PhD position (100%) in Computational analysis of coherence relations in Dutch (vacancy number 209075)
University of Groningen, Faculty of Arts
Center for Language and Cognition
The Center for Language and Cognition Groningen (CLCG) is a research institute within the Faculty of
Arts of the University of Groningen. It embraces all the linguistic research in the faculty. A
considerable number of the researchers participate in the Graduate School for Behavioral and Cognitive
Neurosciences (BCN), and in the Landelijke Onderzoekschool Taalwetenschap (LOT). Within the
CLCG there are six research groups: Computational Linguistics, Discourse and Communication,
Language Variation and Language Change, Language and Literacy Development across the Life Span,
Neurolinguistics, and Syntax and Semantics.
The research groups Discourse and Communication and Computational Linguistics are looking for a
PhD student to participate in the NWO-funded research programme Modelling Textual Organisation
(http://www.let.rug.nl/mto). This programme studies the organisation of text into structural units by
means of coherence (discourse relations between clausal and larger units) and cohesion (lexicosemantic relations between words in textual units). The programme is organised around two related
PhD projects, focussing on coherence and cohesion, respectively. Both projects contribute to and then
work with an annotated corpus of expository and persuasive Dutch texts.
We are inviting applications for one of these PhD projects (the other project is already underway). The
successful candidate will study the mechanisms that are used to establish coherence in Dutch texts by
focusing on three computational research questions:
(1) To what extent can syntactic pre-processing of text contribute to the task of annotating
discourse structure?
(2) To what extent can discourse relations be added to a text automatically?
(3) Does annotation of discourse relations contribute to automatic summarization of text?
Requirements
● Master's degree in (Computational) Linguistics, Computer Science, or a related field
● excellent record of undergraduate and Master's level study
● knowledge of Dutch or the willingness to learn it
● ability to work together with other researchers
Conditions of employment
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: Four years (100%), starting as soon as possible.
The positions require residence in Groningen, 38 hours/week research, and must result in a PhD
dissertation. After the first year there will be an assessment of the candidates' results and the progress
of the project to decide whether the employment will be continued.
The University of Groningen offers a salary of € 2042 gross per month in the first year to € 2612 gross
per month in the fourth year (figures based on full employment) .
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:
Dr. Gosse Bouma (principal advisor)
Tel. +31 50 3635937
E-mail: g.bouma@rug.nl
Ms. Wyke van der Meer, secretariat CLCG
Tel. +31 50 3635806
E-mail: w.a.van.der.meer@rug.nl
Additional information can also be obtained through the following links:
http://www.rug.nl/let/onderzoek/onderzoekinstituten/clcg/index
http://www.let.rug.nl/mto
You can apply for these vacancies before 15 March 2009 by sending your application to:
University of Groningen
Personnel and Organisation Department
P.O. Box 72
9700 AB Groningen
The Netherlands
E-mail: vmp@rug.nl
Interviews will take place as soon as possible after the application deadline.
Please include
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a letter of application
your CV
a copy of your diplomas and a list of grades
a list of publications (if applicable)
the names and e-mail addresses of two referees
a short statement (no more than 2,000 words) about your motivation to apply for this project
When applying for this project, please quote the vacancy number 209075