30 November 2016

Postdoctoral positions in Human Language Technology and Computational Linguistics

Jobs at UCPH

The Department of Nordic Research, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark, invites applications for two 2-year postdoctoral positions in Human Language Technology and Computational Linguistics to be filled by 1 March 2017 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The successful candidates will be attached to the Centre for Language Technology (CST), which is one of the four sections of the department.

CST conducts research in different areas of interest for language technology, such as natural language processing, language technology resources and the infrastructure around them, machine learning, and multimodal communication. It has a strong international profile, at the same time as pursuing the development of language technology methods and resources for the Danish language. The Centre has considerable experience managing international research projects, frequently attracts visiting researchers and has organised major conferences in the field. Together with the Department of Computer Science of the University of Copenhagen, it offers an international MSc programme in IT and Cognition. The programme, which currently admits about 30 students a year, consists of a range of courses in the areas of Natural Language Processing and Cognitive Science.

Job content

The successful candidates will engage in cutting-edge research in one of the research areas included in CST’s research portfolio. However, the Centre is also interested in enlarging its current portfolio. Additional research fields of potential interest are, for example, computational cognition and digital humanities.

The candidates will also contribute with teaching to the MSc in IT and Cognition. More specifically, one of the candidates is expected to contribute to the courses Scientific Programming (Python), and Language Processing. The other candidate will be involved in the teaching of the Cognitive Science courses.

More detail on the programme as a whole and the individual study units

Qualification requirements

In order to be considered for the position applicants must have research qualifications at least corresponding to what can be achieved as part of a successfully completed PhD within a relevant field, including international publications in the relevant research areas.

For one of the positions, we are seeking a candidate with programming experience, specifically knowledge of Python, as well as a strong background in one or more areas relevant for human language technology. For the other, our preferred candidate will have expertise in computational cognition, cognitive modelling of language use, neurocognitive methods and quantitative methods.

Furthermore, emphasis will be placed on the following:

  • Research qualifications, which will be assessed in relation to the period of active research, the degree of originality, and academic output
  • The applicant’s scientific record, academic breadth and depth, rigour, thoroughness and accuracy, as well as academic relevance in relation to the job description
  • Documented teaching qualifications
  • Documented administrative qualifications, if any
  • Participation in networks – national and international
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Excellent skills in English, written and spoken

For further details about the qualification requirements for postdocs, please refer to the job structure for academic staff.

For further information about the position, please contact Head of Section Patrizia Paggio (paggio@hum.ku.dk) or Head of the Department Bolette Sandford Pedersen (bspedersen@hum.ku.dk).

Application

The application must be submitted online in Adobe PDF or Word format. ZIP-files cannot be uploaded.

Click here to apply

(If you have difficulties making the link work, please use the UCPH Job Portal)

Please note that each field in the application form may only contain a single file of max. 20Mb.

The application must be written in English and include the following enclosures:

  • Application letter/cover letter
  • Curriculum vitae (with applicant’s e-mail address & telephone number)
  • Documentation of qualifications (examination certificates/PhD diploma, etc.).
  • Complete and numbered list of publications. The enclosed publications must be marked with *.
  • Research plan, including a short description of previous research and a plan for the coming years that includes an account of how the applicant will contribute to the deliverables in the project description.
  • Project proposal and documentation of teaching qualifications and research dissemination, if any
  • Publications. Applicants may choose a maximum of three publications for assessment. Publication dates must be clearly marked on the publication list. The publications selected must be uploaded as attachments and listed from 1 to 3.

Should any material submitted consist of work with named co-authors, or work that is otherwise the result of collective academic endeavours, the extent of the applicant’s contribution to the work must be clearly stipulated. The Faculty may ask for a signed statement from the co-authors stipulating the extent and nature of each individual’s contribution.

Only material in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English, German and French can be expected to be assessed.

All material will be shredded at the end of the appointment procedure.

Appointment procedure

After the application deadline, the Head of Department selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointment Committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been accepted for assessment. The Dean subsequently appoints an expert assessment committee tasked with carrying out an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee. Applicants are ultimately offered the opportunity of commenting on the part of the assessment relating to themselves before the appointment is finalized.

Applicants will be continuously informed about the progress of the procedure by e-mail.

Further information about the application procedure is available from HR and Personnel Officer Mette Christensen, VIPadmin@hum.ku.dk.

Salary and conditions of employment

Terms of appointment and salary will be in accordance with an agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The salary range starts at DKK 32,000 (EUR 3,667) + a 17,1 % contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.

The Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) have further agreed on a protocol that makes it possible for international researchers employed by the University to achieve a pension exemption, whereby the pension contribution will be paid out as salary.

More information about the different pension schemes

A special tax scheme is offered to researchers recruited abroad

If you consider applying from abroad, you may find useful information here on how it is to work in Denmark and at UCPH:

UCPH wishes to encourage everyone interested in this post to apply, regardless of personal background.

The closing date for applications is 23.59 CET, 5 January 2017.

Applications or supplementary material received thereafter will not be considered.

Click here to apply

(If you have difficulties making the link work, please use the UCPH Job Portal)