We are looking for a PHD researcher in language technology (computational construction grammar and artificial intelligence)
Organisational unit
itec is a research group of KU Leuven and imec, Flanders’ high-tech research and innovation hub for nanoelectronics and digital technologies. The interdisciplinary research concerns the design, development, and evaluation of personalized and adaptive digital solutions, with applications mostly in the domain of technology-enhanced education and training, but also in media and in health. Main research themes include: instructional design and effectiveness of technology-enhanced complex learning (e.g. collaborative problem-solving) based on theory and learning analytics data; the development of data-driven methods for effectiveness research (e.g. multilevel statistical modelling for meta-analysis) and for personalization (e.g. psychometric and machine learning techniques as well as language technology for intelligent tutoring systems). In order to realize this, itec brings together researchers trained in the learning sciences, statistics, computer science, and applied linguistics, in a cooperative research lab on the Kulak campus in Kortrijk. The research group often collaborates with industry and societal partners.
Project
Computational construction grammar is a branch of linguistics that aims to operationalize insights and analyses from construction grammar into concrete language processing models. These models can then be used in language technology applications, such as systems for human-computer interaction, question answering, robot instruction and intelligent tutoring.
As a doctoral researcher, you will investigate how construction grammars can be automatically learned by a computational entity (e.g. an autonomous agent), allowing it to communicate in its native environment. You will use a variety of machine learning techniques, ranging from deep neural networks to inductive logic programming. You will set up multi-agent simulations in which a population of autonomous agents makes use of these techniques to establish an effective and efficient communication system.
Your PhD project will be partially embedded in the interdisciplinary research project COSMO (COgnitive Support in Manufacturing Operations) in the imec.ICON programme, where you will apply and evaluate your research in real-world settings. You will collaborate with companies active in immersive training (virtual and augmented reality) and in the manufacturing industry, as well as with research teams at UGent, imec and Flanders Make.
Your research project is also embedded in imec’s research programme on Smart Education, in which you will interact with researchers from itec, University of Ghent, VUB and imec.
Profile
- You have obtained a master’s degree in computer science, artificial intelligence, computational linguistics or related domains.
- You have:
- excellent programming skills;
- an explicit interest in language, linguistics and language technology;
- strong communication skills, leadership skills, a high degree of flexibility.
- You deliver excellent work both independently and in team.
- You have a very good command of English and preferably also of Dutch (both in oral communication and in reading and writing).
Offer
In this role you will represent a prestigious research institute that aims for excellence in research with impact on society. You get the opportunity to develop yourself by learning about the EdTech landscape, the manufacturing industry and robotics, and get to know the (international) network in which we operate (the triple helix of social and economic players, the academic world and education). This position offers flexibility, the opportunity to work in a multicultural and multidisciplinary environment and to learn continuously. Your home office is located at the KU Leuven campus Kulak in Kortrijk.
We offer a full-time employment as a PhD researcher (scholarship) for 1 year, extendible to at least 2 years after a positive evaluation and to maximally 4 years pending further funding.
In addition to a competitive pay, KU Leuven offers a number of benefits, such as the possibility of flexible working, hospitalisation insurance, eco-vouchers, reimbursement of commuting expenses by public transport, inexpensive meals, a KU Leuven bicycle, …