[socios-spr] RoboCup Visiting Fellows Program - Call for Applications - Due Feb. 15

[Pedro U Lima]

RoboCup Visiting Fellows Program - Call for Applications - Due Feb. 15
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Ever since 1997, The RoboCup Federation has been holding annual
international research competitions and symposia in an effort to push
the state of the art in robotics, artificial intelligence, and related
fields.

The community remains healthy and vibrant, with students, postdocs,
professors, and industry professionals meeting each year to compete and
share their knowledge in a wide range of research competitions.

Based on the beliefs that 1) RoboCup is a unique and special community
and venue within the research community, and 2) that the only way to
fully appreciate what it has to offer is to experience it firsthand, the
RCF is pleased to announce a new RoboCup Visiting Fellows program.

Successful applicants will receive:

- full travel support for two people from your home institution and
   free registration to the 2019 international RoboCup Sydney,
   Australia July 3-8, 2019 as an honored guest and  observer.

- up to an additional $10k USD in reimbursements of start-up expenses
    needed to start a new team for entry in 2020 and/or 2021 RoboCup
    events. 

- detailed, behind-the-scenes education about how the RoboCup community
    works, including meetings with current organizers and participants.


The ideal applicants will be:

- a pair of University faculty and a Ph.D. student or postdoc who have
    never participated in RoboCup, and are interested in learning about
    and becoming a part of the community.

Application Requirements: 

- please send your CVs and a 2-page statement of interest that
    includes research interests, how RoboCup could support those
    interests, and possible RoboCup league(s) of interest.  

- a statement detailing what exposure the applicants have had to RoboCup
    in the past, if any, as well as a statement of commitment to attend
    RoboCup in Sydney for 6 days, from July 3rd-8th.

We particularly encourage applications from people from underrepresented
groups within the RoboCup community based on gender, ethnicity, or
geography.

Submission Details:

- please send your application materials by February 15th to
april.robocup  gmail.com


Requirements:

- In addition to attending RoboCup 2019, RoboCup Visiting Fellows will
be asked to submit a report within a month after the event summarizing
their overall impressions as well as a proposed budget of up to $10k for
startup costs of a new team.

We look forward to receiving your applications!

Sincerely, 
   The RoboCup Federation Visiting Fellows Committee	   
     Minoru Asada
     Pedro Lima
     Peter Stone
     Rong Xiong