Job Opening: Post-Doctoral Researcher in Personalised Information Retrieval

Post-Doctoral Researcher in Personalised Information Retrieval

36 Month Fixed Term Contract, Full-Time
Salary: Appointment will be made on the SFI Team Member Budget Level 2A salary scale at a point in line with Government Pay Policy
Closing date: Thursday 31st March, 2016.
http://adaptcentre.ie/careers/TCD_postdoc_template_PIR.pdf <http://adaptcentre.ie/careers/TCD_postdoc_template_PIR.pdf>

The ADAPT Centre is Ireland’s global centre of excellence for digital content and media innovation. It combines the expertise of researchers at four universities (Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University, University College Dublin, and Dublin Institute of Technology) with that of its industry partners to produce ground-breaking digital content innovations.

Background & Role
The ADAPT Centre, the centre for digital content technology seeks to appoint a postdoctoral researcher in Personalised Information Retrieval.
ADAPT is Ireland’s global centre of excellence for digital content and media innovation. Led by TCD, it combines the expertise of researchers at four universities (Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University,University College Dublin, and Dublin Institute of Technology) with that of its industry partners to produce ground-breaking digital content innovations.
ADAPT brings together more than 120 researchers who collectively have won more than €100m in funding and have a strong track record of transferring world-leading research and innovations to more than 140 companies. With €50M in new research funding from Science Foundation Ireland and industry, ADAPT is seeking talented individuals to join its growing research team. Our research and technologies will continue to help businesses in all sectors and drive back the frontiers of future Web engagement.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities
The successful candidate will work within a large group of Postdoctoral Researchers, PhD students and Software Developers. The successful candidate will lead research in the specialist area of Personalised Information Retrieval. The tasks to be performed as part of this position will include:
 • Applying novel algorithms to the personalisation of search.
 • Developing innovative approaches to continuous user modelling over multiple search sessions.
 • Evaluating and deploying new personalised information retrieval approaches in authentic scenarios.
 • Providing support and advice to PhD students
 • Contributing to journal and conference publications.

Approximately 20% of this researcher’s time will be allocated to short term, focused projects with ADAPT Industry Partners.

Funding Information
The position is funded through the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) ADAPT Research Centre.

Qualifications
Candidates appointed to these posts must have a PhD in Computer Science or a related discipline (essential).

Knowledge & Experience (Essential & Desirable)
 • Essential
  • Strong expertise in foundational approaches to Information Retrieval (IR)
  • Good programming skills and experience with state-of-the-art IR systems
  • An excellent track record of publications in the area of IR
  • Solid understanding of experimental design and statistics
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills
 • Desirable
  • Strong expertise in foundational approaches to Information Retrieval (IR)
  • Good programming skills and experience with state-of-the-art IR systems
  • An excellent track record of publications in the area of IR
  • Solid understanding of experimental design and statistics
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills

Skills & Competencies
 • Good written and oral proficiency in English (essential).
 • Good communication and interpersonal skills both written and verbal.
 • Proven aptitude for Programming, System Analysis and Design.
 • Proven ability to prioritise workload and work to exacting deadlines.
 • Proven track record of publication in high-quality venues.
 • Flexible and adaptable in responding to stakeholder needs.
 • Experience in releasing code to live production environments.
 • Strong team player who is able to take responsibility to contribute to the overall success of the team.
 • Enthusiastic and structured approach to research and development.
 • Excellent problem solving abilities.
 • Desire to learn about new technologies and keep abreast of new product and technical and research developments.

Candidates will be assessed on the following competencies:
Discipline knowledge and Research skills – Demonstrates knowledge of a research discipline and the ability to conduct a specific programme of research within that discipline.
Understanding the Research Environment – Demonstrates an awareness of the research environment (for example funding bodies) and the ability to contribute to grant applications.
Communicating Research – Demonstrates the ability to communicate their research with their peers and the wider research community (for example presenting at conferences and publishing research in relevant journals) and the potential to teach and tutor students.
Managing & Leadership skills - Demonstrates the potential to manage a research project including the supervision of undergraduate students.

Application Procedure:
Candidates should submit a cover letter (1x A4 page maximum) explaining why you are suitable for the position together with a full curriculum vitae to include the names and contact details of 3 referees (email addresses if possible) to:
Name: Sinead Gorham
Title: Administrative Officer
Email Address: sinead.gorham@adaptcentre.ie
Contact Telephone Number: +353 1896 1797
Please include the job reference PU_PD2 in the subject heading.

Equal Opportunities Policy:
Trinity College Dublin is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to the employment policies, procedures and practices which do not discriminate on grounds such as gender, civil status, family status, age, disability, race, religious belief, sexual orientation or membership of the travelling community.