[Corpora-List] Post-Doctoral/PhD positions in Semantically Enhanced Information Search, Technische Universitaet Darmstadt, Germany

[Torsten Zesch]

Post-Doctoral/PhD positions in Semantically Enhanced Information Search, Technische Universitaet Darmstadt, Germany


The Ubiquitous Knowledge Processing Lab (http://www.ukp.tu-darmstadt.de/) has openings at the doctoral or post-doctoral level in the area of Semantically Enhanced Information Search. The positions are funded within a new project, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) as part of the Emmy-Noether Independent Research Group. The Group is led by Iryna Gurevych in the Department of Computer Science, Technische Universitaet Darmstadt, Germany.

The candidates will work on the project investigating the use of lexical semantic information in Question Answering. The technologies are utilized in a novel system to support computer-based learning (eLearning 2.0). The project will run for at least three years with the possibility of a subsequent extension. One possible research focus is mining collaboratively constructed knowledge repositories e.g. Wikipedia, including topics such as integrating Wikipedia with wordnets and re-structuring it to for the purposes of Question Answering. Another possible research focus is semantically enhanced information search, including topics such as answer fusion in heterogeneous information repositories and answer quality assessment.

The successful applicants will join the rapidly growing Ubiquitous Knowledge Processing Lab. The Lab participates in several basic and applied research projects in information retrieval, summarization, mining knowledge from unstructured documents and providing semantically enhanced information management. The application areas of this research are eLearning 2.0, future business value networks and user generated discourse in Web 2.0. 

Post-doctoral applicants should have a strong background in Natural Language Processing and/or Computer Science and possess the ability to conduct original research. Doctoral applicants will work towards a PhD in Computer Science from the Technische Universitaet Darmstadt and should have a very good degree in the above listed disciplines. Experience in lexical semantic processing, interoperability of linguistic resources, Web Mining, Information Retrieval or Question Answering will be a definite plus. Strong programming skills in Java and a keen research interest are essential. The ability to cooperate with group members and work in interdisciplinary settings is beneficial, e.g. the project will collaborate with the Graduate Research Training Group "Quality in eLearning" at the Technische Universitaet Darmstadt.


The positions are open immediately, but later starting dates may be negotiable for qualified individuals. Candidates are encouraged to apply by July, 2nd, 2007. However, the positions are opened until filled, so applications arriving at a later date may still be considered.

Any inquiries should be directed to
Dr. Iryna Gurevych
gurevych(at)tk(dot)informatik(dot)tu-darmstadt(dot)de

To apply, please email:
(i) your statement of research interests,
(ii) a cv, including details of past research experience,
(iii) links to sample publications (if applicable), and
(iv) contact data of at least two referees.


You can send a hard copy of your application to:

Dr. Iryna Gurevych
FB 20 Computer Science
Technische Universitaet Darmstadt
Hochschulstraße 10
64289 Darmstadt
Germany