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EURAXESS Researchers in motion

Job offer

  • JOB
  • Spain

Research assistant in computational linguistics / AI / data science, in the area of language in psychosis, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona

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STATUS: EXPIRED
The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers
25 Apr 2024

Job Information

Organisation/Company
Universitat pompeu fabra
Department
Department of Translation and Language Sciences
Research Field
Language sciences » Linguistics
Psychological sciences » Psychology
Psychological sciences » Cognitive science
Communication sciences » Other
Researcher Profile
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Country
Spain
Application Deadline
Type of Contract
Temporary
Job Status
Part-time
Hours Per Week
20
Offer Starting Date
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Horizon Europe - ERC
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No

Offer Description

This position is that of a starting-level researcher who will provide research support in our Synergy project DELTA-LANG, ‘The Delta of Language’, awarded by the European Research Council (ERC) and running from 2024-2029. The successful candidate will be welcomed in the group of Prof. Wolfram Hinzen, https://www.upf.edu/web/grac in the Language Sciences department of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) and become part of a wider European consortium comprising three other sites, the groups of Prof. Homan at the Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich, Prof. Sommer of the psychiatry department at the University Medical Center Groningen, and Prof. Elvevåg of the Department of Clinical Medicine at the The Arctic University of Norway. Regular exchanges and visits to these other sites are foreseen.

The project aims to define the potential of a speech biomarker of psychosis with a specific view to predicting psychotic relapses, using methods of AI (Large Language Models), natural language processing (NLP), and conmputational neuroscience to illuminate anomalies in language processing in schizophrenia and related disorders. At the Barcelona end, a language model of psychosis will be developed based on unprecedented crosslinguistic data and the hypothesis that language is a critical neurocognitive principle for the organization of thought in humans. Testing the model for its crosslinguistic generalizability across psychosis samples in different languages will be key. We mainly focus on semantic processing and have a more specific focus on how speakers with psychosis navigate the semantic space when constructing meaning in speech. Our linguistic model will be related to brain changes associated with psychosis using fMRI, and to mental state fluctuations over time, in a different work package. The successful candidate will elaborate an independent project within this broad theoretical and empirical frame.

Tasks

  • Research support in NLP-based data analysis of the semantic structure of texts transcribed from patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and related diseases, across different languages.
  • Co-organizing the work of the DELTA-team on a day-to-day level.
  • Contribution to new, ongoing data acquisitions organized by the group.
  • Liaising with other groups and members of the DELTA consortium.
  • Contribution to publications and communications.

We offer

  • A highly interdisciplinary research environment comprising computational linguistics, computational psychiatry, and brain imaging.
  • Research contacts across a large European consortium.
  • Training opportunities in neuroimaging and the analysis of complex multi-modal data.
  • Training opportunities in psychiatry.

For inquiries please contact the PI at wolfram.hinzen@upf.edu.

Where to apply

E-mail
professorat.dtcl@upf.edu

Requirements

Research Field
Language sciences » Linguistics
Education Level
Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field
Psychological sciences » Psychology
Education Level
Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field
Psychological sciences » Cognitive science
Education Level
Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field
Computer science » Other
Education Level
Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
  • MA in linguistics, computational psychiatry, psychology, data science, or cognitive neuroscience.
  • Great team-working capabilities.
  • Interest in a highly interdisciplinary research field.
  • Interest and experience in neuroimaging data analysis (fMRI) is valued.
Specific Requirements
  • Knowledge in empirical methods in one or more of the following fields:
    • Natural language processing
    • Large Language Models (LLMs)
    • Computational semantics
    • Programming in Python or another relevant language
    • Knowledge of statistics and relevant packages
  • Excellent team worker.
  • Keen research interests in language and computational psychiatry.
  • Interests in highly interdisciplinary research. 
  • Previous experience with neuroimaging (MRI) will be valued.
Languages
ENGLISH
Level
Excellent
Research Field
Language sciences » LinguisticsPsychological sciences » PsychologyPsychological sciences » Cognitive scienceComputer science » Other
Years of Research Experience
1 - 4

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria

15.987,22€ gross salary

Selection process
  • Letter of motivation (20%)
  • CV (40%)
  • Interview (40%)

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available
1
Company/Institute
Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona
Country
Spain
State/Province
Barcelona
City
Barcelona
Postal Code
08018
Street
Roc Boronat 138
Geofield

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