Appointment of a Research Fellow in
Diagrammatic Reasoning
The department
The University's Visual Modelling Group (VMG) is based within the
School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics. The VMG has
an outstanding international reputation in diagrams research; it is led
by Professor John Howse, with Dr Gem Stapleton as Director. The
group’s work focuses on visual languages, and one of the group's
main strands of research is designing new diagrammatic logics that
are appropriate for practical application. These logics have included
spider diagrams, constraint diagrams and, most recently, concept
diagrams. In all cases, these logics have formally defined syntax and
semantics and VMG members have developed inference rules that
allow sound reasoning to be performed.
The expertise of VMG members also encompasses tool support, and
the group has devised novel automatic drawing and layout techniques
for Euler diagrams. These diagrams are commonly used for
visualizing information concerning grouped data. Automated theorem
provers have been implemented for Euler diagrams and spider
diagrams. In recent years, members of the group have conducted a
number of empirical studies to establish features of Euler diagrams
and their layout which make them easier or more difficult for users to
understand.
Dr Jim Burton will lead the research project. The project includes
collaboration with Dr Mateja Jamnik of Cambridge University and Dr
Dave Barker Plummer of Stanford University, and the successful
applicant will be required to take research trips to Cambridge and
Stanford. Dr Burton joined the VMG in 2007 and his research interests
include the formal theory of diagrammatic logics and the cognitive and
philosophical implications of reasoning with diagrams. Dr Burton
received his PhD from the University of Brighton in 2011, the subject
of his thesis being the classical decision problem in a highly
expressive second-order visual logic. His work has been published in
the Journal of Logic and Computation, Journal of Visual Languages
and Computing and presented at international conferences and
workshops such as Diagrams 2014 and Euler Diagrams 2014. In
addition to researching the theoretical properties of diagrammatic
logics, Dr Burton has made a significant contribution to the VMG's
work on producing software tools. This strand of his work aims to
make diagrammatic logic more accessible and useful to users, which
is also a central aim of the current project.
The Job
The successful applicant will join the EPSRC-funded research project
“The readability of proofs in diagrammatic logic.” Their work will be to
deliver the following research objectives:
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to develop and formalise readability criteria for individual
inference rules for Euler diagrams, and to combine
these to form readability strategies for proofs made with Euler
diagrams. This will result in an initial formal framework for
readability in Euler diagram proofs.
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to analyse and test the effectiveness of the readability criteria
and strategies. This will be done by carrying out
an empirical study that analyses the readability of proofs made
with and without using the various strategies. The study will
focus on the participants' preference for and understanding of
proofs made using the strategies developed in the previous
objective.
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to implement the strategies in an automated diagrammatic
theorem prover that allows users to deploy them when
reasoning with Euler diagrams. This will be done by adapting
an existing diagrammatic theorem prover, Speedith, and by
producing a plugin for the Openbox heterogeneous reasoning
platform.
At Research Fellow level (AC2), staff are expected to be involved in
the developing, planning and managing of research projects in
consultation with a Principal Investigator, developing a publication
record and learning to generate funding and supervise less
experienced researchers. The role will normally require a level of
research knowledge, skill and experience equivalent to PhD.
Research Fellows may also be expected to contribute to the teaching
and/or consultancy activities in order to ensure continuous
development of knowledge in the subject area.
The role will involve the following range of activities:
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develop research objectives and proposals for their own or
joint research, initially with the assistance of a mentor if
required;
conduct individual and collaborative research projects;
continually update knowledge and understanding in the field;
and translate knowledge of advances in the subject area into
research activity;
contribute to writing up research work for publication or
dissemination of research findings including presenting at
conferences and/or other appropriate events;
contribute to the supervision and mentoring of research
students and make some contribution to the teaching, tutoring
and learning programmes in the school;
prepare proposals and applications to external bodies, e.g. for
funding and accreditation purposes;
liaise with colleagues and students;
build internal contacts and participate in internal networks to
exchange information and form relationships for future
collaboration;
join external networks to share information and identify
potential sources of funds;
agree and largely self-manage research and administrative
activities, ensuring own research is undertaken according to
governance, ethical and quality assurance guidelines;
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collaborate with academic colleagues on areas of shared
research interest;
work with colleagues on joint proposals as required; and
attend and contribute to relevant meetings;
use new research techniques and methods, develop new ones
and extend the research portfolio;
identify areas of research and generate ideas associated with
research;
analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on
the outcomes; and contribute to collaborative decision-making
in areas of research;
plan and manage own research activity and use of resources
in collaboration with others and help to plan and implement
third stream commercial and consultancy activities.
