Research Assistant: Natural Language Generation

Transforming Rural Communities Through Digital Innovation

University of Aberdeen - dot.rural Digital Economy Research Hub

College / University Administration: College of Physical Sciences

School / Section: School of Natural & Computing Sciences

Position Type: Full-time

RDH048R

Digital Economy is an RCUK cross-council programme, aimed at realising the transformational impact of ICT for all aspects of business, society and economy. The dot.rural Digital Economy Hub at the University of Aberdeen is one of three large multi-disciplinary research hubs funded through this programme, and commenced its activities in October 2009.

The Hub award to Aberdeen is worth £11.8M and funds five years of activity. The Hub brings together a large team of researchers (70+) working in and across the disciplines of computer science, communications engineering, human geography, sociology, transport studies, health sciences and environmental science. For further details, see: www.dotrural.ac.uk

To support our ambitious research programme we are now looking to appoint a research assistant to help develop a natural language generation (NLG) capability for the MIME project. MIME (see http://www.dotrural.ac.uk/mime/ ) investigates ways to underpin reconfigured rural emergency response services, by examining how technology could support responders to incidents such as road accidents. It is exploring the use of networked monitors to support decision making and information management in the management of casualties and the automatic generation of handover reports from responders when more expert help arrives.

You should have a good Honours degree, a background in Linguistics and experience of programming in Java. It is vital that you have experience using the SimpleNLG software package and knowledge of the internals of this software. Enthusiasm for digital technology and innovation relevant to society and the economy is also important, as is the ability to work as part of a cross-disciplinary team.

As this post is funded by Digital Economy Hub it will be offered for a period of 2 months. This appointment will be made subject to the usual terms and conditions of employment of the University.

Salary will be at the appropriate point on the Grade 5 scale (£25,251 - £26,779 per annum) with placement according to qualifications and experience.

Should you require a visa to undertake paid employment in the UK you will be required to fulfil the minimum points criteria to be granted a Certificate of Sponsorship and Tier 2 visa. As appropriate, at the time an offer of appointment is made you will be asked to demonstrate that you fulfil the criteria in respect of financial maintenance and competency in English. Please do not hesitate to contact Lynda Johnston, Human Resources Adviser, for further information on this.

Informal enquiries may be made to: Professor Chris Mellish (c.mellish@abdn.ac.uk)

Online application forms and further information is available at www.abdn.ac.uk/jobs.

Please quote reference RHD048R on all correspondence.

The closing date for the receipt of applications is 2 April 2012.

Further information is available online at:
https://atsv7.wcn.co.uk/saf/set_session.cgi?owner=5042238&ownertype=fair&jcode=1238566&posting_code=267&season=0&language=203&url=/search_engine/jobs.cgi

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