The studentship forms part of a project which aims to develop a theoretical foundation to underpin practical tools for argument-supported dispute mediation. The successful applicant will have the freedom to explore an area that is relevant to both the project and their own research interests including, but not limited to: philosophical and/or computational models of dialogue and argument; mediation theory and practice; computational linguistics. The studentship will be held in the Argumentation Research Group in the School of Computing at the University of Dundee.

At the most recent RAE, the School’s research was rated fourth in Scotland, with two thirds of its research rated world leading or internationally excellent (4* or 3*). Dundee has been ranked amongst the top places for scientists to work in the world (The Scientist), and has one of the lowest costs of living in the UK.

Stipendiary payments are at UK research council levels (£13,590 tax-free for academic year 2012/13). Applicants should typically have, or be expecting, a first or upper second class degree in an appropriate subject. Interest in, or exposure to, dispute mediation or philosophical or computational argumentation would be a distinct advantage.

Further details are available from the DrEAMS project page. Applicants should send a CV with a covering letter to Professor Chris Reed, School of Computing, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, or by email to c.a.reedATdundee.ac.uk, by the closing date, 30 June 2013.

A Dundee Fellow Research Lectureship in the Argumentation Research Group is an additional post to the recently advertised Lectureship in the group, and represents a significant investment and expression of confidence by the University in this area of research. Applications from candidates with experience in all areas with relevance to argument and debate are invited, but we are particularly keen to see applications from those with a demonstrated track record in artificial intelligence, computational linguistics, discourse processing, formal models of the law, or mathematical logic.

Further information about the Argumentation Research Group ARG:dundee can be found at www.arg.dundee.ac.uk, and about the Dundee Fellows scheme at www.dundee.ac.uk/dundeefellows

Deadline for applications is 23 January 2013. For further information, please contact Prof. Chris Reed by email c.a.reedATdundee.ac.uk or by telephone (+44 1382 388083). You can apply online.

• A live piece (from 1h50m) on the BBC Radio Scotland Good Morning Scotland programme on 15 Dec 2012 (Audience: 150,000).
• A spot on STV News 4 Sep 2012 (mp4)
• A live segment in the BBC’s Click radio programme 16 Oct 2012 (BBC estimated audience: 23 million)
• A spot on Wave 102 News 4 Sep 2012
• An article in The Courier 5 Sep 2012
• An article in Science Omega magazine
• An article in New Electronics magazine 6 Sep 2012
• An article on phys.org 6 Sep 2012
• A piece on the EPSRC website 5 Sep 2012

We are delighted to be hosting a visit from Martin Caminada who has recently joined the University of Aberdeen. He will be here on 12 December to deliver a seminar in Wolfson entitled,

Argumentation as Inference versus Argumentation as Dialogue —
reconciling two lines of research

Abstract:
In the formal argumentation community, one can distinguish two main lines of research: argumentation as inference and argumentation as dialogue. The first line of research, going back to the work of Pollock, Vreeswijk and Simari & Loui, is focused in argumentation as a way of performing non-monotonic entailment. That is, it is focused on the *outcome* of argumentation. The second line of research, going back to the work of Hamblin, Mackenzie and Walton & Krabbe, is focused on argumentation as dialectics, involving various actors. That is, it is focused on the *process* of argumentation.
In our recent work, we aim to reconcile these two lines of research.
That is, we aim to express argument-based entailment as the ability to
win a discussion. In particular, we are able to show that:
(1) grounded semantics can be interpreted in terms of a persuasion dialogue
(2) (credulous) preferred semantics can be interpreted in terms of Socratic dialogue
(3) ideal and stable semantics can both be interpreted as specific sub-forms of Socratic dialogue
Apart from abstract argumentation, we also examine the possibilities of redefining ASPIC-style entailment in terms of structured dialogue. In general, we think that argument-based inference is not so much about what is true, but about what can be defended in rational discussion.

