Assistant Professor in Computational Linguistics

The Institute for Logic, Language and Computation is a research institute at the University of Amsterdam in which researchers from the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Humanities collaborate. Its central research area is the study of fundamental principles of encoding, transmission and comprehension of information. Research at the ILLC is interdisciplinary and aims at bringing together insights from various disciplines concerned with information and information processing, such as logic, mathematics, computer science, philosophy, linguistics, cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and musicology. The institute is organized in three research groups: Logic and Computation (LoCo), Logic and Language (LoLa) and Language and Computation (LaCo).

The ILLC has a temporary vacancy for an Assistant Professor position at the Faculty of Science. The position combines a 60% research task in computational linguistics, with a 40% teaching task concerning courses in computational linguistics and related areas.

ILLC participates in various educational programmes, including BSc and MSC programmes in Artificial Intelligence, an MSc programme Brain and Cognitive Sciences, and its own MSc programme in Logic.

Job description

The teaching task will be focused on two mandatory courses in the area of language theory and statistical natural language processing in the BSc programme Kunstmatige Intelligentie (Artificial Intelligence). Further tasks will include the teaching of one additional course (preferably in the MSc Brain and Cognitive Sciences or in the MSc Artificial Intelligence), the supervision of student projects, and regular administrative tasks related to teaching. Please note that in principle, the instruction language of the mentioned BSc programme is Dutch, while the MSc programmes are taught in English.

Concerning research, the successful candidate is expected to be able to conduct research independently. S/he will be required to draw up a research plan for a five-year project in the area of language and computation, to be carried out and completed during the temporary appointment.

Tasks

• teaching of two language-related courses in the UvA BSc programme in Artificial Intelligence;
• teaching of one additional course at MSc level, preferably in the MSc Brain and Cognitive Sciences or Artificial Intelligence;
• (co-)supervise student projects and perform regular administrative tasks related to teaching;
• conduct independent research in computational linguistics, resulting in contributions to leading international publications.

Requirements

• relevant PhD degree;
• excellent teaching skills, if possible evidenced in student evaluations, with demonstrable didactic abilities and/or training;
• experience in teaching courses in computational linguistics at university level;
• the ability and willingness to coach students intensively and to be part of a multi-disciplinary teaching team;
• excellent research skills and experience, evidenced by publications in renowned international journals or conference proceedings;
• a strong affinity with ILLC's multi-disciplinary environment.

Preference will be given to candidates who are able to teach in Dutch.

Further information

Further information regarding this vacancy may be obtained from the chair of the selection committee:

• dr. L. Torenvliet

Information concerning the BSc programme in Artificial Intelligence can be obtained from the programme director:

• dr. A. Visser

Appointment

The vacancy is for a temporary position for five years.

Based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week) the gross monthly salary will range from €3,324 to €5,171, depending on expertise and previous experience (scale 11 - 12). The salary will be augmented with an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The Collective Labour Agreement (CAO) for Dutch Universities is applicable.

The starting date of the appointment should be as soon as possible, but no later than 1 February 2016.

The University of Amsterdam is striving for a better gender balance in its staff whereby, in case of equal suitability, the appointment of a female candidate will have our preference. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Job application

To save paper and the environment, applications may only be submitted by electronic mail to application-science@uva.nl. Please quote 'Assistant Professor ILLC, vacancy number 15-296' in the subject line. Applications should include:

• a letter of motivation;
• a curriculum vitae, including a list of publications;
• a teaching statement describing your approach to teaching, including an overview of your teaching experience (1-2 pages) and, if possible, some recent student evaluations;
• a description of the concrete 4-year research project that you intend to carry out as the research part of your appointment (1-2 pages);
• the name and contact details (including email address) of three academic referees.

All these should be grouped in one single PDF attachment.

The closing date for application is 14 September 2015, after which a first selection will be made. Interviews will be held in October 2015.
No agencies please