PhD
student will therefore be supervised by scientists from
both Utrecht University and CWI, but the student will be
based at CWI.
Job description:
----------------
Within this project it is your job to develop EDAs for
solving mixed continuous-discrete optimization problems
with a particular interest on solving the TNEP problem.
Key tasks are combining existing EDAs for continuous and
discrete problem variables in various manners, designing
completely novel methods of tackling continuous and
discrete problem variables simultaneously employing
techniques from statistics and probability theory and the
incorporation of domain knowledge on electricity networks
in the form of constraints and local optimization.
Moreover, the PhD student will be expected to be able to
write their own computer code for these algorithms (in
e.g. C, C++, Java, Matlab, Python, ...) and to perform
experimental analyses (via e.g. batch processing).
Keywords are evolutionary algorithms,
estimation-of-distribution algorithms, black box
optimization, mixed continuous-discrete (or mixed-integer)
optimization problems and the transmission network
expansion problem.
Requirements:
-------------
PhD candidates are required to have a master degree in
computer science, artificial intelligence, mathematics, or
in comparable areas. Candidates who expect to finish their
M.Sc. thesis in the near future can also apply. Candidates
should have a clear interest in fundamental research as
well as applications thereof and should be creative and
solid in their research. It is furthermore essential for
candidates to have good academic writing and presentation
skills and an excellent command of English.
Terms and conditions:
---------------------
The terms of employment are in accordance with the Dutch
Collective Labour Agreement for Research Institutes
("CAO-onderzoeksinstellingen"). Moreover CWI offers
attractive working conditions, including flexible
scheduling and help with housing for expat employees.
The gross monthly salary, for an employee on a full time
basis, is €2,037 during the first year and increases to
€2,610 over a four year period. CWI also offers excellent
and flexible terms of employment, including an employee
pension fund.
Information:
------------
Additional information can be obtained from:
Dr. Peter A.N. Bosman (Daily supervisor at CWI)
Tel. +31 (0)20 592 4238
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Dr. Dirk Thierens (Daily supervisor from Utrecht University)
Tel. +31 (0)30 253 4031
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Application:
------------
Please send your application before 1 February 2012 to:
[log in to unmask]
Applications should include a detailed CV, a motivation
letter, a list of your MSc courses and grades.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Dr. Peter A.N. Bosman
Scientific Staff Member
Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI)
(Centre for Mathematics and Computer Science)
P.O. Box 94079
1090 GB Amsterdam
The Netherlands
[log in to unmask]
http://homepages.cwi.nl/~bosman
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|