PhD Student Position in Computing Science with focus on gender and natural language processing - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan

The Department of Computing Science in cooperation with the Graduate School of Gender Studies is seeking outstanding candidates for a PhD student position in Computing Science with focus on gender and natural language processing. Deadline for application is 2019-03-04.

The Department of Computing Science is a dynamic environment with around 100 employees representing more than 20 countries worldwide. We conduct education and research on a broad range of topics in Computing Science. The Foundations of Language Processing group conducts foundational and practical research on the processing of both natural and formal languages.
The Graduate School of Gender Studies has since 2001 co-financed research degree programmes at all faculties at Umeå University. A PhD student’s affiliation with Umeå Center for Gender Studies therefore entails participation in a unique and dynamic research training environment, at present seeing around thirty active PhD students.

Research project

Within this PhD position, you will employ and develop methods from natural language processing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to understand how gender bias, and other kinds of biases, appear in different types of text. A central project output is software tools for detecting typical expressions of bias. We will also consider how biased textual data, used in machine learning, can lead to biased models.

We will study what differences there are in how different groups are treated in text. We will compare women and men, but will also look at other groups, such as LGBTQ persons, ethnic minorities, etc. We extract typical features that distinguish writing about the different groups. We also study the role of the author and analyze how the type of text used influences the results. A critical analysis of how bias in the choice of data can affect the choice of features and, in the end, the quality of a learned model will be central. There are several recent examples of how machine learning algorithms, exposed to biased data, or outright manipulation, have resulted in strongly prejudicial models. Combining statistical methods and qualitative methods applied in gender studies, we will make a concerted effort to understand how bias is expressed in text. This will also be the foundation for software intended to automatically analyze text with respect to bias.

You, as a PhD student, will have a big influence on the scope and direction of the project, and thus be able to put your own emphasis on it, using your own intellect and creativity. If you are interested in a career in natural language processing or machine learning, and have a strong interest in gender studies and issues concerning the ethical use of computational methods, you should certainly apply for this position.

About the position
The successful applicant will be employed by Umeå University for a period of four years of full time PhD studies, provided that the studies are progressing reasonably well. PhD students are typically offered the opportunity to gain teaching experience on suitable undergraduate courses. If so, the employment period is extended to cover the time spent on teaching (at most 20 %). Expected starting date is 2019-09-01.

Admission requirements
The applicant is required to have completed a second- cycle level degree, or completed course requirements of at least 240 ECTS credits, of which at least 60 ECTS credits are at second-cycle level, or have an equivalent education from overseas, or equivalent qualifications. To fulfil the specific entry requirements for doctoral studies in computing science, the applicant is required to have completed courses at second-cycle level degree equivalent to 60 ECTS credits in computing science, or in a subject considered to be directly relevant for the specialstation in question.
Candidates are expected to have very good knowledge in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or Natural Language Processing. Good programming skills are a prerequisite as well as an interest in gender issues and Gender Studies.
Since research is conducted in an international research environment, the ability to collaborate and contribute to teamwork, and a very good command of the English language, both written and spoken, are key requirements.

Application
A complete application should contain the following documents:
• A cover letter including a description of your research interests, your reasons to apply for the position, and your contact information
• A research plan where you briefly describe how and with what focus you would conduct the research project outlined above (2-3 A4 pages)
• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• If applicable, copy of completed BSc and/or MSc thesis and other original research publications
• Copies of degree certificates, including documentation of completed academic courses and obtained grades
• Contact information for two persons willing to act as references

The application must be written in English or Swedish, and attached documents must be written in or translated to English or Swedish. Documents must be in Word or pdf format. Applications must be submitted electronically using the e-recruitment system of Umeå University, and be received no later than 2019-03-04. Reference number: AN 2.2.1-198-19. Log on to the system and apply via the button at the bottom of the web page.

The procedure for recruitment for the position is in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance (chapter 12, 2§) and the decision regarding the position cannot be appealed. We value the qualities that an even gender distribution brings to the department, and therefore we particularly encourage women to apply for the position.
For additional information, please contact Assoc. Prof. Henrik Björklund, henrik.bjorklund@umu.se.
For more information about the Graduate School of Gender studies, see https://www.umu.se/en/umea-centre-for-gender-studies/doctoral-studies/the-graduate-school-of-gender-studies/

We look forward to receiving your application!