Assistant Professor in Computer Science with focus on semantic systems and natural language processing - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The department of Computer Science at Lund University, Faculty of Enfineering invites applications for a position as Assistant Professor in Computer Science with focus on semantic systems and natural language processing.

The position is placed in the division for Robotics and Semantic Systems (RSS, https://rss.cs.lth.se) in the Department of Computer Science (https://cs.lth.se), Faculty of Engineering. RSS has roughly a dozen researchers and ten doctoral students. The division is involved in a number of externally funded research projects and several local networks of excellence, both on faculty and university level. Together with researchers from the Department of Automatic Control, RSS runs a shared robotics lab facility, the RobotLab LTH (https://robotics.lth.se). The lab provides access to both mobile robotic platforms and industrial robotic manipulators, including respective accessories.

The position holder will focus on Natural Language Processing (NLP) as  a part of the broader subject area Semantic Systems, with Robotics and Knowledge Representation as application areas.

Thus, we are looking for a candidate with good (theoretical) background in Machine Learning and Language Processing, who is also interested in exploring opportunities for exploitation of their research results in practical challenges within Sematic Systems (including Knowledge Representation) and Language Processing in robotic applications.

The position is associated with the strategic research initiative in IT and telecommunication, ELLIIT (www.liu.se/elliit), which is based on collaboration between Linköping University, Lund University, Halmstad University, and Blekinge Institute of Technology. The candidate is thus expected to contribute to ELLIIT’s general goals in research, third cycle education, and result dissemination and exploitation. 

Subject
The subject area for this position is Computer Science, with focus on semantic systems and natural language processing (NLP).

Subject description
Within the division for Robotics and Semantic Systems, research is conducted in a variety of topic areas including Robotics, Robotic Learning, and Human-Robot Interaction. Other, for this position more relevant, areas are Machine Learning (ML), Knowledge Representation (KR) and Knowledge Based Systems (KBS), and Natural Language Processing (NLP). Together, and in connection with their application in robotics, these research areas constitute the division’s overarching topic area of Semantic Systems. The position’s specific topic area lies thus in the overlap of ML, NLP, KR/KBS, with an expected connection to Robotics as an application area. 

Work duties
Employment as an assistant professor is a tenure track position, which aims for the holder to develop their independence as a researcher and educator. The work duties mainly involve research and teaching. The position includes the opportunity to undertake five weeks of training in teaching and learning in higher education. 

Work duties include:

• Research within the subject area.
• Teaching in the first, second and third cycles of studies, in particular in the subjects of AI, ML, and NLP.
• Supervision of degree projects and doctoral students.
• Actively seeking external research funding.
• Collaboration with industry and wider society.
• Administration related to the work duties listed above.
• Contribution to the efforts directed towards the goals of the strategic research initiative ELLIIT within research, third cycle education, and dissemination.

Qualification requirements 
Qualification requirements for employment as an assistant professor are fulfilled by someone who has been awarded a doctorate or has the corresponding research competence. 

Primary consideration should be given to someone who has been awarded a doctorate or achieved the equivalent competence within five years of the deadline for application for employment as an assistant professor. However, someone who has been awarded a doctorate or achieved the equivalent expertise at an earlier date may also be considered if there are special grounds. Special grounds are sick leave, parental leave or other similar circumstances.

Assessment criteria
For appointment to assistant professor, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• A good ability to develop and carry out high quality research.
• Teaching ability. 

Additional requirements

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• Documented background in NLP, allowing research and teaching within that topic.
• Documented background in ML, allowing contributions to teaching on advanced (MSc) level and research collaborations.
• Demonstrated knowledge about Semantic Systems, allowing a continuation of research collaborations in that area.
• Collaborative skills, initiative and the ability to solve work tasks independently, as well as a demonstrated interest in leadership.

Other qualifications

• Experience within robotics, allowing collaboration with researchers in cognitive robotics and human-robot interaction in the division.
• Skills to apply the own background and experience to formulate questions and project proposals that connect the position’s core topic (NLP/ML) with the potential application area (Robotics / Semantic Systems).
• Experience within Software Engineering, allowing for collaboration with other researchers in the department.
• Significant documented research experience (e.g. from postdoc or doctoral studies) from another university/institute or relevant experience from industry/public sector.

The extent to which the applicant, through their experience and skills, may complement and strengthen ongoing research, undergraduate education, departmental innovation, and how they can contribute to the future development of the department will also be taken into consideration.

Terms of employment
This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of 6 years. The employment is regulated in accordance with Chapter 4 Section 12a§ HEA. The purpose of the appointment is for the teacher to be given the opportunity to develop research autonomy and acquire the scholarly and teaching qualifications required for eligibility for appointment as a senior lecturer.

We offer 
Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme.  Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee:
https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/about-university/work-lund-university. 

Instructions on how to apply
Applications shall be written in English. Please draw up the application in accordance with LTH’s Academic qualifications portfolio – see link below. Upload the application as PDF-files in the recruitment system. Read more:
http://www.lth.se/english/working-at-lth/to-apply-for-academic-positions-at-lth/

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Promotion to Senior Lecturer in Computer Science with focus on semantic systems and natural language processing

During the period of employment, an assistant professor can apply for promotion to a permanent position as Senior Lecturer if he or she has the required qualifications listed below, and is deemed suitable. An assistant professor can only apply for promotion once.

Qualification requirements
Appointment to senior lecturer requires that the applicant has: 

• A PhD or corresponding research competence or professional expertise considered important with regard to the subject matter of the post and the work duties it will involve.
• Demonstrated teaching expertise. 
• Completed five weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning, or acquired equivalent knowledge by other means. 

Assessment criteria
The assessment criteria specify the aspects to be considered, and the level to be achieved, for the assessment criteria to be deemed fulfilled. The following assessment criteria must be fulfilled for appointment to senior lecturer:

• A good national and international standing as a researcher. The requirement for international experience shall be assessed with consideration to the character and traditions of the subject.
• Good teaching ability, including a good ability to conduct, develop and lead teaching and other educational activities on different levels and using a variety of teaching methods.
• An ability to supervise doctoral students to achieve a PhD.
• An ability to collaborate with wider society and communicate his or her activities.
• A general ability to lead and develop activities.

Additional requirements

• Good ability to collaborate, independence and drive.
• Sufficient knowledge of Swedish to carry out administrative and educational tasks that require an understanding of Swedish.
• Progression in research and teaching expertise.
• Demonstrated ability to attract external research funding in competition.