Piek Vossen & Leolani, VU Amsterdam. Fotocredit: Daan Muller.

Make robots talk! There is a lot of talk about robots taking part in our lives but there is little known about how to learn robots talk to us about the world we share. The Spinoza-project Understanding-Language-By-Machines looks for two ambitious, highly-motivated PhD students that want to work on our robot project Leolani. Leolani uses communication to learn about us and the world but she also needs to learn our language at the same time. Communicating and reasoning over the physical world and the people she encounters is a real challenge.

If you want to take on this challenge and be part of an exciting team working on the forefront of communicating machines, please apply at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Location: AMSTERDAM
PhD
FTE: 0.8 – 1.0

JOB DESCRIPTION

You will define your own research topic within the Leolaniframework and become part of the team of researchers that further develops the platform. Your topic may focus on the reasoning and the communication, taking a language understanding or a language generation perspective.

Your duties

• Define your research topic within the framework
• Carry out your research according to international standards
• Publish at least one article per year in an A or B ranked journal or conference proceedings
• Make your research and experiments publicly available and reproducible

REQUIREMENTS

• Masters degree in (Computational) Linguistics, Computer Science or Artificial Intelligence
• Knowledge of and experience with programming in Python
• Knowledge of and experience with Natural Language Processing

WHAT ARE WE OFFERING?

A challenging position in a socially involved organization. The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel and amounts €2,325 (PhD) per month during the first year and increases to €2,972 (PhD) per month during the fourth year, based on a full-time employment. The job profile: is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for at least 0.8 FTE.

The appointment will initially be for 1 year. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended for a duration of 4 years (or 5 years in case of a 0.8fte contract). Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus,
• contribution to commuting expenses,
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package,
• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge.

ABOUT VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT AMSTERDAM

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. And to be a university where personal education and societal involvement play a leading role. Where people from different disciplines and backgrounds work together on innovations and on generating new knowledge. Our teaching and research embrace the whole spectrum of science – from the humanities, the social sciences and the pure sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 24,500 students. We employ more than 4,600 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible, located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
Diversity is one of our university’s core values. We are an inclusive community, and we believe that diversity and international activities enhance the quality of education and research. We are always looking for people who can enhance diversity on our campus thanks to their background and experience.

Faculty of Humanities
The Faculty of Humanities links a number of fields of study: Language, Literature and Communication, Art & Culture, History, Antiquities and Philosophy. Our teaching and research focus on current societal and scientific themes: from artificial intelligence to visual culture, from urbanization to the history of slavery, from ‘fake news’ in journalism to communication in organizations. We strive to ensure small group sizes. Innovative education and interdisciplinary research are our hallmarks.

Working at the Faculty of Humanities means making a real contribution to the quality of leading education and research in an inspiring and personal work and study climate. We employ more than 250 staff members, and we are home to around 1,300 students.
 

About the department, institute, project
The Computational Lexicology and Terminology Lab(CLTL) is one of the world’s leading research groups in Human Language technology. Prof. dr. Piek Vossen, recipient of the NWO Spinoza Prize, heads the group of international researchers that are working on ground-breaking projects, among which the Spinoza project ‘Understanding Language by Machines’. 

CLTL and the research you are involved in is also embedded in the VU-gravity project on Hybrid Intellegence. You will collaborate with many researchers on key notions such as collaborative, explainable, adaptable and responsible AI. 

APPLICATION

Are you interested in this position? Please apply via the application button and upload your curriculum vitae and cover letter until 07/11/2019, 23:59.  In your application letter, describe breifly your ideas about the research you want to do and the methods you are going to use.

The job interviews are planned for December 2019, when possible please take them into account when applying for the position.

Applications received by e-mail will not be processed.

Vacancy questions
If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, you may contact:

Name: Piek Vossen
Position: Professor
E-mail: piek.vossen@vu.nl

Immediate Opening in the following position: Scientific Programmer (Dutch below)

The Computational Lexicology and Terminology Lab (CLTL), led by Spinoza prize winner Prof. dr. Piek Vossen, is looking for a scientific programmer with an interest in language technology.

