Research position in NLP (FBK, Trento, Italy)
Application deadline: 11 April, 2023
This position is offered within Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (PNRR) initiative, Partenariato Esteso "Future Artificial Intelligence Research" (FAIR) (Spoke 2). The FAIR spoke on Integrative AI proposes an overarching interdisciplinary approach to AI, with integration along two dimensions. Horizontal integrative-AI deals with the combination of several high-level elements: (i) modeling, reasoning, and deliberation in autonomous agents; (ii) interaction with the environment, including humans; (iii) cooperation among multiple artificial and human agents. Vertical Integrative AI is oriented to theories and techniques combining different scientific methods, competences, and technologies in specific AI sectors. This includes the integration of heterogeneous computational representation and reasoning/learning techniques, e.g. data-driven and model-based approaches, symbolic and sub-symbolic representations, as well as the integration of research closely related to AI such as formal methods, complex systems, software engineering, and cognitive science. Top FBK researchers in the field of AI have committed to lead key activities in the Spoke Integrative AI.
Job Description
FBK is looking for a candidate to cover the 3-year position with a dynamic, highly motivated, researcher in the field of “Natural Language Processing” for the NLP Unit of the Digital Health and Wellbeing (dHWB) Center.
The research activity will focus on:
Integrating heterogeneous knowledge in NLP models (e.g., integration of common sense and domain knowledge);
Adapting NLP models to complex and dynamic communicative contexts (e.g., physical world grounding for human-robot interaction).
On the topics above, the candidate will have the possibility to supervise PhD students and develop their own specific research directions in accordance with the strategies of the Research Unit and the dHWB Center.
The candidate will work in collaboration with other researchers of the NLP Unit and of the dHWB Center, as well as with the partners involved in EU projects. The candidate is also expected to contribute to proposals for funded activities, including reporting and dissemination of results (in both academic and popular venues). Furthermore, we expect the successful candidate to contribute to maintain a strong role of FBK in the Italian and international NLP community.
The purpose of the current call is an opportunity of working into an internationally renowned NLP group and developing their own research path in accordance with the long term strategy of the NLP Unit and the dHWB Center.
Job requirements
The ideal candidates should have:
PhD Degree in areas related to Computer Science or Computational Linguistics;
Research Expertise in Information Extraction;
Publication track record in the field of NLP;
Good Knowledge in application of deep learning techniques in NLP;
Strong programming skills;
Good knowledge and proficiency of the English language;
Team working attitude;
Good communication and relational skills;
Autonomy in developing research and organising work activities.
Additional requirements:
Experience in supervision of internship and thesis of bachelor and master level on topics related to NLP;
Experience in working for international research projects.
FBK actively seeks diversity and inclusion in the workplace and is also committed in promoting gender equality.
Employment
Type of contract: fixed term contract – full time
Start date: preferably from May 2023
Duration: 3 years
Gross annual salary: about € 39.500
Workplace: Povo - Trento (Italy)
Application
Interested candidates are requested to submit their application by completing the online form (https://jobs.fbk.eu/). Please make sure that your application contains the following attachments (in pdf format):
Detailed CV including list of scientific publications
Motivation letter
Email address contact for two referees
Application deadline: 11 April, 2023
About FBK
FBK is a private research institution devoted to excellence in research in numerous disciplines and designated to the role of keeping the Autonomous Province of Trento in the mainstream of European and international research. Each research area is assigned to a specific research center, of which there are eleven totals. Information regarding the research centers, their activities and production is available at http://www.fbk.eu/research-centers
The Digital Health and Wellbeing (dHWB) Center focuses on supporting an equitable and sustainable public healthcare system based on the pervasive use of digital technologies and AI by both empowered citizens and healthcare professionals, in the context of the 4P medicine. The activities of the dHWB Center focus on promoting and supporting a value-chain that combines high-quality scientific research (open and targeted) and innovation (social and technological) to have a significant impact on society (citizens and healthcare system) and market.
The Natural Language Processing (NLP) research unit develops computational models of human languages, focusing on written texts. We are active in the following areas: text mining (document classification, information extraction and ontology population from text, semantic inferences, analysis of the sentiment and of the emotional content of texts); conversational agents (task oriented dialogue systems, collaborative human-machine dialogues, generation of explanations); and development of linguistic resources, particularly for the Italian language. In all the above areas, deep learning techniques are exploited. A common issue concerns the “explainability” of the choices carried out by the systems. We are fond of contributing to the Italian NLP community.