PhD Position (1.0 Fte) for 4 Years in Question-Based Analysis of Geographic Information with Semantic Queries

[apologies for cross-posting]

PhD Position (1.0 Fte) for 4 Years in Question-Based Analysis of Geographic
Information with Semantic Queries

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HOURS PER WEEK: 38 to 40
FACULTY: Faculty of Geosciences
DEPARTMENT: GEO / Dept SGPL
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 16 February 2020
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JOB DESCRIPTION
In the age of big data, geographic information has become a central means
for data scientists of various disciplines to embed their analysis into a
spatio-temporal context, from human mobility patterns and social inequality
to the investigation of personal health. However, as the variety of data
sources and software available on the web increases, it becomes more and
more impossible to comprehend and utilize all tools and data available to
answer geo-analytical questions. Hence, whenever a functionality is needed
but not available in one tool, analysts are forced to reformulate their
questions in terms of technicalities of another tool or other datasets.
This procedure does not scale with the increasing variety of geo-analytic
sources on the web, preventing analysts from tapping its full potential.
Consider, in contrast, how easy it is for a user of a digital smartphone
assistant such as Amazon’s Alexa to ask a question like 'What is the
weather today?' and receive a response from the web. It would mean a
tremendous breakthrough if analysts could similarly ask questions in order
to get the tools and data required to answer them. Unfortunately,
geo-analytic technology currently cannot handle questions.
To realize this vision, it is necessary to understand how geo-analytic
resources can be captured with the questions they answer. The QuAnGIS
project, a 5-year research project at the University of Utrecht that
started in January 2019 funded by the European Research Commission (ERC),
develops a theory about interrogative spatial concepts needed to turn
geo-analytical questions into machine-readable workflows using Semantic
Web, Workflow synthesis and Question-Answering (QA) technology. The focus
is on 'core concepts of spatial information', field, object, network, event
(Kuhn 2012), and related analytical concepts such as accessibility,
exposure, density, distance and aggregation. Based on these concepts,
questions can be matched with the capacity of major analytical GIS tools
and data sources on the web.

QuAnGIS is highly interdisciplinary at the intersection of Human Geography,
GIScience, GIS, Information Science, Semantic Web (ontologies),
Computational Linguistics and Ontologies. It involves both empirical and
computational studies as well as formal/ontological design. The theoretical
outcomes of this research will be implemented in a working QA system.
Hence, software engineering and development are also relevant to this
project. Following the interdisciplinary nature of the project,
collaboration with outside investigators is a noticeable part of the
project. Current collaborations include investigators from Eindhoven
University of Technology (Netherlands), the University of California, Santa
Barbara (USA), and the University of Melbourne (Australia).

The new PhD position in this project should focus on the information theory
and technology needed to enable GIS analysts to translate (1) geographic
questions into analytic workflows and (2) to retrieve corresponding
resources for analysis. The main research question is: How can the analytic
potential of geo-analytical resources (data and tools) be described in
terms of potential workflows and be linked to the questions they answer?
This involves an investigation into GIS tools and their functionality in
terms of semantic concepts, as well as standard web data sources, and how
both can be linked. Furthermore, it involves developing a transformation
language that can be used to search over GIS workflows using question
concepts. Both will be a basis for building an integrated extensible web
repository about analytical tools and data sources that can be queried
using questions.

Tasks of the PhD-student consist of (but are not limited to):
- conducting scientific research in the fields of Geospatial Semantics,
Geographic Information Science, Ontology Engineering, and Semantic Web
relevant to handling spatial questions and analytic resources;
- the collection and semantic description of GIS scenarios for developing a
gold standard of questions and workflows. In particular, describing
analytic (web) resources for geospatial analysis (tools and data) in a
semantic database (MarkLogic);
- the development of workflow synthesis technology and a transformation
language for matching questions with workflows composed from resources;
- helping perform user studies for testing the tool/data repository with
geospatial analysts;
- publishing results in scientific journals and presentation in
high-quality international conferences in these fields;
- collaboration with outside investigators in joint studies;
- organizing multi-stakeholder meetings and workshops to test and discuss
the technology;
- developing teaching skills, students are expected to contribute to the
teaching programme of the Department of Human Geography and Spatial
Planning to a limited degree (up to 10%). It may also involve the
supervision of Master projects.