Knowledge and Qualifications
It is expected that the criteria below regarding knowledge and
qualifications will be met by the successful candidate.
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A PhD or equivalent level of professional research experience in
computer science.
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Significant programming experience and expertise with modern
techniques and tools for software engineering, such as automated
testing, source control and OO design principles.
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Experience with interactive and automated theorem provers.
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Knowledge of or interest in diagrammatic reasoning.
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Sufficient, up to date breadth or depth of specialist knowledge in
the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work
within established research programmes and evidence of
commitment to engage in continuous professional development.
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Understanding of equality of opportunity, academic content and
issues relating to student need.
Hours of work
This post is full-time. The nature of research posts is such that staff
are expected to work such hours as are reasonably necessary in
order to fulfil their duties and responsibilities. It would therefore be
inappropriate to define the total hours to be worked in any week. A
reasonable norm for full-time staff, however, having regard to the
contractual position of other senior staff in the institution, would be
thirty-seven, although this should not be regarded as a minimum or
maximum. Contribution to teaching and learning programmes in the
school should not exceed six hours in any week.
The salary
The salary will be in accordance with the Research Fellow (AC2)
grade, which ranges from £32,590 to £38,907 per annum.
Salaries are paid monthly in arrears through the BACS System
directly into the bank or building society account of each member of
staff. The university must pay salaries through the BACS system.
They cannot be paid by cheque. It will therefore be important to
supply account details in order to ensure prompt payment.
Duration of the job The appointment is for a fixed term of 12 months because the funding
is limited to that period.
Professional development
The Research Office (RO) organises a wide range of workshops
covering all aspects of researcher development including research
degree supervision, research methodology, writing successful bids for
funding, intellectual property and negotiations and contracts. The RO
also offers a co-ordinated central service to advise and assist
university research staff applying for grants from UK Research
Councils, the European Commission, the NHS and similar external
bodies including advice and guidance on application procedures,
regulations, staffing, costing and protection of intellectual property.
Staff in the Registry, Business Services, Finance, Human Resources,
Strategic Planning and Marketing & Communications have joined
forces to provide this research support service. The RO's website on
the University's intranet offers a wide range of helpful information on
all aspects of research. See http://staffcentral.brighton.ac.uk/ro/
Courses are also run within the university for staff new to teaching.
Staff new to teaching in higher education, who have not undertaken
an equivalent course of study and training, are expected take one of
these courses in their first or second year in post. The courses
provide opportunities to explore a range of practical approaches to
supporting students’ learning, and to reflect upon the process of
developing as a teacher. The successful applicant will be provided
with further information about these courses at the time of
appointment.
In addition to these courses for staff new to the teaching role, the
Centre for Learning and Teaching offers a wide range of other
teaching-related courses, events and consultancy. Further
information is available from the CLT’s website:
http://staffcentral.bton.ac.uk/clt.
Holidays
The annual leave entitlement is 35 working days pro rata for
proportional full-time staff. This is in addition to the statutory holidays
applicable in England, local discretionary holidays and days when the
university is closed in the interests of efficiency.
Terms & conditions In determining terms and conditions of employment, the university has
regard to recommendations made through the appropriate national
negotiating framework. These terms and conditions of service can be
varied by local agreements reached through the university’s local
negotiating framework which comprises a Joint Negotiating
Committee supported by two Common Interest Groups. These groups
bring together representatives of the university and its recognised
trade unions, which are:
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UCU – University and College Union
UNISON
Strategic plan
Details of our Strategic Plan can be found at:
http://staffcentral.brighton.ac.uk/xpedio/groups/Public/documents/staf
fcentral/doc013747.pdf
Interviews
Interviews are likely to take place on <> / during week commencing
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