29.2088, Support: Computational Linguistics: PhD, Utrecht University

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-29-2088. Tue May 15 2018. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 29.2088, Support: Computational Linguistics: PhD, Utrecht University

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Date: Tue, 15 May 2018 12:06:33
From: Yoad Winter [y.winter at uu.nl]
Subject: Computational Linguistics: PhD, Utrecht University, Netherlands

 Institution/Organization: Utrecht University 
Department: Utrecht Institute of Linguistics (UiL OTS) 

Level: PhD 

Specialty Areas: Computational Linguistics 
 

Description:

PhD position in Data-Driven Computational Semantics and Geographic Information
Systems (1.0 FTE)

The Utrecht Institute of Linguistics (UiL OTS) invites applications for a PhD
position in data-driven computational semantics. The project will use large
corpora and machine learning methods to acquire meanings of spatially-based
concepts, which will be used as part of a natural language interface to
Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The project will enrich an initial model
of spatial meanings (Kracht 2002, Mani & Pustejovsky 2012, Zwarts & Winter
2000) with a selected set of semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic parameters. To
train this model, the project will acquire a large dataset of language use
with spatial language, including ordinary texts and expert interactions with
GIS. These data will be employed for training and evaluating the initial
model. This novel combination of semantic representation, data-driven learning
and evaluation against a real-life problem is expected to substantially
advance the ability of users to interact with geographic databases.
The project will be supervised by Dr. Tejaswini Deoskar and Prof. Yoad Winter,
in collaboration with Dr. Joost Zwarts and NLP researchers from the Language
and Computation group at the ILLC, University of Amsterdam (Prof. Khalil
Sima’an, Dr. Jelle Zuidema). The empirical study of elicited user data will be
carried out in collaboration with Prof. James Hampton (Psychology, City,
University of London). Work at the UiL OTS will be part of the ROCKY project,
financed by an ERC Advanced grant to Prof. Yoad Winter.

References:
Kracht, M., 2002. On the semantics of locatives. Linguistics and Philosophy,
25(2), pp.157-232.
Mani, I. and Pustejovsky, J., 2012. Interpreting motion: Grounded
representations for spatial language. Oxford U.P.
Zwarts, J. and Winter, Y., 2000. Vector space semantics: A model-theoretic
analysis of locative prepositions. Journal of logic, language and information,
9(2), pp.169-211.   

Qualifications:
- The successful applicant for this position should have a strong background
in artificial intelligence, machine-learning and computer science as well as
an interest in formal semantics.
- Applicants should ideally hold, or be about to complete, an excellent
Master's degree in Computational Linguistics or a related domain (Artificial
Intelligence, Machine Learning and/or Computer Science). 
- Good programming skills, proficiency in spoken and written English, as well
as a keen interest in problem solving and research are essential.   

Application details and additional information:
Look up the job ad at: 
https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs
For more information, please contact the Project Director (Yoad Winter) or the
Research Coordinator at UiL OTS (Maaike Schoorlemmer) .

Apply online through the link provided below. 

Interviews will be held during the week starting June 25, 2018.
 

Application Deadline: 17-Jun-2018 

Mailing Address for Applications:
	Attn: Maaike Schoorlemmer
	Netherlands 
	
Web Address for Applications: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs 

Contact Information: 
	Maaike Schoorlemmer
	Dept:Utrecht Institute of Linguistics (UiL OTS)
	Email:m.schoorlemmer at uu.nl  


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