Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational Dialogue Modeling

Faculty/Services: Faculty of Science

Educational level: Promoted

Function type: Academic Staff

Closing date: 1 September 2022

Vacancy number: 10039

Are you interested in modeling how communication shapes language learning? Do you have experience working with dialogue, multi-agent communication, or visually grounded language? If you are excited about doing cutting-edge research on this kind of topics in an interdisciplinary environment, with a team of friendly and enthusiastic colleagues, then you may want to join us.

We are looking for a Postdoctoral researcher to join the Dialogue Modelling Group led by Raquel Fernández at the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation, University of Amsterdam. You will be funded by the ERC Consolidator project Distributed dynamic representations for dialogue management (DREAM), and have considerable freedom in choosing your research agenda.

What are you going to do

Your tasks and responsibilities:

• Carry out research aligned with the general objectives of the DREAM project and the research profile of the group.

• Publish at key international conferences and in leading journals.

• Contribute your expertise to joint research projects within the group.

• Participate in and contribute to the organization of research activities and events at the ILLC, such as workshops and colloquia.

• Make a small contribution to the ILLC’s educational mission, by possibly taking part in teaching and student supervision activities in areas related to your expertise.

What do we require

1. A PhD in Natural Language Processing, Computational Linguistics/Psycholinguistics, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or related field.

2. Solid expertise in one or more of these aspects: current deep-learning methods in NLP, current deep-learning methods in vision-and-language, dialogue systems, statistical models of interaction and computational pragmatics.

3. A strong publication record (relative to your career stage).

4. Excellent ability to write and present scientific results in English.

5. Good social and organizational skills.

Please note that knowledge of the Dutch language is not required for this position, nor is it required for being able to live in Amsterdam. However, if you wish, there are plenty of opportunity to enroll in Dutch language classes.

What can we offer you

A temporary contract for 38 hours a week, starting as soon as possible for the duration of 24 months. You will be employed by the Faculty of Science of the University of Amsterdam and be affiliated with the ILLC.

The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be €2.960 to €4.670 gross per month (scale 10), based on a fulltime contract (38 hours a week). This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU) is applicable.

What else do we offer?

• Excellent possibilities for further professional development and education;

• An enthusiastic, inspiring, and professional academic team;

• The opportunity to collaborate with leading researchers at the ILLC and within the Amsterdam AI ecosystem at large.

About us

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 39,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

The Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) is an interdisciplinary research institute within the UvA that aims at bringing together insights from various fields concerned with information and information processing, such as computational linguistics, computer science, cognitive science, logic, mathematicians, and philosophy. It offers a friendly international research environment with world-class faculty in all its areas of specialization, including Natural Language Processing and AI. The Dialogue Modelling Group is based at LAB42, in the Science Park of the beautiful city of Amsterdam, renowned for its historic system of canals, its laid-back cosmopolitan atmosphere, and its excellent connections to the rest of Europe and the world.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

Questions

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Raquel Fernández

Job application

Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your application. The deadline to submit your application is the 1st of September 2022, but interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis and the vacancy may close sooner if a suitable candidate is found before this date. Applications received by the 21st of August 2022 will receive full consideration. You are welcome to get in touch beforehand if you are thinking about applying.

You can apply online by using the link below.

Applications should include the following information in PDF format:

• A motivation letter (max 1 page, font size 11), explaining why you are a good fit for this position and how your research interests and track record align with the Dialogue Modelling Group.

• A CV (max 2 pages, font size 11), including URL to your personal website, list of key publications, and contact details of 2 people who could be asked for recommendation letters.

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritise diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

If you encounter Error GBB451, reach out to our HR Department directly. They will gladly help you continue your application.