LINGUIST List 29.291
Wed Jan 17 2018
Support: Computational Linguistics: PhD, University of Geneva
Editor for this issue: Clare Harshey <clarelinguistlist.org>
Date: 15-Jan-2018
From: Manny Rayner <Emmanuel.Rayner
unige.ch>
Subject: Computational Linguistics: PhD, University of Geneva,
Switzerland
E-mail this
message to a friend Department: Department of Translation Technology
Web Address:
http://www.unige.ch/fti/fr/faculte/departements/dtim/
Level: PhD
Institution/Organization: University of Geneva
Duties: Research,Project Work
Specialty Areas: Computational
Linguistics
Computer Assisted Language Learning
Description:
We invite applications for a fully funded PhD studentship at the Faculty of
Translation and Interpreting, University of Geneva, Switzerland, to work on the
project: “A Crowdsourcing Platform for Spoken CALL Content”.
Project
Description: The central goal of this project is to develop a crowdsourcing network
capable of creating large quantities of content for speech-enabled Computer-Assisted
Language Learning (CALL). The software platform initially used to create and host
the content would be an extended version of the CALL-SLT Lite platform (
http://callslt.unige.ch/demos-and-resources/).
CALL-SLT Lite has been designed with crowdsourcing in mind as a possible long-term
goal. The most important extension required is a better “Wizard”-style web interface
for course construction.
The main thrust of the project is concerned with
setting up the required crowdsourcing infrastructure, in particular developing the
system of incentives and rewards needed to motivate the content-producers, together
with a set of metrics that can be used to track progress. Extrapolating from the
histories of successful networks of this kind (Wikipedia, Amazon, Goodreads etc), we
hypothesize that it should be possible to adapt the core ideas of likes/votes,
mediation of comments and gamification to the CALL domain, and establish the
necessary momentum. The project will be closely integrated with the enetCollect COST
network (
http://enetcollect.eurac.edu/),
in which the Geneva University group is an active partner; it will initially aim to
recruit both content-producers and content-consumers from enetCollect. The
architecture of the crowdsourcing network will be designed so that other CALL
platforms, in particular platforms developed by other groups in enetCollect, can
easily be integrated.
The ideal candidate will:
- Hold a degree in
computer science, cognitive science or a related field;
- Have nontrivial
practical experience with software development, especially web technology, and a
strong interest in crowdsourcing and/or social networks;
- Demonstrate strong
writing and analytical skills, as well as good programming skills.
Knowledge
of French is desirable but not essential. PhD theses at the Faculty may be written
in several languages, including English, and activities at the doctoral school are
in English.
The studentship is for three years starting during 2018, and
covers fees and a stipend of CHF 48,540 per annum.
Expressions of interest,
together with a CV, transcripts, and contact details of two referees should be sent
to Emmanuel.Rayner
unige.ch
and Pierrette.Bouillon
unige.ch.
Applications Deadline: 15-Jun-2018
Mailing Address for
Applications:
Attn: Professor
Pierrette Bouillon
Faculté de
traduction et d'interprétation, Département TIM, Université de Genève
40,
boulevard du Pont-d'Arve
Geneva
Geneva 1201
Switzerland
Contact Information:
Dr Manny
Rayner
Emmanuel.Rayner
unige.ch
Page Updated: 17-Jan-2018