Function title: Scientific Programmer
Fte: 0.6-0.8
VU Faculty: Humanities
Vacancy number: 17341
Closing date: Open until filled

Location: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands

In the NewsReader project, CLTL has developed a pipeline architecture containing software modules with which Dutch texts can be interpreted semantically. De software determines which events are named, who is involved, where, and when the events have taken place, what the sentiment of the named sources of the events is, et cetera. These interpretations are stored in XLM format, the so called Natural Language Annotation Format (NAF). Furthermore, the software generates a representation in RDF supporting (automatic) reasoning over the data. De RDF representations are stored in the so called Triple store and can be queried by means of SPARQL. The candidate takes care of the management of this unique Dutch Natural Language Processing (NLP) pipeline.

The tasks are being executed in the context of the NWO (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research)-roadmap project CLARIAH. In the project cooperations take place with researchers across the Netherlands to develop a research infrastructure for the humanities. There are also cooperations with the department of computer science at the VU, with the eScience institute to develop demonstrators, and with researchers abroad.

Requirements
Candidate is expected to support maintenance, usage and further development of the pipeline mentioned above:

• Standardisation and meta data management;
• Software release and versioning of modules;
• Testing;
• Logging;
• Distributive parallel installations and processing;
• Compilation, installation and packaging (e.g.: VMs, Docker);
• Process management;
• Integration in Virtual Research Environment for students and researchers in the Humanities;
• Installation and maintenance of demonstrators.

Ideal Applicant Requirements:
• MSc/MA in computer science/computational linguistics or equivalent title and/or experience;
• Extensive experience in programming languages among which Java and Python;
• Extensive experience with Unix-like systems (Linux and Mac);
• Experience with working within a team of researchers;
• Service oriented;
• Experience with large scale and complex Big Data processing flows;
• Knowledge of standardisation of data in both NLP and Semantic Web;
• Experience with NLP software;
• (preferably) Experience with Sparql and triple stores;
• (preferably) Experience with web-based clients for visualisation and demonstration.

Further particulars
The appointment will be initially for a period of 1 year with the possibility of an extension.

For the completion of the CLARIAH tasks a minimum of 0.6 fte and a maximum 0.8 fte is required.

You may find information about our excellent fringe benefits of employment at www.workingatvu.nl including:
• remuneration of 8,3% end-of-year bonus and 8% holiday allowance;
• solid pension scheme (ABP);
• a minimum of 29 holidays in case of full-time employment.

Salary
The salary will be depending on education and experience, and range from a minimum of € 2.588,- gross per month up to a maximum of € 4.084,- gross per month (salary scale 10) based on a fulltime employment.

Information
For additional information please contact:
Prof dr. Piek Vossen
phone: 020 59 86457
e-mail: piek.vossen@vu.nl
website: www.cltl.nl

Application
Applicants are requested to write a letter in which they describe their abilities and motivation, accompanied by a curriculum vitae and a list of software projects executed and publications.

Please send your application to: piek.vossen@vu.nl

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Attn. Faculty of Humanities
Prof dr. Piek Vossen

Please mention the vacancy number in the e-mail header or at the top of your letter and on the envelope.

Any other correspondence in response to this advertisement will not be dealt with.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is a leading, innovative and growing university that is at the heart of society and actively contributes to new developments in teaching and research. Our university has ten faculties which span a wide range of disciplines, as well as several institutes, foundations, research centres, and support services. Its campus is located in the fastest-growing economic region in the Netherlands (the Zuidas district of Amsterdam), and provides work for over 4,500 staff and scientific education for more than 23,000 students

Functietitel: Wetenschappelijk Programmeur
Fte: 0.6-0.8
VU eenheid: FGW
Vacaturenummer: 17341
Sluitingsdatum: Open tot ingevuld

Het Computational Lexicology and Terminology Lab (CLTL) onder leiding van Spinozaprijswinnaar Prof. Dr. Piek Vossen zoekt per direct een wetenschappelijke programmeur met interesse voor taaltechnologie. CLTL heeft in het NewsReader project een pipeline architectuur ontwikkeld met software modules waarmee Nederlandse teksten semantisch geïnterpreteerd kunnen worden. De software bepaalt welke gebeurtenissen worden genoemd, wie er bij betrokken zijn, waar en wanneer die hebben plaatsgevonden, wat het sentiment is van de genoemde bronnen over die gebeurtenissen, etc. Deze interpretaties worden opgeslagen in een XML formaat, het zogenaamde Natural Language Annotation Format (NAF). Verder genereert de software een representatie in RDF die het mogelijk maakt om over de data te redeneren. De RDF representaties worden opgeslagen in een zogenaamde Triple store waar ze door middel van SPARQL bevraagd kunnen worden. De kandidaat zal zorgdragen voor het beheer van deze unieke Nederlandse Natural Language Processing (NLP) pipeline.

