The Digital Ludeme Project, a five-year research project funded by the European Research Council (ERC), will entail a computational study of the world's traditional games throughout recorded human history. It aims to improve our knowledge of ancient games using modern AI techniques, to chart their evolution and their role in the spread of mathematical knowledge across cultures, to establish a new field of research called Digital Archaeoludology.

This project will involve developing a software system and related databases for modelling the full range of known traditional games, providing a new public platform for game AI research. The PhD thesis will enhance this work, and its exact topic will be decided in consultation with the successful candidate based on their background, skills and interests. Relevant topics might include: Machine Learning for General Game Playing (GGP); Automated Strategy Learning, Transfer and Explanation; Game Distance/Similarity Metrics; The (Phylo)Genetics of Games; GGP on the GPU; etc.

Applicants should have a highly regarded Master’s degree or equivalent (already completed or almost completed) in artificial/computational intelligence, machine learning, general game playing, data mining, computational phylogenetics, data mining, or some related field, and must have excellent Java programming skills. Good communication skills are important, as is a demonstrated ability to present and publish high quality research.

The position is offered for four years starting 1 September 2018 (first year + three years after receiveing a positive evaluation) with yearly evaluations. It will be located on-site at Maastricht, The Netherlands, at one of the world’s top new universities known for its international and multidisciplinary focus.

The salary and conditions of employment will be as set out in the Collective Labour Agreement (CAO) of Dutch Universities (www.caouniversiteiten.nl/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Collective-Labour-Agreement-Dutch-Universities-July-2016-June-2017.pdf) for a full-time contract of 38 hours/week at the PhD candidate salary scale (€2,222 to €2,840/gross per month) plus 8% holiday loading and an 8.3% year-end allowance. Non-Dutch applicants may be eligible for a favourable tax treatment (30% rule). All tuition fees will be covered.

Maastricht University

Established in 1976, Maastricht University (UM) is the most international university in the Netherlands and renowned for its innovative, student-centered problem-based learning system. With approximately 16.300 students and 4.300 employees, Um offers a wide choice of bachelor’s, master’s and PhD programmes, all of which are designed to integrate research and education. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools linked to the university’s six faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

 Department of Data Science and Knowledge Engineering (DKE)

Founded in 1992 as part of the Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, today DKE broadly covers Data Science and Knowledge Engineering in research and teaching. DKE comprises three internationally respected research groups, having their focus on “Robotics, Agents and Interaction”, “Networks and Strategic Optimization”, and “Biomathematics and Bioinformatics”. Education programmes offered by DKE are a BSc in Data Science & Knowledge Engineering, a MSc in Artificial Intelligence, and a MSc in Data Science for Decision Making. For further information, seehttps://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/dke