Position Overview

Leiden University invites applications for a PhD position (1.0 FTE, 4 years) as part of the NWO-funded Vidi project "Metaphor in Machine Translation: Reactions, Responses, Repercussions" (MTM). This research focuses on how professional users, including literary translators and journalists, interact with machine-translated metaphors and how this influences their work and broader societal impacts.

This PhD project, titled "Professional Users’ Perspectives on Metaphor in Machine Translation," explores the professional response to machine translation of metaphors. It is a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research at the intersection of linguistics, machine translation, and professional practice.

The position is based at the Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL) and the Leiden University Centre for Digital Humanities (LUCDH). You will work closely with the project team, led by Dr. Aletta G. Dorst, a leading expert in translation and human-centered AI.

Eligibility Requirements

We are hiring a motivated and qualified candidate with the following profile:

1. Educational Background:
   • A ResMA/MRes or MA in Linguistics, Computational Linguistics, Translation, Machine Translation, or a related field (awarded by the time of appointment).
   • Minimum grade of 8.0 on a ten-point scale (or equivalent).
2. Skills and Experience:
   • Strong research skills, including formulating creative questions, conducting analyses, and clear academic writing.
   • Personal interest in metaphor studies and/or machine translation.
   • Familiarity with (or willingness to learn about):
     • Metaphor studies, translation studies, linguistic analysis, corpus linguistics, and reception studies.
     • Computational linguistics, machine learning, and programming.
3. Language Proficiency:
   • Full professional working proficiency in English and Dutch (working knowledge of additional languages is an asset).
4. Personal Attributes:
   • Proven time-management and organizational skills.
   • Excellent communication skills for engaging with professional users.
   • Team player with the ability to work independently.

Key Responsibilities

1. Research Activities:
   • Conduct user studies with professional translators and journalists using machine translation tools like Google Translate and ChatGPT.
   • Analyze translation processes using keystroke logging and screen recording.
   • Evaluate how professionals interact with metaphors in machine-translated texts.
   • Collaborate with the PI on the “Machine Perspective” work package, including evaluating machine translation output and testing different prompts for large language models (LLMs).
2. Academic Contributions:
   • Complete an article-based PhD thesis within four years under Dr. Dorst’s supervision.
   • Publish co-authored articles in peer-reviewed journals.
   • Present research at national and international conferences.
   • Organize events and outreach activities related to the project.
3. Teaching and Collaboration:
   • Participate in the Translation Lab and Digital Humanities Lab activities.
   • Optional teaching assignments in the second and third years.

What We Offer

• Contract Terms:
  • Fixed-term, four-year PhD position (initial 12-month contract, extended for 36 months upon positive evaluation).
  • Gross monthly salary starting at €2,901 in year one, rising to €3,707 in year four (full-time, pay scale P).
• Professional Development:
  • Access to training programs through the Leiden Graduate School of Humanities.
  • Opportunities to participate in masterclasses, seminars, workshops, and international conferences.
• Benefits:
  • 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
  • Flexible individual choices model for employment terms.
  • Substantial tax breaks for eligible candidates from outside the Netherlands.
• Research Environment:
  • Join the vibrant academic community at LUCL and LUCDH.
  • Work with state-of-the-art resources in the Translation Lab, including advanced translation tools and AI/MT applications.

Application Process

Required Documents:

1. A motivation letter (max. 1000 words) explaining your interest in the PhD project and preliminary ideas for framing it.
2. A curriculum vitae (CV) including education, academic achievements, and relevant experience.
3. Names and contact details of two referees (no reference letters required).
4. A copy of your MA thesis or a writing sample (if the thesis is not yet finished).
5. Copies of relevant course assessments and certificates demonstrating language proficiency.
6. A copy of your MA degree certificate or a letter from your thesis supervisor assessing your progress (if the MA is not yet completed).

Submission:
Applications must be submitted online via the Leiden University recruitment system. Applications received via email will not be considered.

Deadline: Submit your application no later than 31 January 2025.

Interviews: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for online interviews in March-April 2025. An assessment assignment may be part of the selection process.