The School of Computer Science at UCD invites applications for a Post-Doctoral Researcher to join the UCD team in the ADAPT Research Centre to investigate the harnessing of speech for social inclusion.

This project is part of the ADAPT Digital Content Transformation Strand. Rather than focusing on accuracy and error rates, evaluation of speech recognition systems should be contextualized with respect to how well they perform in situations where the interlocutor is not the `typical' native speaker (e.g. a senior citizen, a citizen with disabilities or a non-native speaker). Through publicly engaged research, data will be collected on how well existing speech technology is serving our citizens. A systematic evaluation of the output data produced by existing ASR systems and the interactions that arise when an ASR `converses' with a range of users will enable a categorization of interaction issues and error patterns that need to be accounted for when developing applications which provide interfaces to essential services.

This project will involve the development of a system which facilitates diagnostic evaluation of ASRs in a variety of interaction scenarios providing linguistic cues the augmentation of the ASR and building on the low-resource MT technologies being developed in other ADAPT projects.

ADAPT is the world-leading SFI research centre for AI Driven Digital Content Technology, coordinated by Trinity College Dublin and based within Dublin City University, University College Dublin, Technological University Dublin, Maynooth University, Munster Technological University, Athlone Institute of Technology, and the National University of Ireland Galway. ADAPT's research vision is to pioneer new forms of proactive, scalable, and integrated AI-driven Digital Content Technology that empower individuals and society to engage in digital experiences with control, inclusion, and accountability with the long-term goal of a balanced digital society by 2030. ADAPT is pioneering new Human Centric AI techniques and technologies including personalisation, natural language processing, data analytics, intelligent machine translation human-computer interaction, as well as setting the standards for data governance, privacy and ethics for digital content.

ADAPT Digital Content Transformation Strand

From the algorithmic perspective, new machine learning techniques will both enable more users to engage meaningfully with the increasing volumes of content globally in a more measurably effective manner, while ensuring the widest linguistic and cultural inclusion. It will enhance effective, robust integrated machine learning algorithms needed to provide multimodal content experiences with new levels of accuracy, multilingualism and explainability.

The successful candidate will work under the direction of the Principal Investigator, helping to lead the research, setting a research agenda, engaging with industry projects and mentoring PhD candidates and students. This is a research focused role, where you will conduct a specified programme of research supported by research training and development under the supervision and direction of a Principal Investigator. The primary purpose of the role is to further develop your research skills and competences, including the processes of publication in peer-reviewed academic publications, the development of funding proposals, the mentorship of graduate students along with the opportunity to develop your skills in research led teaching.

Salary range: €39,522 - €45,610 per annum

Appointment on the above range will be dependent on qualifications and experience

Closing date: 17:00hrs (local Irish time) on 9th September 2022

Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time of 17:00hrs (Local Irish Time) on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system. UCD are unable to accept late applications. UCD do not require assistance from Recruitment Agencies. Any CV's submitted by Recruitment Agencies will be returned.

Prior to application, further information (including application procedure) should be obtained from the Work at UCD website: https://www.ucd.ie/workatucd/jobs/.