CIGIDEN is a cross-disciplinary research initiative aimed to mitigate the tremendous and complex impact of natural disasters in the society, considering the physical infrastructure, the human stock, and the economic development. The Center takes advantage of Chile as one of the most active natural seismic and geo-hazard laboratories in the world. Faculty members working at CIGIDEN include people from different areas of Civil Engineering, Psychology, Sociology, Urban Studies and Geography (more details in www.cigiden.cl).

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (www.puc.cl) has been ranked #1 in Latin American and #166 in the World QS University Ranking for 2014.

Position is open until August 31st, 2014.

Requirements: Applicants must hold (or be currently pursuing studies towards) a Ph.D. in Computer Science, Mathematics, Complex Systems, Spatial and/or Agent-Based Modeling, or a related discipline.

Topics to be developed by the successful applicant include, but are not limited to, agent based modeling (ABM) applied to the study of the agent-physical environment interaction, characterization of the response of agents to extreme loading conditions, fragility of physical and social systems, evacuation of structures under extreme loading conditions, human behavior and human-human interactions, lifelines and transportation systems, post-disaster management, and geographical information systems. Specific research tasks to be accomplished should include to: (i) study spatial ABMs with physical infrastructure subjected to extreme loading conditions (e.g., earthquakes) and their consequential disasters aspects; (ii) mine, analyze, and synthesize large-scale model output data; and (iii) collect and extend methods for statistical analysis and visualization of non-linear, discontinuous, and often power-law distributed data from spatial ABMs of complex socio-physical systems

More information on http://www.ing.puc.cl/nuestra-escuela/faculty-positions/areas-to-apply/faculty-position-national-research-center-integrated-natural-disaster-management-cigiden/