PhD student in Computing Science with focus on gender and language technology

At the Department of Computer Science, which conducts research at the highest international level and offers several high-quality educational programs in Computer Science, we are now seeking a PhD student with a focus on gender, power, and media - AI methods for multilingual bias editing.
 
The Department of Computing Science has been growing rapidly in recent years, with a focus on creating an inclusive and bottom-up driven research environment.  Our workplace consists of a diverse set of people from different nationalities, backgrounds and fields. As a PhD student working with us, you receive the benefits of support in career development, networking, administrative and technical support functions, along with good employment conditions. More information about the department is available at: https://www.umu.se/en/department-of-computing-science/

This is a joint PhD position with the Umeå Centre for Gender Studies. The Graduate School of gender studies has since 2001 co-financed PhD students at all of Umeå University’s faculties. As a PhD student at the Graduate School of Gender Studies you will take part in a unique and dynamic research environment, in which about 30 PhD students are participating. More information available at: https://www.umu.se/en/umea-centre-for-gender-studies/the-gender-research-school/

Project description 
The project focuses on the development of AI methods for enabling the detection and editing of gender biases across cultural contexts (e.g., languages, gendered expectations, imageries) under the leadership of Henrik Björklund, Johanna Björklund, and Loïs Vanhée. This is a critical first step toward mitigating the social harms of large language models and other generative AI systems such as the promotion and preservation of structures of oppression and inequalities based on gender. The task is challenging because it is highly context-dependent, language is ambiguous, and bias signals vary across communities and cultures. The problem is further amplified in low- and medium-resource languages, where data scarcity constrains both measurement and mitigation.

To address these matters, this project will develop culturally informed tools for bias detection in NLP models. Such tools must be capable of operating across local cultural contexts and psychosocial factors. By collaborating with researchers proficient in gender studies and low-resourced languages, you will be able to draw on both the similarities and differences in how bias is expressed across settings. Using this comparative approach you will help design gender-bias detection and editing tools that can be readily adapted to new cultural and linguistic environments.

Admission requirements 
The general admission requirements for doctoral studies are 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 abroad, or equivalent qualifications. 

To be admitted to doctoral studies in the field of computer science, the applicant must have completed courses totaling at least 90 higher education credits in computer science or in subjects directly relevant to the specific specialization.

It is a requirement that you

• Have experience in Natural Language Processing
• Have a strong interest in Gender Studies, and a willingness to learn more
• Have a strong interest in interdisciplinary research (in particular with psychology and the social sciences)

It is meritorious if you

• Have competence in Gender Studies
• Are proficient in one or more low- to medium-resourced languages
• Have experience in multilingual Natural Language Processing
• Have experience in multimodal AI applications
• Have experience in interdisciplinary research

As a person, you are

• Curious
• Friendly
• Self-motivated
• Attentive to detail
• Driven by concerns for social good

About the position

The position provides you with the opportunity to pursue PhD studies in Computing Science for four years, with the goal of achieving the degree of Doctor in Computing Science. While the position is mainly devoted to PhD studies (at least 80% of the time), it may include up to 20% department service (usually teaching). If so, the total time for the position is extended accordingly, resulting in a maximum of five years.

Wage placement takes place according to the established salary ladder for doctoral student employment. According to the Higher Education Ordinance (Chapter 12, Section 2), the decision on employment cannot be appealed.

The expected starting date is 2026-09-01 or as otherwise agreed.

Application

Applications must be submitted electronically using the e-recruitment system of Umeå University.

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 curriculum vitae
• Reprints / copies of completed BSc and/or MSc theses and other relevant publications, if any
• Copies of degree certificates, including documentation of completed academic courses and obtained grades
• Documentation and description of other relevant experiences or competences.
• Contact information (email addresses) to at least two qualified persons who are willing to act as references on your behalf.
• A one-page description of how you would go about conducting the research described under “Project description” above.
• A half-page description of your experiences of, interest in, and knowledge about the field of Gender Studies (Gender Research).

NOTE: For the last two points, clearly state if, and in that case how, you have used generative AI to write the documents.

The highest ranked applicants will be asked to submit a work sample.

The application must be written in English or Swedish. Attached documents must be in pdf format. Applications must be submitted electronically using the e-recruitment system of Umeå University, and be received no later than 2026-01-30. 

The Department of Computing Science values gender diversity, and therefore particularly encourages women and those outside the gender binary to apply for the position.

For additional information, please contact 

Associate Professor Henrik Björklund (henrik.bjorklund@umu.se)
Professor Johanna Björklund (johanna.bjorklund@umu.se)
Associate Professor Loïs Vanhée (lois.vanhee@umu.se)