[on behalf of Ginger Shultz & Anne Gere]
*Link to
position:
http://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/161420/postdoctoral_research_fellow_automated_text_analysis
<http://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/161420/postdoctoral_research_fellow_automated_text_analysis>*
*Job Summary*
A generously funded project (2016-2021) welcomes applicants with interest
in and expertise in automated text analysis. The project, M-Write, brings
together researchers from writing studies. the natural sciences, and
computer programming to investigate how Writing-to-Learn pedagogies promote
conceptual learning by students in large-enrollment gateway courses.
Students write in response to carefully crafted assignments, participate in
automated peer, and then revise their drafts. Approximately 10,000 students
have already participated in M-Write courses, which means that there is
already a large corpus of student writing and peer review responses, with
more being added each semester. We seek a specialist in automated text
analysis to join the interdisciplinary research team, which includes
specialists in language and linguistics, software engineering, behavioral
science, and cognitive psychology. Goals include principled corpus
compilation, analysis, and development of corpus-driven algorithms to
support student learning of key concepts highlighted in assignments.
*Responsibilities**
*Major Areas of Responsibility:*
- Retrieve and create corpora for NLP and associated linguistic analysis
- Develop and test systems for identifying students who appear to lack
key concepts as defined by lexical and grammatical structures, discourse
analysis, and possible sentiment analysis
- Work with software engineer to design a data warehouse that will
facilitate the ability to collect, manage, and archive data including
student interviews, student surveys, student writing samples, and academic
and demographic data for students in order to conduct research leading to
peer-reviewed publications, and future external funding
- In collaboration with other project staff collect, manage, and archive
data including student interviews, student surveys, student writing
samples, and academic and demographic data for students in order to conduct
research that could lead to peer-reviewed publications
- In collaboration with project team, organize, synthesize, and analyze
project data, and write co-authored papers for peer-reviewed articles
*Required Qualifications**
Ph.D. in computational linguistics, natural language processing, machine
learning, cognitive linguistics, sentiment analysis or related area.
Previous research experience in textual analysis in terms of syntax (e.g.
parts of speech tagging), semantics (e.g. topic segmentation) and discourse
analysis is essential. Research in statistical modeling is also required.
*Desired Qualifications**
Strong computer science skills and data warehouse design skills are highly
desired. Background in the theory and research of writing-to-learn
pedagogies and experience with educational technology in natural language
processing are desired but not required.
*Additional Information*
Start date: January 1, 2019 (this date is flexible)
Employment: 12 months
Salary: $50,000
*Background Screening*
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates
upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party
administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks will be
performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
*Mission Statement*
The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of
Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating,
preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in
developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich
the future. The University of Michigan is committed to foster learning,
creativity and productivity, and to support the vigorous exchange of ideas
and information, not only in the classroom but in the workplace by:
- Creating a work environment in which people treat each other with
respect and dignity, regardless of roles, responsibilities or differences.
- Providing support, direction and resources enabling us to accomplish
the responsibilities of our jobs and to reach the goals that are set for
professional and personal growth.
*Application Deadline*
September 15, 2018
How to Apply
A cover letter and CV are required for consideration for this position.
The cover letter should outline your specific interest in the position and
outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position. The CV
should include contact information for at least two references. Please
apply online at http://careers.umich.edu/, job opening number 161420.