Jobs: research positions in Computational Linguistics, Potsdam, Germany

[Jonas Kuhn]

(A pdf version of the job ad can be found at:
   http://www.ling.uni-potsdam.de/~jonask/job-openings.html)

=====================================================================
Research positions (for Postdocs/Doctoral Researchers)
at the University of Potsdam, Germany:
Computational Linguistics, Statistical NLP
=====================================================================

The Theoretical Computational Linguistics group at the Linguistics
Department of the University of Potsdam, Germany, is seeking
postdoctoral and/or doctoral researchers to work on projects applying
machine learning and stochastic methods in linguistically informed
approaches to parsing, machine translation and corpus analysis. The
starting date is approximately August 2007.

Ideal candidates are Computational Linguists with an interest in
computational syntax/semantics and/or machine translation, with good
programming skills and experience in machine learning and/or
stochastic methods; a background in linguistic theory and syntactic
grammar formalisms (in particular Lexical-Functional Grammar) will be
a plus.

Research specializations of particular interest include the following:
- syntax-based statistical machine translation
- exploitation of parallel corpora for NLP tasks
   (e.g. annotation projection)
- weakly supervised learning techniques for NLP and corpus annotation
   (bootstrapping, co-training, active learning)
- machine learning and stochastic methods building on deep linguistic
   processing tools/combinations of multiple tools
- machine learning approaches to information-structural categories
   (given/new, topic, focus)

Knowledge of German is not required, but will be a plus.

The various successful candidates will work (i) in the "PTOLEMAIOS"
research project on grammar induction from parallel corpora and
syntax-based statistical machine translation (an Emmy Noether research
group funded by the German Research Foundation DFG); (ii) in project
D4 "Methods for interactive linguistic corpus analysis" within
Sonderforschungsbereich 632 (Collaborative Research Centre
"Information structure: the linguistic means for structuring
utterances, sentences and texts"), also funded by DFG; and (iii) on a
researcher/lecturer position funded by the university.  (For further
information on the research projects:
http://www.ling.uni-potsdam.de/~jonask/research.html)

All positions are temporary, with an initial contract over two-four
years.  Extensions are possible (subject to the availability of
funding and the rules of the German Hochschulrahmengesetz).

The salary and social benefits are determined by the German pay scale
for state employees (Entgeltgruppe: 13 TV-Laender, Tarifgebiet Ost;
formerly BAT-O IIa) and amounts to approximately EUR 3000 per month
for a full-time position.  The exact salary amount varies depending on
previous work experience.

Doctoral researchers will be employed on a part-time position,
following the DFG policy, and will have the opportunity of pursuing a
doctoral degree in Computational Linguistics at the University of
Potsdam.

The University of Potsdam offers a highly attractive academic
environment: the dynamic division of Computational Linguistics is part
of a strong Linguistics Department, which has interdisciplinary ties
with Psychology and Computer Science.  At the same time, Potsdam is a
very nice, yet affordable living environment, with world-famous
castles and parks, surrounded by lakes and forests.  Last but not
least, Germany's vibrant capital Berlin is just a 30-minute train ride
away.

The University of Potsdam is an equal opportunity employer.

Interested candidates are invited to send their application materials
(a C.V., [links to] sample publications, a statement of research
interests and two or three references), preferably by email, to the
address below.  Applications received by July 15, 2007 will receive
fullest consideration; however, the search continues until the
positions have been filled.

Prof. Dr. Jonas Kuhn
Universitaet Potsdam, Institut für Linguistik
Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 24/25
D-14476 Golm, Germany

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Jonas Kuhn,
Tel.: +49 331 977-2444, Fax: +49 331 977-2761,
Email: kuhn [AT] ling [DOT] uni-potsdam [DOT] de.