LINGUIST List 23.3853|
Sat Sep 15 2012
Jobs: Cog Sci; Computational Ling, NLP: Post Doc, Ecole Normale Supérieure
Editor for this issue: Amy Brunett
From: Emmanuel Dupoux <emmanuel.dupouxgmail.com>
Subject: Cognitive Science; Computational Linguistics, Natural Language Processing: Post Doc, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France
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University or Organization: Ecole Normale Supérieure
Department: Institute of Cognitive Studies
Job Location: Paris, France
Web Address: http://dec.risc.cnrs.fr/
Job Rank: Post Doc
Specialty Areas: Cognitive Science; Computational Linguistics; Language Acquisition; Neurolinguistics; Psycholinguistics; Natural Language Processing
The Institute for Cognitive Studies at the Ecole Normale Supérieure in
Paris is seeking to fill three postdoctoral positions within a
multidisciplinary project at the intersection of speech engineering,
computational neuroscience, developmental psychology and computational
The aim of this project is to decipher how babies spontaneously learn their
first language by applying a 'reverse engineering ' approach, i.e., by
constructing an artificial language learner that mimics the learning stages
of the infant. It uses engineering and applied math techniques (zero
resource speech recognition, signal processing, machine learning) on large
corpora of child-adult verbal interactions in several languages. It
develops psychologically plausible (unsupervised) and biologically
plausible (bio-inspired) algorithms that can discover linguistic categories
(words, syllables, phonemes, features, etc.). The predictions of these
algorithms are then tested against perceptual data gathered from newborns
and older infants using behavioral techniques (eye tracking) or noninvasive
brain imagery (Near InfraRed Spectroscopy, EEGs).
The project is hosted by the Institute for Cognitive Studies, which offers
an international and vibrant research setting, at the heart of the Quartier
latin in Paris. The institute has been ranked as one of the top research
centers in France across all disciplines, and is one of the leading
interdisciplinary centers in Cognitive Science in Europe. It contains 70
permanent researchers structured in interacting teams covering a broad
range of topics, ranging from Philosophy of Consciousness to animal
electrophysiology, with a strong core in cognitive psychology and language.
We are looking for young researchers able to build and maintain a high
quality research program and to contribute to a growing international
collaborative community in this area of quantitative cognitive science.
Applicants will ideally combine:
-A solid background in one or more of the following areas: speech/
language engineering, signal processing, statistical modeling, Bayesian
methods, neuroimaging data analyses, computational neuroscience,
-Considerable familiarity with general cognitive science and/or language
-A documented interest for interdisciplinary and team-based research,
-Research creativity, independence, and productivity.
The positions are for two years, with salaries set at a competitive
European-level (between 2400 and 2700 euro/month depending on prior
experience). We will also provide generous travel funds. There is no
associated university teaching load, although researchers will be able to
participate in the research culture of the Institute through seminars,
supervision of students and other activities. Starting dates are flexible.
Women are encouraged to apply.
Candidates should send a letter of motivation (2 pages max.), the contact
information of 2 to 3 referees, and a CV to the email address below by
October 20, 2012. Interviews of short-listed candidates will be conducted
in the Fall either in Paris or by video-conferences.
Further information about the project can be found at:
Application Deadline: 20-Oct-2012
Email Address for Applications: emmanuel.dupouxgmail.com
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