LINGUIST List 12.2653

Wed Oct 24 2001

Support: Cognitive Science, Michigan State University

Editor for this issue: Marie Klopfenstein <marielinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. John M. Henderson, IGERT graduate opportunities at Michigan State University

The Cognitive Science Program at Michigan State University is seeking 
graduate student applicants for its new NSF-funded Integrated Graduate 
Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program in cognitive science.

The focus of the MSU IGERT program is the interdisciplinary study of 
cognition in humans, animals, and intelligent machines. Unifying the 
program is an emphasis on sequential decision-making problems, where the 
ultimate outcome of a proximate decision may be assessed only after a 
series of related decisions have been taken, and where there may be 
considerable uncertainty about the appropriate course of action. We believe 
that this framework applies to a great many cognitive problems faced by 
both biological and artificial agents, and that the use of a common 
framework will deepen theoretical insights into the nature of 
decision-making. We offer trainees opportunities to pursue research in 
active vision, language, navigation, and coordination of action in social 
groups, among other topics. The program is designed to complement and 
extend the training provided within students' home disciplines by stressing 
integration of computational modeling with empirical study of human and 
animal systems.

IGERT Trainees are awarded a generous support package consisting of a 
yearly stipend for 5 years, tuition waiver, and health benefits. Trainees 
are also eligible for research and travel funds to supplement resources 
available through their home departments and their advisors' labs. The 
program also offers opportunities for undergraduate students and post-docs.

Michigan State University has made a major commitment to cognitive science, 
including the allocation of up to 6 new cognitive science positions in five 
participating colleges for cognitive neuroscience and computational 
approaches to cognition, additional institutional resources for graduate 
student stipends and research funds to complement the IGERT funds, and new 
office and lab space for the IGERT program.

Further information can be found at: http://www.cogsci.msu.edu/IGERT/ and 
inquiries can be directed to infocogsci.msu.edu.