De werkzaamheden worden uitgevoerd in het NWO-roadmap project CLARIAH waarin samengewerkt wordt met onderzoekers uit heel Nederland om een onderzoeksinfrastructuur te ontwikkelen voor de geesteswetenschappen. Verder wordt er samengewerkt met het departement van computer science bij de VU, het eScience instituut voor demonstrators en met buitenlandse onderzoekers.

Functie-inhoud
De kandidaat wordt verwacht ondersteuning te leveren aan het onderhoud, gebruik en verdere ontwikkeling van deze pipeline:
• Standaardisatie en metadatabeheer;
• Software release en versioning van modules;
• Testing;
• Logging;
• Distributieve parallelle installaties en processing;
• Compilatie, installatie en packaging (bijv. VMs, Docker);
• Procesmanagement;
• Integratie in Virtual Research Environment voor studenten en onderzoekers in de geesteswetenschappen;
• Installatie en onderhoud van demonstrators.

Functie-eisen
• MA in computer science of een vergelijkbare titel en/of ervaring;
• Ruime ervaring met diverse programmeertalen, waaronder Java en Python;
• Ruime ervaring met Unix-achtige systemen (Linux en Mac);
• Ervaring in het werken binnen een team van onderzoekers;
• Servicegericht zijn.
• Ervaring met grootschalige en complexe Big Data processing flows;
• Kennis van standaardisatie van data in zowel NLP als Semantic Web;
• Ervaring met het werken met NLP software;
• (bij voorkeur) ervaring met Sparql en triple stores;
• (bij voorkeur) ervaring met web-based clients voor visualisatie en demonstratie;

Bijzonderheden
De arbeidsovereenkomst wordt in eerste instantie aangegaan voor een periode van
1 jaar. Verlenging van de arbeidsovereenkomst behoort tot de mogelijkheden.
Voor de CLARIAH werkzaamheden is een invulling van minimaal 0.6 fte en maximaal 0.8 fte nodig.

De Vrije Universiteit heeft aantrekkelijke secundaire arbeidsvoorwaarden en regelingen zoals:
• 8,3% eindejaarsuitkering en 8% vakantietoeslag;
• Goede pensioenregeling (ABP);
• Minimaal 29 vakantiedagen bij volledige arbeidsduur;

Salaris
Het salaris bedraagt afhankelijk van opleiding en ervaring minimaal € 2.588,- en maximaal € 4.084,- bruto per maand (salarisschaal 10) bij een voltijds dienstverband.

Informatie
Voor meer informatie kunt u contact opnemen met:
Prof dr. Piek Vossen
tel.: 020 59 86457
e-mail: piek.vossen@vu.nl
website: www.cltl.nl

Sollicitatie
Kandidaten kunnen solliciteren naar deze functie door een motivatiebrief, curriculum vitae en lijst van uitgevoerde softwareprojecten en publicaties onder vermelding van het vacaturenummer in de e-mail header te sturen aan:

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
T.a.v. Faculteit der Geesteswetenschappen
Prof dr. Piek Vossen

Het vacaturenummer graag vermelden in de e-mail header of linksboven op uw brief en envelop.

De Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) is een vooraanstaande, innovatieve en groeiende universiteit die midden in de samenleving staat en actief bijdraagt aan de ontwikkelingen in onderwijs en onderzoek. Onze breed georiënteerde universiteit telt tien faculteiten, verschillende instituten, stichtingen en onderzoekscentra, en ondersteunende diensten. Op de campus aan de snelst groeiende economische regio van Nederland (de Zuidas), werken ruim 4.500 medewerkers en volgen ruim 23.000 studenten wetenschappelijk onderwijs.

