Graduate research assistantship in Indigenous language technology

[Jordan Lachler]

Open Graduate Research Assistantship

The Department of Linguistics at the University of Alberta is offering a
graduate student position at either the MSc (2 years) or PhD (4 years)
level in its graduate program, beginning in September 2014 within the
research project 21st Century Tools for Indigenous Languages.

Currently, we are developing a prototype computational model of the
morphology and lexis of Plains Cree, which can be used to create software
applications such as a spell-checker, an intelligent electronic dictionary,
language learning and practice tools, a wordform analyzer, a wordform
generator, and a word paradigm generator, in order to facilitate the use of
Plains Cree in all spheres of life by community members.

This project is associated with several laboratories within the Department
of Linguistics and is led by Dr. Antti Arppe (Alberta Language Technology
Laboratory: ALTLAB), Dr. Jordan Lachler (Canadian Indigenous Languages and
Literacy Development Institute: CILLDI), Dr. Juhani Järvikivi (Centre for
Comparative Psycholinguistics: CCP), and Dr. Timothy Mills (ALTLab, Alberta
Phonetics Laboratory: APhL).

Successful applicants for this position will be required to meet the
entrance standards for admission to our graduate program.

Alongside studies in the Department’s graduate program, the graduate
student will participate in developing:
    •    a computational model of the morphology for Plains Cree (and/or
another indigenous language in North America) and subsequent computer-aided
writing, reading, and language learning applications; and/or
    •    text-to-speech synthesis, aiming at supporting the retention and
revitalization of these languages; and
    •    evaluation measures for either type of applications.

The position necessarily requires:
    •    a keen interest in North American Indigenous languages; and
    •    meeting the general entrance requirements to the Department’s
graduate program <
http://www.linguistics.ualberta.ca/en/GraduateProgram/GraduateAdmissions.aspx
>

We will prefer candidates with:
    •    experience in and knowledge of the phonology and/or morphosyntax
of Indigenous languages (in particular Plains Cree and other Algonquian or
North American indigenous languages); and/or
    •    experience in computational linguistics and natural language
processing (e.g. finite-state transducers, speech technology); and/or
    •    interest or experience in the evaluation of text-to-speech systems
and/or experimental study of language.

We offer:
    •    an opportunity to personally contribute to the practical retention
of linguistic diversity
    •    opportunities for well-rounded, comprehensive training in
empirical research methods in field linguistics, psycholinguistics and
corpus linguistics as well as in language technology;
    •    a chance to participate in a international research project
involving collaboration with leading research centers in the development of
language technology and research on Indigeneous languages (Giellatekno
Institute, University of Tromsø <http://giellatekno.uit.no/english.html>).

To apply, send by email to Dr. Antti Arppe <arppe at ualberta.ca>:
    1.    a brief statement of research interests and relevant background;
    2.    curriculum vitae (including possible publications and
presentations);
    3.    transcripts of university studies; and
    4.    at least two confidential academic letters of reference delivered
directly to Dr. Arppe by the referees.

We will start considering applications on May 26, 2014. The position is
open until filled.

For further information, please consult the position announcement on the
project website <http://altlab.artsrn.ualberta.ca/?page_id=187> and contact
Dr. Antti Arppe <arppe at ualberta.ca>.
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