Call for Applications
Resident Academic Full Time Post in Computational Linguistics
Institute of Linguistics and Language Technology
Applications are invited for a Resident Academic full-time post in Computational Linguistics at the Institute of Linguistics and Language Technology of the University of Malta.
The appointment will be on initial definite four-year contract of employment. Following the successful completion of the one-year probationary period, the Resident Academic will commence a two-year Tenure Track process. At the conclusion of this two-year period of service, the Resident Academic will be subject to a Tenure Review.
Candidates must be in possession of a PhD which is directly relevant to Computational Linguistics and have a demonstrable commitment to research that involves linguistic data.
The appointee will be required to contribute to the teaching and supervision of students, research and administrative duties, as well as outreach activities as may be required by the Institute and/or the University. More specifically, s/he will be required to teach courses on Natural Language Processing at all levels to students within the Institute of Linguistics and Language Technology and to students in other Departments/Institutes/Centres that make use of courses offered by the Institute. In addition, the appointee will be required to contribute to the development of the research programmes of the Institute; therefore, knowledge of the local linguistic situation and, in particular, in relation to the development of language resources for use in this context would be desirable. Good communicative skills, the ability to work in a team, and a strong willingness to engage in the Institute’s administrative and outreach activities are also essential. Given that this post is also linked to the European MSc In Human Language Science & Technology (Erasmus Mundus LCT), experience in participating in, or especially coordinating, Erasmus Mundus programmes will be considered an asset.
The Resident Academic Stream is composed of four grades; these being Professor, Associate Professor, Senior Lecturer and Lecturer. Entry into the grade of Lecturer or above shall only be open to persons in possession of a PhD or an equivalent research-based doctorate within strict guidelines established by the University.
The annual salary for 2024 attached to the respective grades in the Resident Academic Stream is as follows:
*Professor: €48,818 plus an Academic Supplement of €33,119 and a Professorial Allowance of €2,330
*Associate Professor: €44,864 plus Academic Supplement of €25,377 and a Professorial Allowance of €1,423
Senior Lecturer: €40,677 plus an Academic Supplement of €18,358
Lecturer: €34,008 with an annual increment of €641 to €35,931 and an Academic Supplement of €14,932
*The University will only consider appointing an applicant at the grade of Professor or Associate Professor, when the applicant already holds an equivalent appointment at a University or Research Institute of repute.
The University of Malta will provide academic staff with financial resources through the Academic Resources Fund to support continuous professional development and to provide the tools and resources required by an academic to adequately fulfil the teaching and research commitments within the University.
The University of Malta may also appoint promising and exceptional candidates into the grade of Assistant Lecturer, provided that they are committed to obtain the necessary qualifications to enter the Resident Academic Stream. Such candidates will either have achieved exceptional results at undergraduate level, be already in possession of a relevant Masters qualification, or would have been accepted for or already in the process of achieving their PhD.
Assistant Lecturer with Masters: €31,764 with an annual increment of €596 to €33,552 and an Academic Supplement of €5,294
Assistant Lecturer: €29,589 with an annual increment of €531 to €31,182 and an Academic Supplement of €5,037.
Candidates must upload covering letter, curriculum vitae, certificates (certificates should be submitted in English) and names and emails of three referees through this form: https://www.um.edu.mt/hrmd/workatum-general
Applications should be received by Sunday, 11 February 2024.
Late applications will not be considered.
Further Information
General Working Obligations:
The conditions of work for a Resident Academic of the University of Malta, are set out in the ‘Collective Agreement for Academic Staff of the University of Malta.
Full-time Resident Academic staff are required to give a commitment based on a 40- hour per week with flexible times throughout the year, that is not only during semester time, depending on agreed timetables and distributed reasonably between teaching, academic research and academic administration.
Full-time Resident Academic staff are normally expected to be available for four and a half days per week to deliver their academic duties, meet with students and to participate actively in the academic life of the Department, Institute, Centre or School.
The official lecturing times of the University will be between 08:00 and 20:00 hours. The University may specify that the lecturing load will be conducted predominantly in any specific periods of the day between 08:00 and 20:00 hours.
In accordance with their conditions of employment and in order to meet the requirements of their role, Resident Academic staff are required to work on campus throughout the academic year, except for periods of authorised absence. Consequently, Resident Academic staff are required to reside no more than forty (40) kms from Campus.
The appointment will be subject to a probationary period of one year and to the provisions of the Statutes, Regulations and Bye-Laws of the University of Malta which are now or which may hereafter be in force.
Institute of Linguistics and Language Technology
The Institute of Linguistics and Language Technology is comprised of a highly multi-disciplinary team of individuals conducting research on language from many different perspectives, including:
- Theoretical approaches to language structure, meaning and function;
- Applied linguistics;
- Sign language and linguistics;
- Computational linguistics, including machine-learning approaches to Natural Language Processing.
The Institute of Linguistics and Language Technology offers undergraduate degree programmes in Linguistics (offered through the Faculty of Arts) and is currently planning a new course in Language Technology and Artificial Intelligence in collaboration with the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology. Our postgraduate programmes encompass both theoretical/applied Linguistics and Natural Language Processing. Doctoral students in the Institute work in a vibrant research atmosphere, in close collaboration with supervisors and colleagues.
The duties which the appointee will be expected to perform are:
- Teaching including tutorials and seminars, supervision of practical work and placements, monitoring on projects and other personally undertaken student enterprises;
- Preparing course materials;
- Researching and publishing individual and collaborative research in priority areas established by the University;
- Continuous assessment of students, setting and marking of examination papers including dissertations within established time-frames;
- Contributing to the pastoral care of students within the Institute;
- Participating in the administration of academic affairs at academic and university levels;
- Contributing to national and regional development particularly in the area of specialisation and through cooperation with governmental, intergovernmental, regional and non-governmental institutions and services;
- Working collaboratively and constructively with other members of the Department
- Any other relevant duties as may be required by the University.
The Selection Procedures:
- The scrutiny of qualifications and experience claimed and supported by testimonials and/or certificates (copies to be included with the application).
- Short-listing of candidates.
- An invitation to short-listed candidates to a Selection Board interview.
- A short presentation on a subject allotted to short-listed candidates
The Selection Process:
The selection process will follow the document “Guidelines for Members of Selection Boards in the Recruitment of Resident Academic Staff: (https://www.um.edu.mt/hrmd/policiesprocedures).
In accordance with the guidelines, members of the Selection Board will establish the following selection criteria for the selection process:
- Relevant academic qualifications
- Relevant Academic / Work experience
- Aptitude and suitability
- Performance in interview
The University of Malta is an Equal Opportunity employer.
Office of the University
Msida, 22 January 2024
004_Computational Linguistics_2024
