PhD Studentship Opportunity in Collaborative Translation and Digital Platform Economy

Established in 1982, the University of Surrey Centre for Translation Studies (CTS) is one of the UK’s leading centres for research, scholarship and teaching in translation and interpreting. CTS has recently secured funding for strategic expansion, which will enable the centre to integrate its established expertise in how professional translators/interpreters interact with, and adapt to, emerging technological ecosystems with research into the automation of these practices. This expansion project seeks to recruit an eligible PhD candidate who is willing to conduct research in the following area:

PhD in Collaborative Translation and Digital Platform Economy

We are seeking a candidate who is interested in pursuing a PhD in the area of collaborative forms of human translation within and across digital platforms (e.g. AI-powered translation platforms, knowledge platforms, media platforms, crowdsourcing platforms etc.), new types of translation and localization workflows (e.g. concurrent, agile, continuous etc.) and innovative business models (e.g. crowdsourced, shared, blockchain etc.) to contribute to the better understanding of how translations are produced, evaluated, accessed, shared, distributed and consumed in these new technological environments.

The successful project will need to rely on a solid, eclectic mixed-methods approach benefiting from cross-fertilization among different disciplines (e.g. translation process and product research, human-computer interaction, business studies, computer studies, psychology etc.) to address: the industry-related issues such as productivity, workflow optimisation, quality, digital business models, innovation; translator-related issues such as new skills for translators, authorship, identity, agency, individual differences, etc.) as well as ethics-related issues of trust, data ownership, privacy or working in transparent environments. The successful candidate will benefit from excellent technological working conditions, international contacts, and a stimulating interdisciplinary work environment.

This is a three year project, starting in January 2021.

Entry requirements
First class or upper second class BA and Master’s level degree (or international equivalent) in Translation Studies, Linguistics, Computer Science or related field. IELTS test (test not older than 2 years): 6.5 or above (or equivalent) with at least 7.0 in the writing component and at least 6.0 in the other components.

How to apply
Applications can be made through the CTS PhD in Translation and Interpreting page: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/postgraduate/translation-and-interpreting-phd

Please state project title clearly on your research statement – this statement should be 1,000 words long, excluding references and must be uploaded in .DOC format in the “research proposal” area of the application portal. Applicants should also include a copy of their CV, two academic references and their completed academic degrees and degree transcripts. Applicants are encouraged to email Prof. Constantin Orasan ([Email Address Removed]) first to discuss their application.