27.3408, Jobs: Pragmatics; Computational Linguistics: Post Doc, Centre for General Linguistics (ZAS)

Mon Aug 29 14:22:39 UTC 2016

LINGUIST List: Vol-27-3408. Mon Aug 29 2016. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 27.3408, Jobs: Pragmatics; Computational Linguistics: Post Doc, Centre for General Linguistics (ZAS)

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Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2016 10:22:27
From: Anton Benz [benz at zas.gwz-berlin.de]
Subject: Pragmatics; Computational Linguistics: Post Doc, Centre for General Linguistics (ZAS), Berlin, Germany

University or Organization: Centre for General Linguistics (ZAS) 
Department: FBIV Semantics & Pragmatics
Job Location: Berlin, Germany 
Job Title: Researcher
Job Rank: Post Doc

Specialty Areas: Computational Linguistics; Pragmatics 

Description:

The Centre for General Linguistics (ZAS), Berlin, Germany, invites
applications for a post-doctoral researcher specializing in computational
pragmatics with expertise in Bayesian modelling and natural language
generation with a starting date of December 1st, 2016, or soon thereafter. The
position will be part of a research project funded by the German Research
Foundation on "Bayesian Approaches to Preference-based Answer Generation in
Dialogue" (BAPAGiD; Principal Investigators: Anton Benz, ZAS, and Ralf
Klabunde, University of Bochum). 

The key innovative aspect of this project is the application of game theoretic
methods to the generation of pragmatically optimal answers in a dialogue
system. It concentrates on the use of numerical expressions, gradable
adjectives and biscuit conditionals (relevance conditionals) in a sales
scenario. Each of these linguistic means trigger implicatures that show a
sensitivity to interlocutors' (possibly opposing) preferences. These
implicatures consist of soft expectations that call for a Bayesian
probabilistic approach to modelling. Recent years saw a growing interest in
data oriented, probabilistic models in pragmatics. The implementation in a
dialog system should help to further refine these models, and to test the
sustainability of their theoretical assumptions. The applicant should have:

- Solid programming skills. 
- Interest to work with game theoretic and probabilistic methods in
pragmatics.
- Experience with statistical and experimental methods.
- Knowledge of formal semantics and Gricean pragmatics.
- Ability to work independently and self-motivated.

Basic knowledge of German is an advantage, and applicants with good command of
German will be given preference. 

The salary is figured according to the union contract named TVöD E13. The
period of employment will be for 24 months. The BAPAGiD project is partly
located at the ZAS, and partly at the University of Bochum. It is conducted
under the joint supervision of Anton Benz (ZAS) and Ralf Klabunde (University
of Bochum). The place of employment for the current position is Berlin,
Germany. It will be affiliated to the semantics-pragmatics group at the ZAS. 

Applications should include CV, an outline of research experience, as well as
names and addresses of up to three references. Applications should be sent by
email to the address below. The position will be open starting December 1st,
2016. Applications received by October 1st, 2016 will receive full
consideration, although interviews may start at any time and will continue
until the position has been filled.

Disabled applicants will be preferred if they have the same qualifications as
non-disabled applicants. The Centre for General Linguistics (ZAS) is a leading
research centre in the field of theoretical and experimental linguistics, and
strives to increase the proportion of women in research and teaching, and
therefore encourages qualified female scientists to apply.

You are welcome to seek further information by contacting Anton Benz via
e-mail (see contact information below). 

The project is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)

Application Deadline: 01-Oct-2016 (Open until filled)

Email Address for Applications: benz at zas.gwz-berlin.de 
Contact Information:
	Anton Benz 
	Email: benz at zas.gwz-berlin.de 

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