Research Positions Available

[John Harpur]

We would be very grateful if you could circulate these positions to likely
candidates
with experience of discourse analysis.

This is a brief description of the responsibilities.

Research Assistant (1)
Research Associate (1)

Currently clinical subjects are above the age of 12 with a
mean age of 15 (the third level student cohort is still
being assembled).  An understanding of clinical practice
and a respect for confidentiality are essential qualities.


Research Assistant:
Currently I am looking for a research assistant for
two years to research a pragmatics rating scale for
high functioning autistic adolescents and adults.
These adults are often referred to as exhibiting
Asperger's Syndrome (AS).  The research involves
three components: 
Firstly, video interviews of three groups of subjects.
(a) parents of those with AS, (b) those with
AS and (c) age matched normal teenagers.

The second component of the research involves
analysing lexical phrase frequencies and the usage
of certain categories adjectives and adverbs in normal and
AS teenagers.

The third component involves prototyping a notation
tool for psychiatrists and language therapists dealing
with AS clients. [For linguistics graduates we can
rejig this to suit up to a point].

The ideal candidate will have very good interpersonal
skills, be 'psychologically minded', and have a keen 
interest in discourse analysis especially as applied to 
casual conversation. At least an M.Sc (M.A.)is required. 
Car ownership would be an advantage. Salary is approx 
€26,000 per annum.  A probabtion period will apply.  
The position would suit someone interested in
research aspects of psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics.

Research Associate:
Initial contract is for one year though a two year project is envisioned.
This position is geared towards researchers with language therapy interests.
It complements the existing 
pragmatics rating scale project and some overlap is expected.

The project is based around a series of fifty videos covering a selection of
communication themes.  The videos have been made using age matched actors
and speech normalised for the adolescent/young adult age groups.

The research associate will assist in developing an appropriate curriculm
and instructional model to teach pragmatics skills to subjects with
Asperger's syndrome.  

The primary function of the research associate is to assist in the
development of a pragmatics training programme to be delivered partly by
computer and partly by home/school intervention.  Computer programming
skills are not a prerequisite.

The ideal candidate will have very good interpersonal
skills, be 'psychologically minded', and have a keen 
interest in discourse analysis especially as applied to 
casual conversation. The candidate must have practical speech and language
therapy experience.  Experience of working with clients in a therpaeutic
setting is a definite advantage, and at least an M.Sc (M.A.)is required. 
Car ownership would be an advantage. Salary is approx 
€45,000 per annum.  A probabtion period will apply.  
The position would suit someone interested in 
applied research in speech and language.

The position is funded by the Health Research Board and involves Computer
Science NUI Maynooth, the Department of Psychiatry TCD
and the Child and Adolescent Family Centre in Drogheda.

Clinical coordinators: 
Professor Michael Fitzgerald, Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College,
Dublin 2. IRELAND Dr Maria Lawlor, Consultant Child and Adolescent
Psychiatrist, Child and Family Centre, St Mary's Hospital, Drogheda, Co.
Louth maria.lawlor at nehb.ie

Computer Coordinator:
John Harpur		email: mailto:jharper at cs.may.ie
Computer Science Dept.
National University of Ireland, Maynooth
Co. Kildare
IRELAND

Research and development info: www.cs.may.ie/~jharper 
ph: ++353 (0) 1 7083850		fax: ++353 (0) 1 7083848

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