From math.semantic.web at gmail.com Sun Feb 8 16:55:22 2015 From: math.semantic.web at gmail.com (Christoph LANGE) Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2015 16:55:22 +0100 Subject: [oor-forum] PhD on Question Answering using Web Data (3 positions in Bonn, Germany) In-Reply-To: <29BD923A-B7AC-46E8-A5E3-F42894AA8440@informatik.uni-leipzig.de> References: <29BD923A-B7AC-46E8-A5E3-F42894AA8440@informatik.uni-leipzig.de> Message-ID: <54D786EA.2030801@gmail.com> This is not just about _data_, but we also imagine _ontologies_ to play an important role in making data fit for question answering. ?Christoph The EIS research group at the University of Bonn in Germany is pleased to announce *Three full time PhD student positions in the field of question answering on interlinked datasets* The successful candidates will carry out research towards a PhD on one of the following topics: (1) Effectively and efficiently supporting dataset maintainers in semi-automatically cleaning and enriching datasets to make them fit for question answering. (2) Discovering and retrieving datasets of a high quality for QA with a high precision and recall; automating dataset quality assessment. (3) Efficient and precise translation of natural language questions into structured queries against a federated knowledge base. The successful candidates will work in the Marie Sk?odowska-Curie International Training Network WDAqua (Answering Questions using Web Data), undertaking advanced fundamental and applied research into models, methods, and tools for data-driven question answering on the Web, spanning a diverse range of areas and disciplines (data analytics, social computing, Linked Data, and Web science). They will participate in the network?s training schedule and perform internships with other project partners. There will be no teaching obligation but teaching can be arranged, if desired. On top of a generous basic salary we offer a mobility allowance and, if applicable, a family allowance. Initial appointment will be for one year with a possible extension to 3 years. The position starts as soon as possible. Initial appointment will be for one year with a possible extension to 3 years. *We offer:* * Two or more academic supervisors from the WDAqua network (the PhD student working on topic (1) will obtain a dual PhD degree with Universit? Jean Monnet Saint-?tienne, France) * A support grant to attend conferences, summer schools, and other events related to your research. * The possibility to obtain a discounted public transport ticket *Requirements* * A Master degree in Computer Science or equivalent. * Not having resided/worked in Germany for more than 12 months in the 3 years before starting the work (Marie Sk?odowska-Curie mobility rule) * Proficiency in spoken and written English. Proficiency in German is a plus. * Proficiency in Programming languages like Java/Scala or JavaScript, and modern software engineering methodology. * Familiarity with Semantic Web, Natural Language Processing, Indexing and Data Analytics is an asset. *How to apply* To apply, please send the following documents in pdf to eis-leaders at lists.iai.uni-bonn.de before 28th February 2015. * CV * Master certificate or university transcripts * A motivation letter including a short research plan targeted to one of the topics listed above, * Two letters of recommendation * English writing sample (e.g. prior publication or master thesis excerpt). Please direct informal enquiries to the same address or see http://www.iai.uni-bonn.de/~langec/wdaqua/. The University of Bonn is an equal opportunities employer. Preference will be given to suitably qualified women or persons with disabilities, all other considerations being equal. -- Christoph Lange, Enterprise Information Systems Department Applied Computer Science @ University of Bonn; Fraunhofer IAIS http://langec.wordpress.com/about, Skype duke4701 ? WDAqua (Answering Questions using Web Data) Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Intl. Training Network (ITN) seeking 15 highly skilled PhD candidates. Apply by February: http://www.iai.uni-bonn.de/~langec/wdaqua/ From math.semantic.web at gmail.com Sun Feb 8 19:40:50 2015 From: math.semantic.web at gmail.com (Christoph LANGE) Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2015 19:40:50 +0100 Subject: [oor-forum] Two fully funded PhD positions on Answering Questions using Web Data Message-ID: <54D7ADB2.5090406@gmail.com> Hi all, these two positions in the WDAqua project are not as close matches for ontology engineers as the ones at the University of Bonn I advertised earlier today, but I think they will still be of interest. ?Christoph Fraunhofer IAIS is pleased to announce two PhD positions - fully-funded with the EU research project: ?WDAqua: Answering questions using Web Data?, which has started in January 2015. Research Area: The project will undertake advanced fundamental and applied research into models, methods, and tools for data-driven question answering on the Web, spanning over a diverse range of areas and disciplines (data analytics, data mining, information retrieval, social computing, cloud computing, large-scale distributed computing, Linked Data, and Web science). Potential topics for a PhD dissertation include, but are not limited to: ? Design of a cloud-based system architecture for question answering (QA), extensible by plugins for all stages of the process of QA and Web data ? High-quality interpretation of voice input and natural language text as database queries for question answering. ? Leveraging Web Data for advanced entity disambiguation and contextualisation of queries given as natural language. ? Question answering methods using ecosystems of heterogeneous data sets (structured, unstructured, linked, stream-like, uncertain). Institution The about 200 employees of the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems (IAIS; http://www.iais.fraunhofer.de) investigate and develop innovative systems for data analysis and information management. Specific areas of competence include information integration (represented by the IAIS department Organized Knowledge), big data (department Knowledge Discovery), and multimedia technologies (department NetMedia). Requirements: 1. Master Degree in Computer Science (or equivalent). 2. You must not have resided or worked for more than 12 months in Germany in the 3 years before starting to work. 3. Proficiency in spoken and written English. Proficiency in German is a plus but not required. 4. Proficiency in Programming languages like Java/Scala or JavaScript, and modern software engineering methodology. 5. Familiarity with Semantic Web technologies, Natural Language Processing, Speech Recognition, Indexing Technologies, Distributed Systems and Cloud Computing is an asset. As a successful candidate for this award, you will: 1. Spend the majority of your time at Fraunhofer IAIS, where you will research and write a dissertation leading to a PhD (awarded by the University of Bonn). 2. Have a minimum of two academic supervisors from the WDAqua project. 3. Receive a full salary and a support grant to attend conferences, summer schools, and other events related to your research each year. 4. Engage with other researchers and participate in the training program offered by the WDAqua project, including internships at other partners in the project. Further Information For further information, please see the WDAqua homepage at http://www.iai.uni-bonn.de/~langec/wdaqua/. How to apply Applications should include a CV and a letter of motivation. Applicants should list two referees that may be contacted by the Department and are moreover invited to submit a research sample (publication or research paper). Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis. For full consideration, please apply until 27.02.2015. Applications should be sent to Dr. Christoph Lange-Bever. E-Mail: Christoph.Lange-Bever at iais.fraunhofer.de Tel.: +49 2241/14-2428 -- Christoph Lange, Enterprise Information Systems Department Applied Computer Science @ University of Bonn; Fraunhofer IAIS http://langec.wordpress.com/about, Skype duke4701 ? WDAqua (Answering Questions using Web Data) Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Intl. Training Network (ITN) seeking 15 highly skilled PhD candidates. Apply by February: http://www.iai.uni-bonn.de/~langec/wdaqua/