Your responsibilities:
- start the project preferably in May or later in 2020 upon negotiations;
- meet the goals/deadlines as set out in the project proposal;
- complete a PhD thesis within the 4-year contract period.

The project team is part of a new Geographic Information Methods (GIM)
interest group within the Social Urban Transitions (SUT) research programme
in the Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of
Geosciences, Utrecht University. It is linked to the Healthy Urban Living
research group comprising a wide variety of researchers, for instance with
backgrounds in transport geography, epidemiology, urban geography, and
health sciences. It is also linked to the Vitality Data Centre, a project
involving data scientists and researchers interested in methods for
assessing physical activity and health. Currently, the core research team
consists of the principal investigator (supervisor), a postdoc, and a PhD
student.

QUALIFICATIONS
We seek a highly motivated PhD student who has a strong interest in
thinking about data semantics as well as geographic analysis and GIS
technology, with:
- an MSc degree in Geographic Information, Computer Science, Data Science
or Geography;
- a strong affinity and motivation for doing basic scientific research in
an interdisciplinary setting;
- an open mind, the ability to think creatively and outside the box;
- analytical skills and interest in geographic data analysis;
- an interest in academic theory development and abstraction as well as
theory application;
- affinity with scientific research in Geospatial Semantics, GIScience or
Semantic Web/Ontology engineering;
- experience with Semantic Web technology, GIS technology or Data Science
technology;
- experience with web (geo-spatial) data sources and corresponding APIs,
such as Open Street Map (OSM);
- solid abilities in programming and application development are needed.
Experience in web programming, Semantic Web development or Machine Learning
is a bonus;
- an independent, pro-active working style;
- motivation to work in an international team with outside collaborators;
- excellent scientific communication skills (written and verbally) in
English.

OFFER
We offer a position (1.0 FTE) for four years. The gross salary starts with
€2,325 per month in the first year and increases to €2,972 (scale P
according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month
for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus
of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year. In addition, Utrecht
University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive
retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment
conditions (multiple choice model) (
https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/terms-of-employment).
More information about working at Utrecht University can be found here:
https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION
A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in
executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht
University (https://www.uu.nl/en), the various disciplines collaborate
intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of
Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences (
https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/faculty-of-geosciences) studies the
Earth: from the Earth's core to its surface, including man's spatial and
material utilisation of the Earth - always with a focus on sustainability
and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the
Faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of
Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human
Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable
Development.

The Faculty of Geosciences conducts education and research concerning the
geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and anthroposphere. With a complement of
2,600 students (BSc and MSc) and 600 staff, the Faculty is a strong
organisation. The Faculty is organised in four Departments: Innovation,
Environmental & Energy Sciences, Earth Sciences, Physical Geography, and
Human Geography & Spatial Planning.

The Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning has its focus on the
enhancement of long-term economic developments of cities, how to cope with
social inequalities and how to ensure a healthy urban living. Research on
these topics takes place within our research program 'Urban Futures:
Transitions Towards Economic and Social Sustainability for Cities'.

Our research program is the basis of our Research Master's Human Geography
and Geographical Information Management and Applications (GIMA) and
professional Masters in Human Geography, International Development Studies
and Spatial Planning. The department runs also a large and highly
appreciated Bachelor's programme and is part of the Netherlands Graduate
School of Urban and Regional Research for PhD candidates.

The city of Utrecht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, with a
charming old center and an internationally oriented culture that is
strongly influenced by its centuries-old university. Utrecht city has been
consistently ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the Netherlands.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For more information about this position, please contact:

Simon Scheider (Assistant Professor), via s.scheider@uu.nl or +31 30 253 29
66.

APPLY
Everyone deserves to feel at home at our university. We welcome employees
with a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. To apply, please send
your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation via the application
form at
https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs/phd-position-10-fte-for-4-years-in-question-based-analysis-of-geographic-information-with-semantic
.

The application deadline is 16 February 2020.

-- 
Postdoctoral researcher
Geoscience
Utrecht University, The Netherlands
www.bcogs.info