elman@sdcsvax.UCSD.EDU (Jeff Elman) (12/02/88)
RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROGRAM IN NEURAL MODELLING FOR
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGISTS
Center for Research in Language
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, California 92093
The Center for Research in Language at UCSD has just
obtained a pilot grant from the John D. and Catherine T.
MacArthur Foundation, to provide 5 - 10 developmental
psychologists at any level (dissertation students through
senior investigators) with short-term training in neural
computation. The program has two goals:
(1) To encourage developmental psychologists in target
interest areas (speech, language, early visual-motor
and cognitive development, future oriented processes)
to begin making use of connectionist modelling as a
tool for evaluating theories of learning and change;
(2) To encourage greater use of realistic developmental
data in the connectionist enterprise.
Our experience at UCSD suggests that a well-prepared
and computer literate developmental psychologist can learn
to make productive use of neural modelling techniques in a
relatively short period of time, i.e. 2 weeks to 3 months,
depending on level of interest and prior experience. Appli-
cants may request training periods in this range at any
point from 9/89 through 8/90. Depending on the trainee's
needs and resources, we will provide (1) lodging at UCSD,
(2) travel (in some cases), (3) access to SUN and VAX works-
tations with all necessary software, and (4) hourly services
of an individual programmer/tutor who will supervise the
trainee's progress through self-paced learning materials
while assisting in the implementation of the trainee's pro-
posed developmental project. Trainees are also welcome to
attend seminars and workshops, and to consult with the rela-
tively large number of faculty involved in connectionist
modelling at UCSD.
Applicants are asked to submit 5 - 10 page proposals
outlining a specific modelling project in a well-defined
domain of developmental psychology. Criteria for evaluating
proposals will include (1) the scientific merit and feasi-
bility of the project itself (2) the applicant's computer
sophistication and probability of success with short term
training, (3) the probability that the applicant can and
will continue working at the interface between neural model-
ling and developmental psychology (including access to ade-
quate computer facilities at the applicant's home site).
Applicants should indicate the preferred duration and start-
ing date for the training program.
Applications should be submitted to Jeff Elman, Direc-
tor, Center for Research on Language, University of Califor-
nia, San Diego, La Jolla, Ca. 92093. For further informa-
tion, contact Jeff Elman (619-534-1147) or Elizabeth Bates
(619-534-3007). Email inquiries may be sent to
elman@amos.ling.ucsd.edu or bates@amos.ling.ucsd.edu.