Call for Applications -> AI4D African Languages Lab @ DSFSI Postdoctoral Position(s) [Closes 7 Oct 2024]
The Data Science for Social Impact (DSFSI) research group, the ABSA Chair of Data Science in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Pretoria and the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics and researchers from the Department of African Languages at University of Pretoria, are excited to offer 2 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship opportunities. We are seeking talented individuals with strong backgrounds in mathematics, statistics, or computational sciences who are eager to dive into cutting-edge Natural Language Processing (NLP) research and make a tangible impact on the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa.
As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, you will have the unique chance to work at the intersection of multiple disciplines—combining your expertise in any of mathematics, statistics, or computation with pioneering research in NLP. You will be part of a dynamic team dedicated to advancing the capabilities of large language models (LLMs) and NLP tools, particularly for African languages. This is an opportunity to contribute to meaningful, context-sensitive solutions that address real-world challenges in Africa.
This position is made possible as part of the new Artificial Intelligence for Development, AI4D, laboratories across the continent and will also be part of the transdisciplinary African Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at University of Pretoria.
Key Areas of Research
The successful candidates will work on subsets of the below areas:
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Engage with experts from diverse fields to develop new datasets and corpora that will set benchmarks for evaluating LLMs in African languages. Your work will have applications in precision agriculture, health diagnostics, and sustainable development.
Innovative Language Representation: Play a pivotal role in exploring and developing universal language representations using novel datasets. Your contributions will help bridge gaps in AI capabilities, particularly in health and agriculture, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in African language technology.
Bias Identification and Mitigation: Lead efforts to investigate and address biases in existing LLMs and newly developed language representations. Collaborate with AI scientists, developers, and policymakers through workshops and events to create AI systems that are not only advanced but also ethical and inclusive.
Our Commitment to Diversity
We are committed to creating an inclusive environment that values and leverages diversity. Our research team is made up of individuals from various backgrounds, and we strongly believe that a diverse team enhances creativity and innovation. We encourage applications from candidates of all genders, ethnicities, and experiences to contribute to a research environment where everyone can thrive.
What You’ll Gain
Collaborative and Diverse Environment: Work alongside leading researchers, industry professionals, and stakeholders across Africa. Experience the benefits of a diverse team that fosters creativity and innovation.
Real-World Impact: Contribute to the development of AI technologies that address critical challenges in Africa, particularly in healthcare, agriculture, and the advancement of African languages.
Professional Growth: Expand your expertise in AI, NLP, and interdisciplinary research. This position offers an opportunity to grow as a leader in a field with global relevance.
Remuneration and Duration
The expected remuneration is R450K per annum.
The current duration is for 1 year and extended to a second year on satisfactory performance
We hope for the successful candidates to start as soon as possible.Â
Closing date for applications: 7 October 2024
Apply here https://bit.ly/DSFSIPostdoc
Note: Please share this exciting opportunity with anyone who might be interested. For any questions, feel free to contact Prof. Vukosi Marivate at vukosi.marivate@cs.up.ac.za
When you send an email, please use this subject.
Subject: AI4D African Languages Lab Postdoctoral Call