Bridging the Specification Protocol Gap in Argumentation

Abstract. Today, argumentation is gaining greater visibility since it is being used as part of the high-level specification of multi-agent systems (MAS). However, as we build complete MAS that involve argumentation, there is a need to produce concrete implementations in which these abstract specifications are realised via protocols coordinating agent behaviour. This creates a gap between standard argument specification and deployment of protocols. This research attempts to close this gap by using a combination of automated synthesis and verification methods. More precisely, this research proposes a means to moving rapidly from argument specification to protocol implementation, using the Argument Interchange Format (AIF is a generic specification language for argument structure) as the specification language and the Lightweight Coordination Calculus (LCC is an executable specification language used for coordinating agents in open systems) as an implementation language. The resulting system provides engineers with a means of moving rapidly from argument specification to implementation. In this presentation, I will start with a brief introduction about MAS as well argumentation. Then I will explain, by using an example, how the chosen automated synthesis and verification methods were used to close the gap between standard argument specification and deployment of protocols.

The group’s expansion is associated with the development of new postgraduate level teaching in which the new lecturer will be expected to play a leading role. This teaching responsibility will involve development of module specifications, student recruitment, and preparation and delivery of materials in areas related to argumentation and negotiation.

The post will be held in the Argumentation Research Group in the School of Computing at the University of Dundee. The group’s research is funded by EPSRC, RCUK, JISC, the Leverhulme Trust and others, and is published in top journals such as Artificial Intelligence. We expect the new appointment to make a significant contribution to this performance, in both securing RCUK, EU and other funds, and also in publication of the highest quality research results. We expect, in particular, that applicants should have a CV which includes papers that demonstrate the very highest levels of significance, originality and rigour in REF terms.

The group is looking to complement its existing research strengths with expertise which can link argumentation with computational linguistics, rhetoric, economics or the law. Some experience with argumentation in one of these contexts is essential, as is a strong background in computer science and artificial intelligence.

At the most recent RAE, the School’s research was rated fourth in Scotland, with two thirds of its research rated world leading or internationally excellent (4* or 3*). The School also has the third highest research income per capita of any Computer Science Department in the UK. Dundee has been ranked amongst the top places in the world for scientists to work (The Scientist), and has one of the lowest costs of living in the UK.

The post will commence from 01 March 2013 (or other date by negotiation), and is permanent, subject to probation.  More information is available from the research group website at www.arg.dundee.ac.uk.

Remuneration will be at Grade 8, depending on qualifications and
experience (£37,012 - £44,166). Further details and an application pack are
available from our website: www.jobs.dundee.ac.uk  Alternatively, contact
Personnel Services, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN, tel: (01382) 384817 (answering machine).

The closing date for applications is 14 January 2013.
Please quote Reference number ASE/0175

The University of Dundee has partnered with the University of Newcastle in an RCUK Digital Economy Hub focusing on Social Inclusion in the Digital Economy (see www.side.ac.uk). As a part of this major initiative, a new collaboration has formed between the Argumentation Research Group at Dundee and the BBC. The focus of this collaboration is upon how older people in particular might engage with online resources associated with broadcast programmes. Specifically, we are interested in exploring how existing tools for online argument and debate developed using analysis of the BBC Radio 4 programme, ‘The Moral Maze’ might be extended to support and encourage engagement from older listeners.

The post will require experience with both argumentation and human centered computing, ideally with a focus on usability for excluded or disadvantaged users. Good design skills and software engineering experience will be important, as we will be deploying software with users.

The job will also involve engaging with programme makers and producers at the BBC, so a high level of professionalism and reliability is essential.

At the most recent RAE, the School’s research was rated fourth in Scotland, with two thirds of its research rated world leading or internationally excellent (4* or 3*). The School also has the third highest research income per capita of any Computer Science Department in the UK. Dundee has been ranked amongst the top places in the world for scientists to work (The Scientist), and has one of the lowest costs of living in the UK.

The post will be held in the Argumentation Research Group in the School of Computing at the University of Dundee. The post will commence from 01 February 2013 (or other date by negotiation), and is fixed term until 30 September 2014.  More information is available from the research group website at www.arg.dundee.ac.uk.

Remuneration will be at Grade 7, at a spinal point dependent on qualifications and experience (£29,249 - £35,938). Further details and an application pack are available from our website: www.jobs.dundee.ac.uk  Alternatively, contact Personnel Services, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN, tel: (01382) 384817 (answering machine).

The closing date for applications is 7 January 2013.
Please quote Reference number ASE/0176