36.2894, Jobs: English; Computational Linguistics: Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) in Computational Linguistics, University of York

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-36-2894. Mon Sep 29 2025. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 36.2894, Jobs: English; Computational Linguistics: Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) in Computational Linguistics, University of York

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Date: 26-Sep-2025
From: Alex Mussell [recruitment at york.ac.uk]
Subject: English; Computational Linguistics: Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) in Computational Linguistics, University of York


Job Location: York, United Kingdom
Job Title: Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) in Computational
Linguistics
Job Rank: Researcher

Specialty Areas: Computational Linguistics

Specialty Language(s): English (eng)

Description:
The Department of Language and Linguistic Science is seeking to
appoint a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) in Computational
Linguistics for a fixed term of two years to work on “Developing
Y-ACCDIST’s robustness for use on Levantine Arabic dialects”. This is
a subproject of the Common European Language Indication and Analysis
(CELIA) project (led by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service of
the Netherlands Ministry of Asylum and Migration and co-funded by the
European Union), awarded to Project Lead Dr George Brown of Lancaster
University with Co-Investigator and York Lead Professor Sam Hellmuth
at the University of York.
The Department is a leading centre in the UK for teaching and research
in theoretical, experimental and empirical linguistics. In the most
recent 2021 Research Excellence Framework, we ranked 1st overall in
the UK in the Modern Languages and Linguistics unit of assessment for
the quality of our research, impact and research environment. The
Department Early Career Forum actively supports career development of
all early career staff, including Postdoctoral Researchers, who are
represented on the Department Research Committee.
Role:
The role holder will form part of the small team of researchers
working in Lancaster and York on the “Developing Y-ACCDIST’s
robustness for use on Levantine Arabic dialects” CELIA subproject. We
are looking for someone who can support development of a robust
workflow for automatic speech recognition (ASR) in audio recordings of
dialectal Arabic speech, to generate transcripts for use in training
and testing of a system to provide semi-automatic language indications
for Arabic language variants. This task entails experimentation with
alternative romanised transcription systems in addition to Arabic
script, and development of processes for transformation of transcripts
between transcription systems, as well as development of protocols for
comparative evaluation of the accuracy of different types of
transcript. The subproject will be working with identified specific
sources of gold-standard training data in Arabic dialects.
The ideal role holder will have experience of development and/or use
of ASR workflows for dialectal Arabic speech, as well as the technical
expertise to develop, document and evaluate aspects of this type of
workflow. The role holder will also have a high level of proficiency
in Arabic, ideally including one or more Levantine Arabic dialects, as
well as an excellent command of English. Key duties and
responsibilities will include:
 - To support the development, documentation and evaluation of a novel
workflow to provide semi-automatic language indications for Arabic
language variants, in an end-use context which requires use of
gold-standard training data.
 - To conduct individual and collaborative research.
 - To develop and initiate collaborative working internally and
externally
 - To undertake appropriate organisational and administrative
activities connected to the project.
Skills, Experience & Qualification needed:
 - PhD in Linguistics or Computer Science or another related field, or
equivalent experience
 - Knowledge of the linguistic and computational underpinnings of
speech technology
 - Ability to develop solutions for an ASR workflow in appropriate
coding languages e.g. Python
 - High level proficiency in English and Arabic, ideally including one
or more Levantine Arabic dialects
 - A strong background of knowledge of speech technology and/or
natural language processing applications for Arabic, and proven
familiarity with the challenges of research in this area is desirable
 - Experience of working with different systems for orthographic
representation or transcription of dialectal Arabic is desirable
Interview date: To be confirmed
For informal enquiries: please contact Professor Sam Hellmuth on
sam.hellmuth at york.ac.uk.

Application Deadline: 19-Oct-2025
Mailing Address for Applications:
        University of York, York, YO10 5DD
        United Kingdom
Email Address for Applications: sam.hellmuth at york.ac.uk
Web Address for Applications:
https://jobs.york.ac.uk/vacancy/postdoctoral-research-associate-pdra-in-computational-linguistics-595465.html
Application Instructions:
Please apply on the University website
Contact Information:
        Sam Hellmuth
        Email: sam.hellmuth at york.ac.uk



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