The Role
The Computational and Functional Linguistics Research Group at TU Dublin is offering funding for a 3 year PhD scholarship to focus on the linguistic analysis of the sign languages associated with the ADAPT Centre led Horizon2020 funded SignOn project. This PhD research will contribute to the advancement of the state-of-the-art in exploring the linguistic description and cross linguistic patterning of Irish Sign Language (ISL) Flemish Sign Language (VGT), British Sign Language (BSL), Spanish Sign Language (LSE) and Dutch Sign Language (NGT).
The SignOn project seeks to develop machine translation approaches that function between a range of spoken and signed languages. SignON is a user-centric and community-driven project that aims to facilitate the exchange of information among deaf and hard of hearing, and hearing individuals across Europe targeting the Irish, British, Dutch, Flemish and Spanish Sign, and English, Irish, Dutch, Spanish oral languages.
Through close collaboration with European deaf and hard of hearing communities, researchers will define use-cases, co-design and co-develop the SignON service and application.
The objective of the research project is the fair, unbiased and inclusive spread of information and digital content in European society. The SignON communication service will be more than an advanced machine translation system. Behind the scenes, SignON will incorporate sophisticated machine learning capabilities that will allow (i) learning new Sign and oral languages; (ii) style-, domain- and user-adaptation and (iii) automatic error correction, based on user feedback. To the user, SignON will deliver signed conversations via a life-like avatar built with state-of-the-art graphics technologies.
To do this, there is a requirement for a robust linguistic analysis of sign languages that can feed into the computational framework required to drive the machine translation engine. In the case of this PhD research the focus will be on the linguistic analysis of sign languages and descriptions of linguistic phenomena associated with the various sign languages described above. The PhD candidate will leverage Role and Reference Grammar in this description, and will work closely with researchers working on the computational linguistic pipeline within the SignON project.
This PhD position will be supervised by Dr Irene Murtagh (TU Dublin), Dr Geraldine Gray (TU Dublin) and Professor Lorraine Leeson (TCD). In addition to your contribution to the SignOn project, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with other researchers across the consortium and apply your research in their projects and with our industry partners.
Full role description and details of application process available at https://www.tudublin.ie/research/phd-research-opportunities/postgraduate-opportunities/blanchardstown/
Additional requirements
Any non-EU scholarship holder will be eligible for additional fees.
Any non-EU applicants will require a visa to come and study in Ireland Overview Visas and Immigration
English language requirements: Instruction for all courses at TU Dublin is normally through English refer to http://www.itb.ie/studentcategories/entryrequirements.html
Application process
To Apply:
Please email the following to –[Email Address Removed]
• Cover letter
• Full CV
• Copy of transcripts of qualifications (applications will be deemed ineligible should transcripts be omitted)
• Names and email contact details for two referees (minimum)
Informal project queries should be directed to Dr Irene Murtagh at [Email Address Removed]
Closing date for receipt of applications is 26th July 2021 5pm (GMT)
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