LINGUIST List 13.990

Wed Apr 10 2002

Jobs: Natural Lang Processing: Research, SA Australia

Editor for this issue: Heather Taylor-Loring <heatherlinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. Dr Dominique Estival, Natural Language Processing: Research Scientist, SA Australia

Rank of Job: Research Scientist
Areas Required: Natural Language Processing
Other Desired Areas: 
University or Organization: Defence Science & Technology Organisation
Department: Information Technology Division
State or Province: SA
Country: AUSTRALIA
Final Date of Application: na
Contact: Dr Dominique Estival Dominique.Estivaldsto.defence.gov.au

Address for Applications:
Information Technology Division, DSTO, PO Box 1500
Edinburgh 
SA 5111
AUSTRALIA

Duties

The successful candidate will work as part of the language technology
team of the Human Systems Integration (HSI) Group. The language
technology team of HSI group carries out research in spoken, natural
language and database technologies and their application in military
messaging and communication. 

This team integrates speech recognition, speech synthesis and natural
language processing with military information systems and conducts
human computer interaction research to evaluate user interaction with
these systems through speech as well as manual communication
modalities. The successful candidate is expected to take
responsibility, as part of a multidisciplinary team, for research
towards development of concept and capability demonstrators, produced
in support of the language technology work of the HSI group.

Under limited direction, they will undertake research in natural
language processing and appropriate database technologies. In
particular, they will address the issues associated with the integration
of these technologies with military messaging, communication and
information systems. 

They will also be responsible for the design and development of spoken
language dialogue systems, including human interaction with embodied
conversational agents, and performance evaluation of speech enabled
and spoken language dialogue systems.

Knowledge, Experience and Qualities

The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. from an Australian
University or accredited tertiary institution, or equivalent
qualifications and experience appropriate to the duties of the
position. They must have demonstrated scientific research ability,
together with scientific skill and judgment and the capacity to make
mature assessments and decisions on the progress of scientific work
and its relevance to the military client.

Suitable applicants would have formal training or research experience
in one or more of the following: Natural Language Processing
techniques (including semantic, syntactic, and linguistic modelling);
Stochastic Modelling; Audio & text processing; Database technology,
including design and implementation of relational databases and
knowledge of SQL; Human computer interaction, including user interface
design and evaluation, and methods for multi-modal communication.

It is desirable that the successful applicant should also have
demonstrated knowledge and skills in one or more of the following:
Object-Oriented programming; Multi-thread programming; Data structures
and run-time optimisation; Finite State automata; Dynamic programming
and graph theory; Querying, renewal, and Hidden Markov Models.

It would be also be advantageous to the applicant to have demonstrated
computer programming skills, particularly in Java, C/C++, Delphi, and
MATLAB, together with a good knowledge of MS Windows or Solaris.
Knowledge of military messaging and communication, and knowledge or
experience with relevant military operations would also be considered
favourably.

The applicant should have sound written and oral communication skills,
the ability to report on the results of their work to scientific peers
and military clients, and to effectively communicate complex technical
concepts and issues with staff.