[DL] PhD position - Light-weight rule extended ontology languages

[Jeff Z. Pan]

[Apologies for multiple copies of this message]

Department of Computing Science
University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen, UK
http://www.csd.abdn.ac.uk/

EPSRC Case PhD Studentship in Light-weight Rule Extended Ontology Languages
***Deadline for applications:  1 Oct, 2006***

Applications are sought for a funded EPSRC CASE studentship supported by
HP on light-weight rule-extended ontology languages. The project aims to
efficiently support a useful subset of the W3C standard Web Ontology
Language OWL and the coming W3C rule standard RIF (Rule Interchange
Format).

Ontologies play an important role in the Semantic Web. Nowadays, the OWL
Web Ontology Language, which is based on Description Logics, has been
standardised by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). It has also been
argued that rules are very useful in the Web; accordingly, W3C has set up
the Rule Interchange Format (RIF) Working Group to produce a core rule
language plus extensions which facilitate rules interchangability in the
Web. Both the University of Aberdeen and HP are already active in this
area, and will cultivate existing contacts with the W3C and other
standardisation bodies, with a view to agreeing new Web standards. It is
anticipated that a light-weight rule-extended ontology language is needed
to provide efficient reasoning support for a useful subset of OWL and RIF,
which is a completely unexplored topic as RIF is still under design and
will only become a standard in late 2006 or 2007.

Applicants should have a good Undergraduate (at the 2-1 level or higher)
or Masters Degree in either Computing Science or a related discipline.
They should be strongly motivated to conduct original research and with
solid programming skills as well as the personal skills required to work
closely with our industrial collaborator.

This studentship will provide maintenance and fees for UK students or EU
students with three year's UK residence (EPSRC rules determine
eligibility): Maintenance £12,300 for session 2006/7.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr Jeff Z. Pan by email jpan [AT]
csd.abdn.ac.uk. A formal application including a CV will be required.

Closing Date:  1 October 2006

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