PostDoc Position in (Arabic) NLP

Qatar University (QU) is seeking applications for a postdoctoral researcher position for the development of a new automated Arabic essay scoring technology. 

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to conduct research (including design, implementation, and evaluation) on natural language processing (NLP) problems in the context of developing the first system that automatically scores Arabic essays written by high school and first-year university students to assess their Arabic writing proficiency in four different dimensions, i.e., style, relevance, organization, and development. In addition, the successful candidate will have freedom to pursue their own innovative ideas within the scope of the project.

The position is based in Doha, Qatar at QU campus. The team is led by Tamer Elsayed (QU) in close collaboration with Houda Bouamor (Carnegie-Mellon University, Qatar) and Walid Massoud (QU), and with students at both sites and members of the bigIR research group at QU. 

Why would I go to Qatar?

Qatar, located on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula, has a per-capita GDP among the highest in the world. Qatar’s capital, Doha, is a vibrant, cosmopolitan, and safe city with easy access to the world. Doha, home to several universities, Al Jazeera, and the Qatar Computing Research Institute, is one of the premiere venues for Arabic language technology, and was the host city for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

This position in Qatar offers a competitive, tax-free salary, health insurance, and additional financial allowances for housing, transportation, travel, and children’s schooling, according to QU policy. The position comes with support for attending conferences and provides significant opportunities for professional development.

Start Date

The successful candidate will start in October 2023.