Acquisitie naar aanleiding van deze advertentie wordt niet op prijs gesteld.

We are hiring: Postdoctoral researcher/PhD candidate in Computational Linguistics

The Amsterdam Academic Alliance (AAA) is a joint initiative of the two Amsterdam-based universities – VU and the UvA – aimed at intensifying collaboration with each other and with other knowledge institutions in the region. The objective of the AAA is to cement Amsterdam’s position as a major international player and hub of academic excellence. The alliance is to result in different outcomes in each scientific field.

This advertisement concerns one of the 14 positions. The Network Institute of the VU University of Amsterdam is looking for a motivated Postdoctoral researcher or PhD student for the project “From text to Deep Data”. The candidate will be part of the Network Institute of the VU University Amsterdam and will work within multidisciplinary teams of humanities researchers and computer scientists.
The work will be done in the context of a larger research program called “QuPiD2: Quality and Perspectives in Deep Data” in collaboration with other researchers aiming all together to achieve a formal modeling of quality and perspectives.

As part of the QuPiD2 research team, the candidate will develop 1) a perspective model for representing the subjective relation between the source of information and the statements in it, and 2) software to detect such interpersonal communication layers and perspectives from text. The project will transform big unstructured text data into deep data that show the emotions, opinions and view points on the changing world. It will reveal the social networks and dynamics within trust networks that influence our world views.

Tasks
1. Studying existing models for handling provenance, attribution, sentiments, opinions and emotions as expressed in text.
2. Developing an overarching perspective model for representing the subjective relations between sources and their statements. The model will initially be based on textual data but should show the capacity to model perspectives on any type of (big) data.
3. Using semantic web standards, e.g. RDF, SPARQL, to represent and access the data within the project
4. Studying existing NLP approaches to detect perspective relations in texts. Both English and Dutch texts will be considered.
5. Developing a machine-crowd empowered processing of textual sources for populating the QuPiD2 model
6. Creating data sets for training and evaluation through expert annotation and crowd annotation.
7. Developing new components and approaches to obtain the perspective values within the model from textual data.
8. Evaluate the components against the data sets developed and within an application environment.
9. Collaboration with the QuPiD2 program research team
10. Publish the results of the work as scientific articles in high ranked journals and conferences, as well as present the work at relevant scientific venues

Requirements
The candidate should have a strong background (MA) in computational linguistics and semantic web technology with expertise in data modelling, modelling perspectives, subjectivity and attribution relations expressed in natural language. The candidate should have sufficient programming skills and experience with data engineering and text mining.

Further particulars
The appointment will be for a period of three years for a postdoc and four years for a PhD student. You can find information about our excellent employment conditions at www.workingatvu.nl such as:
• Remuneration of 8,3% end-of-year bonus and 8% holiday allowance;
• Solid pension scheme (ABP);
• A minimum of 29 holidays In case of full-time employment;
• Possibilities to save up holidays for sabbatical leave.

Salary
For a postdoc, the salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel, and depending on experience, range from a minimum of € 2,476 gross per month up to a maximum of € 3,908 gross per month (salary scale 10) based on a full-time employment.

For a PhD student, the salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel, range from a minimum of € 2,125 gross per month in the first year up to a maximum of € 2,717 (salary scale 85.0-3) based on full-time employment.

Information
For additional information please contact:
Prof. Piek Vossen
phone: +31 681773878 or +31 20 59 86457
e-mail: info@cltl.nl / attention Piek Vossen
website: http://www.cltl.nl

Dr. Lora Aroyo
Phone: +31 620329972
e-mail: lora.aroyo@vu.nl
website: http://lora-aroyo.org, http://wm.cs.vu.nl

Application
Applications may only be submitted via informatica.secretariaat.few@vu.nl. To process your application immediately, please quote the vacancy number and the title of the position you are applying for in the subject-line. Applications must include a detailed curriculum vitae, a motivation letter explaining why you are the right candidate, list of projects you have worked on with brief descriptions of your contributions and the names and contact addresses of two academic references from which information about the candidate can be obtained. All these should be grouped in one PDF attachment.

Applications will be accepted until 10 May 2015.

Any other correspondence in response to this advertisement will not be dealt with.