[LFG] postdoc position computational linguist 4yrs VU University Amsterdam

[Antske Fokkens]

Job position: PostDoc Researcher

Fte: 0.8 fte, 4 years (expandable to a full time position with an
educational task for the Research Master track Human Language Technology)

Vacancy Number: 18254

Closing date: August 15 , 2018

Project

The PostDoc will work on the NWO project Framing situations in the Dutch
language. Language plays a central role in framing, as we daily choose
which nouns and verbs describe or frame, a given situation. For some
languages, researchers created databases (called FrameNets) containing rich
collections of conceptual schemas (frames) that describe situations from a
certain perspective. These frames are connected to words and sentences that
express them. Several lexical resources exist for Dutch, but no FrameNet.
Moreover, we have limited knowledge of the variation of framing in Dutch
and how this compares to other languages. The project’s objectives are 1)
to create a unique data set where similar situations are framed by many
different sources and texts using a newly developed data-to-text method, 2)
to capture the variation in framing these situations in Dutch and other
languages, 3) to capture semantic-pragmatic factors underlying the usage of
different frames for similar situations, and 4) to develop semantic frame
and role annotation software. An additional concrete outcome of this
project is a Dutch FrameNet contributing to the renowned Berkeley
Multilingual FrameNet project, which assesses the cross-linguistic validity
of frames and investigates crosslinguistic variation in framing. The
insights, resources and technologies created by this project provide new
possibilities for (industrial) data analysts and researchers from the
Humanities and Social Sciences. The project is coordinated by Prof. Dr.
Piek Vossen and the PostDoc will collaborate with two PhDs (to be hired)
and the research staff at CLTL and the University of Groningen.

Tasks

– Further develop and apply the data-to-text method to collect Dutch,
English, and Italian texts that frame the same and similar situations,
which starts from event-registries and structured data on events and
automatically acquires texts that make reference to these events [1].

– Develop an annotation environment that exploits the structured event data
shared by different texts, uses the background FrameNet lexicon and
ontology and results in faster and more consistent annotation.

– Train and supervise student-assistents that will carry out the annotation
with the environment.

– Define crowd-annotation tasks to expand the student annotations.

– Derive a FrameNet lexicon supported by and as an abstraction of the
corpus annotations; deploy this lexicon for supporting further annotations.

– Set up an evaluation framework to test the annotation and the lexicon in
acquisition, annotation and lexicalisation cycles.

– Co-supervise one PhD in the project.

– Work on the synthesis of the project in colloboration with the
Multilingual FrameNet project of Berkeley University.

Requirements: The ideal candidate:

1. has a PhD in (computational) linguistics or computer science

2. has good knowledge and control of the Dutch language and English,
preferably also Italian.

3. has a strong computational linguistics background or a computer science
background with experience in natural language processing and machine
learning

4. has good programming skills

5. can work well in a team

6. preferably has knowledge/experience of/with FrameNet

7. preferably has knowledge and experience in lexicology

Group and Collaborations

The work is carried out at the Computational Lexicology and Terminology Lab
(CLTL), which is led by the Spinozalaureate Prof. Dr. Piek Vossen. CLTL is
a renowned research group that studies language understanding, generation
and interaction through computer models, based on latest technologies, such
as neural networks and (un)supervised data approaches, in combination with
symbolic knowledge resources, such as computational lexicons and
linked-open data repositories. CLTL also runs the Research Master track
Human Language Technology, which attracts many international students. More
information on the research projects and the master program can be found at
the website: www.cltl.nl.

CLTL is part of the Network Institute (http://networkinstitute.org): an
interfacultary research institute in which more than 200 researchers from
different disciplines collaborate. CLTL has strong ties with the Faculty of
Computer Science and Social Sciences at the VU University, through joined
projects, PhDs and education programs. Furthermore, CLTL has a long
tradition of collaboration both nationally and internationally with
research groups at other universities and companies. In this project, we
will specifically collaborate with Prof. Dr. Johan Bos and Dr. Malvina
Nissim from the University of Groningen and Prof. Dr. Collin Baker from
Berkeley University.

Workplace

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is a leading, innovative and growing
university that is at the heart of society and actively contributes to new
developments in teaching and research. Our university has ten faculties
which span a wide range of disciplines, as well as several institutes,
foundations, research centres, and support services. Its campus is located
in the fastest-growing economic region in the Netherlands (the Zuidas
district of Amsterdam), and provides work for over 4,500 staff and
scientific education for more than 23,000 students.

Further particulars:

The position is possibly expanded to a full time position with an
educational task for the Research Master track Human Language Technology.
We aim at starting the project between September 2018 and January 2019. The
appointment will be initially for 1 year. After satisfactory evaluation of
the initial appointment, it can be extended for a total duration of 4 years.

You can find information about our excellent fringe benefits of employment
at www.workingatvu.nl like:

• remuneration of 8,3% end-of-year bonus and 8% holiday allowance

• solid pension scheme (ABP);

• a minimum of 29 holidays in case of full-time employment;

• participation in Individual Choices model;

• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge.

Salary:

The starting salary will be in accordance with university regulations for
academic personnel, and depending on experience, range from a minimum of
€3238,- gross per month up to a maximum of €3475,- gross per month (salary
scale 10) based on a fulltime employment.

For additional information please contact:

Piek Vossen phone: +31 20 59 86457

e-mail: piek.vossen at vu.nl

website: cltl.nl

Application

Applicants are requested to write a letter in which they describe their
abilities and motivation, accompanied by a curriculum vitae and one or two
references (name(s) and e-mail address(es). Please send your
application by August
15 to:

Prof. Dr. Piek Vossen

Faculty of Humanities

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Applications should be send by email: piek.vossen at vu.nl

Please mention the vacancy number in the e-mail header.

Any other correspondence in response to this advertisement will not be
dealt with.

[1] http://vossen.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/data-to-text.pdf
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