| More Information: | Research Position - Faculty of Engineering, Computer Science and Psychology
Research Position with perspective of a PhD degree
Adaptive Multimodal Spoken Language Dialogue Systems Development
The Dialogue Systems Group (dialogue‐systems.org) in the Faculty of
Engineering, Computer Science and Psychology, Ulm University is seeking a
researcher at MSc level to work on a human‐like socially competent and
communicative agent. More specifically, the research focus is placed on flexible
and adaptive Multimodal Spoken Dialogue Management.
Within this communicative agent approach, the research activity proposed for
this thesis aims at investigating an Adaptive Dialogue Management (DM) component
which provides all necessary properties for carrying out a natural, robust and
flexible human‐agent dialogue.
The research options in this area are manifold and may depend on the
candidate’s preferences and skills. One possible research direction may be
placed on affective learning‐oriented DM, taking into account the user’s
emotional state and their cultural background. Another research direction may
head towards the area of multimodal mixed-initiative dialogue management so as
to involve the user more actively in complex decision processes of a spoken
language dialogue system. In this latter case, the user is integrated into the
process of automated problem solving. It may be investigated, whether and how
existing approaches to mixed-initiated dialogue interaction in this area may be
extended or whether novel approaches need to be developed. It may be analysed,
if, when, and how a shift in initiative between a user and the system may be
realized. In both cases, an existing flexible dialogue management component
needs to be improved so as to enable multimodal mixed-initiated dialogue
processing for problem solving dialogues. Statistical approaches for
probabilistic dialogue management may be used. Finally, the developed mechanisms
will be adjusted for multimodality.
The work will be integrated into the project “KRISTINA” funded by the
European Union within the “Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and
Innovation” and the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre SFB/TRR 62
"Companion-Technology for Cognitive Technical Systems" funded by the German
Research Foundation (DFG).
Perspective: PhD Thesis
Requirements: Good programming skills (with an emphasis on Java), good Machine
Learning skills, background in Computer Science; expertise in speech and
dialogue technologies would also be appreciated. The appointment of initially
0.5 TVL‐13 will be progressively increased up to 1.0 TVL-13 and has a fixed
duration of 36 months.
Ulm University is committed to increasing the share of women in research and
teaching positions and therefore explicitly encourages female candidates to
apply.
Application: Candidates should send their application by February 29, 2016 to
wolfgang.minker@uni-ulm.de. Please indicate the index number 15 in the reference
line of the e-mail.
The application in English or German should include a short resume, the names of
two referees and a transcript of records with the results of exams relevant to
the MSc Degree. A pdf‐version of the MSc Thesis may also be included.
Physically disabled applicants receive favorable consideration when equally
qualified.
The appointment is made by the central university administration.
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