The Computational Linguistics at Manitoba (CLAM) Lab at the University of Manitoba is offering funded PhD positions starting in 2025 for the following research topics:
- Computational humour, with a focus on validation of linguistic theories of humour, translation of humour, and/or classification of aggressive humour.
- Historical born-digital corpora, with a focus on constructing and analyzing structured, annotated text corpora from Usenet or other pre-Web archives.
- Indigenous language technology, with a focus on developing digital resources for text processing, writing, typesetting, and/or language revitalization.
We are seeking highly motivated candidates with a strong interest in linguistically informed approaches to these topics.
Role description
Successful candidates will pursue a doctoral degree in the Computer Science or Individual Interdisciplinary Studies program while working as a graduate research assistant. In these roles, and supported by their supervisor(s), they will design and carry out scientific experiments, construct and analyze text corpora or other data sets, develop and publish research software, collaborate with local and international researchers, and write papers for high-quality journals and conferences.
The prospective starting date is September 2025.
Qualifications
Required:
- A research-based Master's degree in computer science or a related discipline, together with a strong background in (computational) linguistics or natural language processing. (Candidates with a Master's degree in linguistics and strong technical and programming skills may also be considered.)
- Fulfillment of the admission requirements for the Computer Science PhD program or the Individual Interdisciplinary Studies PhD program.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Highly desirable:
- Past research publications in computer science or linguistics
- Knowledge of any of the following:
- theories of verbal humour or verbal aggression
- text corpora
- history of computing (pre-WWW)
- language tools and resources (dictionaries, wordnets, parsers, etc.)
- an Indigenous language (particularly one of the Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, Anisininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Dene, or Métis people)
About the University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba is consistently ranked among the top research-intensive universities in Canada. Its strong and rapidly growing Department of Computer Science advances research at the frontiers of artificial intelligence, human–computer interaction, autonomous agents, and other areas, with a track record of interdisciplinary and industry collaboration.
Winnipeg, the sixth-largest city in Canada, and one of the most livable, boasts a vibrant, multicultural community and ample opportunities for sport, leisure, and entertainment. It is home to internationally renowned festivals, galleries, and museums; the historic Exchange District and The Forks; and ever-expanding research, education, and business sectors. From the Hudson Bay waters, across the farmland fields, to the pulse of the cities and towns, the province of Manitoba has 100,000 lakes, 92 provincial parks, winding river valleys, and storied prairie skies.
How to apply
Send the following to Dr. Tristan Miller at Tristan.Miller@umanitoba.ca:
- Your curriculum vitae
- Copies of your degree certificates and transcripts
- A copy of your Master's thesis and any academic publications
- A cover e-mail that summarizes your interest in and aptitude for one of the three research topics above, with specific reference to your background and to any relevant projects or publications you were involved in.
Applications will be accepted until December 1, 2024 or until the positions are filled.
Applications are particularly encouraged from those who are women, non-binary, indigenous, or members of other underrepresented groups.
Only those candidates who are shortlisted for an interview will be contacted.