The Computational Modeling Preliminary Examination focuses in the area of computational modeling and analysis of phenomena arising in complex systems. Computational modeling involves algorithms and simulations that provide a formal explanation or description of phenomena in the biological, behavioral, physical, or social sciences. The prelim exam spans all areas of computational modeling of complex systems, particularly artificial intelligence, robotics, cognitive science, social systems, bioinformatics, and chaotic systems. Some areas included are:
The goal of the prelim exam is to evaluate the candidate's competence to analyze, evaluate, and integrate a well-delineated and active area of research. Typically, candidates will choose an area related to their likely dissertation topic. The exam is intended as an integral component of the Ph.D. education and dissertation writing, and not merely a hurdle to be jumped. Candidates are expected to achieve the following goals in the course of the prelim:
Our prototype of a good exam is a manuscript that could be published in a journal that includes review articles, such as Reviews of Modern Physics, SIAM Review, Trends in Cognitive Science, Topics in Cognitive Science, Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, Swarm Intelligence. Indeed, the judgment of pass/fail will be based on how close to a submission-ready manuscript the exam would be. We strongly encourage candidates to approach this exam, from the outset, with the plan to submit their paper for publication. Candidates should consult with their advisors to identify an appropriate journal well in advance of beginning the prelim, and the structure of the paper and the target audience should be informed by the choice of journal. The submission-ready criterion should give candidates a pretty clear idea of what the faculty are looking for. The exam should be written at a level appropriate for researchers in the broader area of artificial intelligence, and should not cover basic concepts that any graduate-level researcher in field would be familiar with. As preparation for the prelim, candidates should read published review articles to get a sense of the depth and sophistication with which research is presented. We are reluctant to specify page counts, but a typical journal review paper might be 15-20 pages as it appears in the journal. Whether or not candidates are successful in getting their prelim paper published, the prelim could be turned into a University of Colorado Technical Report, and we expect that the prelim will serve as the basis for an introductory chapter in the candidate's Ph.D. thesis, and to provide context for the thesis research.
The prelim consists of the following components:
Candidates, along with their advisors, are responsible for forming a prelim committee of three faculty from the Computer Science Department and allied fields. These faculty will evaluate both the written and oral presentations. The candidate is responsible for inviting faculty to serve on the committee and obtaining approval of the topic, typically by writing a brief (1-3 paragraph) overview of the topic. With the committee's approval, the candidate can begin work on the prelim. We impose no time limit for writing, but typically the duration of work should be under a month. The oral presentation is scheduled once the committee has indicated its satisfaction with the written component of the prelim.
The prelim is administered on demand. Candidates can begin the process at any time during the academic year.
Successful completion of this examination satisfies the Area Exam portion of the Computer Science department's Preliminary Examination requirement.
The core faculty involved in the computational modeling prelim are