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Your new backyard?

Your new lab?

Positions Available

I currently do not have funding for students or postdocs, but if you are able to secure your own funding (e.g. by applying for a grant), I would be happy to consider the possibility of you joining my lab. If you have identified gratns you can apply for, please contact me to discuss my writing a letter of recommendation for you.

Research Area

I direct the Evolving Artificial Intelligence Lab at the University of Wyoming. The lab focus is on evolving artificial intelligence by producing artificially intelligent robots, including physical robots and agents in simulated worlds, such as video games. The lab also focuses on other bio-inspired AI techniques, such as deep learning. We additionally study how evolution produced the complex, intelligent, diverse life on this planet by trying to computationally recreate it. A major focus is on evolving large-scale, structurally organized neural networks (i.e. networks with millions of connections that are modular, regular, and hierarchical). We are further interested in combining neuroevolution with learning algorithms (Hebbian, neuromodulation, etc.).

For more information, please read my publications, press articles about the work, or watch a video of a talk where I summarize some of my recent research in this area. Other videos about my work are available here.

Here are some keywords that describe related fields: evolutionary algorithms (also known as genetic algorithms or evolutionary computation), neural networks (including evolving neural networks, having them learn, deep learning, and computational neuroscience), robotics, artificial intelligence, and research into the evolution of intelligence, complexity, evolvability, and diversity.

Application Instructions

If you are interested in joining my lab, please email the following information to jeffclune@uwyo.edu:

1. Your CV
2. Grade Point Averages (including a conversion to the US 4.0 scale)
3. GRE scores (including your percentile scores, not just the raw scores)
4. A list of references (their names, titles, institutions, and how you know them)
5. A list of publications (if any)
6. A list of courses relevant to conducting research (e.g. courses in statistics, math, computer science, biology, etc.).
7. A statement that outlines (a) your motivations for obtaining a Ph.D. and (b) which of the above research areas particularly interest you. It is alright if you do not know what subject you want to study at this point, but it would help to get a better sense of your interests and why you believe you are a good fit for this lab.
8. Any other material you feel communicates your research background (e.g. videos of your projects)

Thanks for your interest in the lab. It is a fun, exciting place where you will have a lot of freedom to pursue cutting-edge research in the areas of artificial intelligence that you find fascinating.

About the University of Wyoming

The University of Wyoming is located in Laramie, a college town in the heart of the Rocky Mountain West. Nestled between two mountain ranges, Laramie has more than 300 days of sunshine a year and is home to year-round outdoor activities including hiking, camping, rock climbing, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, fishing and mountain biking. Laramie is also near many of Colorado's major cities and university communities (Fort Collins: 1 hour; Boulder: 1.5 hours; Denver: 2 hours).

You can watch a funny, but helpful video about living in Laramie on YouTube. More information about living in Laramie can be found here.

The University of Wyoming is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, marital, veteran or any other legally protected status.