Hello all -
Forwarding for a colleague in my department.
Here's the link -
https://www.insight-centre.org/job/phd-position-fair-nlp-mitigating-bias-and-
discrimination-in-datasets-and-machine-learning-models-for-natural-language-p
rocessing/
PhD Position – Fair NLP: Mitigating bias and discrimination in datasets and
machine learning models for natural language processing
Posted : 3 NOVEMBER 2020
Closes : 4 DECEMBER 2020
PhD Position
Applicants are invited to apply for a PhD studentship with Insight Centre
for Data Analytics, at the School of Information and Communication in
University College Dublin, Ireland. The successful applicant will work on a
project entitled ‘Fair NLP: Mitigating bias and discrimination in datasets
and machine learning models for natural language processing.
Bias in AI systems has the potential to set back decades of advances in
equal rights and civil liberties. This is largely attributable to the way
in which social injustices and discriminatory attitudes embedded in data
can be learned and perpetuated through AI systems. This is particularly
pertinent in relation to language datasets and models where biases and
discriminatory attitudes can be deeply embedded and challenging to
unravel.This project addresses these issues through the development of
methods for the curation of datasets for machine learning and evaluation of
trained language models. The project will be informed by critical theories
of gender and race and will enable evaluation of the social dynamics of
power embedded in NLP (natural language processing) systems, thereby
contributing to advances in fairness and transparency in AI.
The project is supervised by Dr Susan Leavy from the School of Information
and communication and is funded through the Insight Centre for Data
Analytics.
Background
Trustworthy AI, Data and Society is an initiative within Insight Centre for
Data Analytics, concerned with approaches to the development and
implementation of trustworthy, fair and responsible AI. Insight SFI
Research Centre for Data Analytics is one of the largest data analytics
centres in Europe. It undertakes high-impact research, seeks to derive
value from Big Data and provides innovative technology solutions for
industry and society by enabling better decision-making.
The Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics (
http://www.Insight-centre.org) is an SFI funded Research Centre which
brings together researchers from University College Dublin, NUI Galway,
University College Cork, and Dublin City University, as well as other
partner institutions, Trinity College Dublin (TCD), University of Limerick
(UL), Maynooth University (MU) and Tyndall National Institute. It creates a
critical mass of more than 400 researchers from Ireland’s leading ICT
clusters to carry out research on a new generation of data analytics
technologies in a number of key application domain areas such as Health and
Human Performance, Smart Communities, Internet of Things, Enterprise and
Services and Sustainability and Operations.
The School of Information and Communication Studies is the only academic
institution in Ireland to provide degrees in Information and Library
Studies, Information Systems and Digital Curation. The School is an active
member of the iSchools consortium – a global collection of Information
Schools dedicated to advancing the information field and sharing a
fundamental interest in the relationships between information, people, and
technology.
Entry Requirements:
– 2.1 grade (or equivalent) in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree
incorporating one or more of the following: natural language processing,
computational linguistics, computer science, artificial intelligence,
statistics, cognitive science or similar discipline.
– Non-native English speakers require at least IELTS 6.5 (with at least 6
in all components) or equivalent (further details on equivalence of tests
are available here).
Desirable Skills:
– Knowledge of critical theories (e.g. feminism, critical race theory) or
sociolinguistics and demonstrable interest in social justice
– Experience with large-scale text datasets and projects involving language
models (e.g. word embeddings)
– Experience with cloud platforms and Linux environments
– Fluency in Python
– Strong writing and communication skills
Scholarship
The successful candidate will receive a generous scholarship valued at
around €110,000. This covers PhD fees (fully covered for EU students and
partially covered for non-EU students), a tax-free stipend of €18,500 per
annum for four years, funds for conference travel, and an equipment
allowance.
To Apply
An application consisting of a curriculum vitae, cover letter, and scanned
copies of relevant academic transcripts should be sent to Dr. Susan Leavy (
susan.leavy@ucd.ie) by 5pm on December 4th, 2020.
Kalpana Shankar
Professor, School of Information and Communication Studies
Fellow, UCD Geary Institute for Public Policy
University College Dublin
Belfield 4
Dublin
kalpana.shankar@ucd.ie
Co-Editor in Chief (with Professor Eugenia Siapera), Online Information
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