Postdoctoral position
Ref:GAMA10
Multi-­scale agent-­based modeling - Contribution to the GAMA platform

Work context
IFI (www.ifi.auf.org) is an Institute of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF)
created in 1993. The Institute is located in Hanoï (Vietnam) and provides a Master course in Computer Science. Since 2008, the IFI research laboratory named MSI « Modélisation etSimulation Informatique / Modeling and Computer Simulation » is included in an IRD International Research Unit named UMMISCO - www.ummisco.ird.fr and works since 2010 in a CNRS International Associated Laboratory named FVPPL - http://fvppl.in2p3.fr.

Scientific context
GAMA (http://code.google.com/p/gama-­‐platform/) is an open-­‐source agent-­‐based
modeling and simulation platform developed since 2007 in the MSI-­‐UMMISCO.
Designed in order to transparently integrate GIS data into agent-­‐based models, GAMA is
the support of a growing number of thematic applications developed in partnership with
Vietnamese research institutes, in the field of EDSS (Environmental Decision Support
Systems).
To cite some of them:
role of the environment in the propagation of the H5N1 virus in North-­‐Vietnam, models for
decision aid in the organization of rescue after urban catastrophes in Vietnamese mega-­‐cities, models for decision aid against plant brown hoppers invasion in the Mekong Delta,
and so on.
In these different collaborations, the growing complexity of the needs expressed by experts and scientists has underlined the necessity to provide them with tools allowing for multi-­‐viewpoints, multi-­‐scale representations of the systems modeled.
Several research directions are being currently explored in MSI in order to ease their design: modeling language dedicated to multi-­‐ level representation, dynamic coupling of
aggregated mathematical models and agent-­‐ based models, abstraction mechanisms, etc.
The goal of this postdoctoral position is to strengthen this dynamics, both in terms of basic research and implementation within the GAMA platform.

Role of the candidate
-­‐ Active participation to the evolution of the GAML modeling language in order to allow for multi-­‐scale modeling;
-­‐ Active participation to the developments already planned in GAMA
(to be discussed with respect to the taste and experience of the candidate): computer-­‐ aided exploration of the parameter space of models, better integration with the GIS systems, improvements to the integrated modeling environment, etc.
-­‐ Active participation to the supervision of PhD and Master students of the IFI, and to the lectures and training sessions (in IFI or elsewhere) that use GAMA.
-­‐ Active participation to the existing or future modeling projects of the MSI team, in relationship with its partners (some of these projects will require traveling outside Hanoi).

Required competencies
The candidate, with a PhD in Computer Science or one related field, must have a solid experience in the multi-­‐agent systems (MAS) domain and agent-­‐based modeling platforms (NetLogo, Repast, Mason, Cormas, etc.). Any additional skill that would allow him/her to address the problem of multi-­‐scale modeling in an original way is welcome:
machine learning, data-­‐mining, models coupling, distributed simulation, and so on.
From a technical point of view, the candidate should be familiar with a Java IDE (Eclipse would be ideal), in order for him/her to easily share his/her works with the rest of the team.
Knowledge of GIS (and related Java libraries like GeoTools or OpenMap), UI design, or parsing, interpretation and compilation of dynamic languages, even if they are not necessary, will be evaluated positively for the application.

Practical information
• Duration: 10 months from December 2010
• Place: Laboratoire MSI, Institut de la Francophonie pour l’Informatique (IFI), HaNoi, VietNam
• Supervision: Dr Alexis Drogoul, Pr Ho Tuong Vinh
• Scholarship: The scholarship comprises a monthly wage of 1000 euros (largely sufficient to live comfortably in Ha Noi), a two-­‐ways airplane ticket from the country of residence of the candidate and Viet Nam, and an insurance covering health problems and accidents.

How to apply
Send a CV and a letter of motivation with the reference “GAMA10” to:
Alexis Drogoul, Senior Researcher, MSI, [email protected]
Ho Tuong Vinh,
Leader of MSI, [email protected]