Postdoctoral Position in CS/Statistics

The Departments of Computer Science and Statistical Science at Duke University invite applications for a postdoctoral researcher position for the project “Integrating Algorithmic and Stochastic Modeling Techniques for Environmental Prediction,” under the supervision of Professors Pankaj K. Agarwal, Jim Clark, and Alan Gelfand. The position, contingent upon grant funding, is for one year and can be extended for one or more additional years by mutual consent.

This interdisciplinary project, funded by National Science Foundation under the cyber-enabled discovery initiative (CDI), aims to develop a prediction framework for biodiversity, which coherently combines broad-scale pattern data with fine-scale data on species interactions and which is computationally scalable. The goal is to develop a multi-scale modeling framework and to design algorithms that make environmental models computationally scalable. The approach hinges upon strong interplay of algorithmic and statistical techniques. Statistical inference brings stochastic modeling sophistication in space and time, and sophisticated algorithms make models and processes scalable and provide trade-offs between accuracy and efficiency. The project draws on a wide range of topics in computer science and statistics, including geometric algorithms, approximation algorithms, hierarchical specifications within a Bayesian framework, and space-time process modeling.

Candidates should have a PhD in computer science or statistics, with a strong background in stochastic modeling and algorithms. Apart from working on the project, the candidate will have an opportunity to work on a broad set of modeling and algorithmic problems and to collaborate with the research groups of the PIs. Additional responsibilities will include helping the PIs prepare contracts and reports.

All applicants should submit curriculum vitae and research statement and arrange three reference letters. All materials should be submitted online at Academic Jobs Online (https://academicjobsonline.org). For inquiries and e-mail correspondence please write to alan@stat.duke.edu or pankaj@cs.duke.edu. The position will remain open until filled but for full consideration all material should be submitted by January 31, 2012.

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