The general goal is to build humour skills in an AI agent to be learned by playing the game Cards Against Humanity. The work involves developing a digital version of the game Cards Against Humanity and develop and integrate a data base of cards with semantic tags. From the data collected with the game some machine learning techniques will be explored to learn a model of humor. The work will also be done in collaboration with a psychology team (from ISCTE) and a team from the US University, Carnegie Mellon University.

Public notice for research grant

AGENTS

CMU/TIC/0055/2019

INESC-ID - Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Lisboa is a R&D institute dedicated to advanced research and development in the fields of Information Technologies, Electronics, Communications, and Energy. INESC-ID has participated in more than 50 research projects funded by the European Union and more than 190 funded by national entities. Until today, our researchers have published more than 700 papers in international journal papers, more than 3000 papers in international conferences, and have registered 15 patents and/or brands.

1 | RESEARCH GRANT TYPE

ONE research grant for candidates with MSc Degree with reference number BI| 2021/139 is now available under the scope of project AGENTS - CMU/TIC/0055/2019 funded by Fundação para a ciencia e a tecnologia i.p.,  and under the following conditions:

2 | DURATION

9 months, starting in April 2021

-     Renewable, if the candidate is enrolled in a PhD program -  art. 6º, n.4 c)

(https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/RegulamentoBolsasFCT2019.pdf )

subject to suitable performance within the period of the project, not exceeding the maximum period set by FCT for such grants – 4 years (included contract renewals)

-     Renewable, if the candidate is enrolled in a non-degree programme – art. 6º, n. 4 a)

(https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/RegulamentoBolsasFCT2019.pdf )

subject to suitable performance within the period of the project, not exceeding the maximum period set by FCT for such grants – 1 year (included contract renewals)

3 | LEGISLATION

A fellowship contract will be celebrated according to:

1.       Law 40/2004 of 18^th of August (Scientific Research Fellow Status) and its successive amendments, including the amendments introduced by the Decree Law n. 123/2019 of 28 ^th of August 
https://dre.pt/web/guest/legislacao-consolidada/-/lc/124281176/201912061112/73740605/diploma/indice?lcq=estatuto+do+bolseiro,

2.        Regulations for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology in force  (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/RegulamentoBolsasFCT2019.pdf )

3.        INESC-ID Lisboa Grant Regulations

https://www.inesc-id.pt/scholarship-regulations/

The fellowship contract is awarded on an exclusive dedication basis – art. 5 of Scientific Research Fellow Status and art. 16 of Regulations for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology.

4 | MONTHLY AMOUNT

The monthly amount of the grant 1 074,64 € is in accordance with the values stipulated in the “Regulations for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology” in force (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/Tabela_Valores_SMM_LOE_2020.pdf) and shall be rendered through a monthly bank transfer to an account held by the grantee

5 | OBJECTIVES/WORKPLAN

The general goal is to build humour skills in an AI agent to be learned by playing the game Cards Against Humanity. The work involves developing a digital version of the game Cards Against Humanity and develop and integrate a data base of cards with semantic tags. From the data collected with the game some machine learning techniques will be explored to learn a model of humor. The work will also be done in collaboration with a psychology team (from ISCTE) and a team from the US University, Carnegie Mellon University.

6 | SCIENTIFIC SUPERVISION

The activity will be supervised by Rui Filipe Fernandes Prada, Associate Professor and Ana Maria Severino de Almeida e Paiva, Full Professor, both from Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa and researchers at INESC-ID Lisboa.

INESC ID will integrate the grantee in the research team of the scientific advisor

7 | ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The candidates should have an MSc Degree in computer science, electrical engineering or related areas.

By the grant start date, the candidate must be enrolled in

a)        a PhD programme – art. 6º, n.1
(https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/RegulamentoBolsasFCT2019.pdf)

or

b)        a non-degree programme – art. 6º, n. 2
(https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/RegulamentoBolsasFCT2019.pdf )

Preferential factors:

Preference will be given to candidates with very good programming skills and experience in one (or more) of the following areas:

-          socio-emotional models of behavior

-          multi-agent systems

-          game development.

The candidate should have good proficiency in English (both written and spoken).

8 | EVALUATION CRITERIA AND COMMITEE

The selection will be according to the following criteria:

                I.      (70%) Academic record of the candidate (including performance in related courses, publication record, and past experience in research projects) and technical skills with respect to the goals of the tasks in the project;

               II.     (20%) Personal references;

              III.     (10%) Proficiency in English.

The jury may also decide not to assign the scholarship, if none of candidates meets the required conditions

9 | COMPLAIN AND APPEAL DEADLINES AND PROCEDURES

The jury has the faculty not to select a candidate who does not prove the requirements mentioned in required education Level and research experience

The admitted and excluded candidates will be notified by email of the final ranking list, including the copy of the Preliminary Report of the jury.

Prior Hearing and Deadline for Final Decision: After being notified, candidates have 10 working days to submit, if applicable, a formal rebuttal.

After that period, the jury notifies the candidates of the Final Report.

Excluded applicants may complain about the jury's final report for 15 working days after notification or appeal the jury's decision to the INESC ID Board of Directors for 30 working days after notification.

According to the Portuguese Law, a disabled candidate has a preference when in equal classification, which prevails over any other legal preference. Candidates must declare their respective degree of disability, the type of disability and the means of communication / expression to be used in the selection process, under the law.

10 | FORMALISATION OF APPLICATIONS