Postdoctoral Researcher in Pedagogical Agents/NLP/games/Informal Learning
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
We will soon be posting a postdoc position to work on the WHIMC project at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. WHIMC is an NSF-funded project that seeks to engage kids in STEM and promote interest in many STEM areas, such as Astronomy, Earth Science, and Engineering. The project is a collaboration with the University of Maine, University of Colorado-Boulder, and PBS NOVA.
Applicants should have expertise in building pedagogical and/or conversational agents, as well as in their empirical evaluation. Software development skills are required (Java preferred). Further, experience with educational games and informal science education is a plus. The postdoc will also be responsible for supervising 2-3 undergraduate computer science students and collaborating with Educational Psychology graduate students.
WHIMC leverages Minecraft as a learning environment where children (middle school focus) sign on to a server and have a chance to explore hypothetical versions of Earth (e.g., what if the Earth had no moon?), the Moon, known Exoplanets, and more. The postdoc will be responsible for building pedagogical agents (as Minecraft NPCs) that interact with and support learners on our server. The project is framed by the four-phase model of interest development (Renninger & Hidi) and the agents developed will be designed in ways that align with those findings and theory.
The position will start in September, however some flexibility is possible given the pandemic (e.g., remote work during the fall). Please contact the PI, H. Chad Lane, if interested!
Link:
https://whimc.education.illinois.edu/
Software/Data Engineer in Predictive Learning Analytics
The Open University
We are currently looking for a Software/Data Engineer to help us with scaling up the predictive learning analytics system.
OU Analyse (http://analyse.kmi.open.ac.uk) is an award winning project that focuses on increasing the retention rate at the Open University by Machine Learning powered Predictive Learning Analytics and at the same time to improve the quality of education.
The role will include:
- Development of OU Analyse that will enable to have it deploy on a new university data architecture and scale the project to all courses at the OU
- Development of data pipelines for supporting the current and new predictive algorithms to predict student success
- Development of new data science prototypes focused on a) development and deployment of personalised study recommender and b) modelling student pathways and predicting the best path towards the successfully finished qualification
What you get in return
Benefits include a supportive and friendly working environment, 33 days holiday per annum pro rata plus Bank Holidays and Christmas closure days, and an attractive pension proposition.
If you have any questions regarding the Group or the role, please contact Martin Hlosta (martin.hlosta@open.ac.uk)
Link:
http://www.open.ac.uk/about/employment/vacancies/softwaredata-engineer-kmi-17460
Postdoc in NLP and Language Learning
University of Alberta
We are looking for a post-doctoral researcher to join the Fyshe and EdTeKLA research groups. The post-doctoral appointee will work on activities related to the computational modeling stream of a large collaborative grant that aims to better understand language development and literacy.
The person filling this position will work with Alona Fyshe and Carrie Demmans Epp on projects concerning models of second language acquisition. Research may include:
- language modeling,
- deep learning, including training large models using GPUs
- possible analysis of neuro-imaging data (e.g., fMRI or EEG).
Candidates must have demonstrated expertise in machine learning and natural language processing (NLP). Backgrounds in cognitive psychology, language acquisition, bilingual language, and literacy, among others, are advantageous. We are especially interested in candidates who transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries and complement our existing strengths. Preference will be given to those who are interested in collaborating on research projects with other members of the grant who have backgrounds in linguistics, psychology, and education.
Please see https://www.careers.ualberta.ca/Competition/A113942552/ for the official posting.
Link:
https://www.careers.ualberta.ca/Competition/A113942552/
ML Researcher/Engineer for Education
Apple
Apple’s Education team is looking for a passionate Data Engineer to help build the next generation of our educational experience. Help connect students and teachers using technology to facilitate learning, from K-12, through higher education, to life-long learning. We’re looking for an individual who loves solving problems to surprise and delight our customers.
Senior Director of the AI in Workforce and Education Lab
ETS
ETS’s Research & Development division is seeking a highly qualified candidate to serve as a Senior Director of the AI in Workforce and Education (AIWE) research laboratory, one of three inaugural ETS research laboratories. The individual will lead the execution of a long-term, strategic research agenda focused on enhancing existing and developing new capabilities to enable adaptivity and personalization, targeted feedback, automated scoring engines, voice biometrics and security analytics as well as solutions for flexible assessment administration and remote proctoring.
As a core member of the ETS Research Laboratory leadership team, the Senior Director of AIWE will be responsible for setting a clear and impactful research agenda and developing, in close partnership with cross-functional business partners, roadmaps for emerging AI capabilities and the engines that power those capabilities. The individual will also be responsible for cultivating a culture of consumer-centric strategy in the laboratory.
The Senior Director will lead a talented team of scientists and associates with expertise in AI, deep learning, machine learning, and automated scoring engines, as well as product owners and developers. To fulfill the research and development agenda of the AIWE lab, the Senior Director will be expected to work closely with the leads of two other laboratories as well as cross-functional units throughout the organization.
The Senior Director is expected to have a well-established reputation as a thought leader, a team leader, and as an accomplished scientist in the field of AI and/or machine learning. This individual will report to the General Manager who oversees three research laboratories, the Foundry, and an Enabling Technologies team.
The collaborating laboratories are: Personalized Learning & Assessment and Language Learning, Teaching, and Assessment (which are also hiring Senior Directors).
Link:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/karamcwilliamsphd_learning-assessment-education-activity-6687342347467927552-f-RC
