Postdoctoral Research Scholar in Natural Language Processing/Human Evidential Reasoning

Description

The School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SSBS) at Arizona State University (ASU) invites applications for a postdoctoral research scholar with interests in Natural Language Processing and/or human evidential reasoning. The successful candidate will work closely with Dr. Nicholas Duran, Dr. Derek Powell, and collaborators at University of California, San Francisco and Kaiser-Permanente on a research project funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. This project aims to use Large Language Models to gain insights about evidence-based discussions between patients and healthcare providers within a large dataset of patient-provider conversations. The anticipated start date is tentatively set for June 1, 2025, with flexibility. This is a 12-month, benefits-eligible position that is renewable for up to one year upon successful demonstration of academic productivity and performance. The salary is commensurate with experience.

Applications are invited from individuals who are interested in a position combining project management, machine-learning model development, data management/analysis, and manuscript writing for publication. Preference will be given to applicants with (1) experience with neural network training and language model fine-tuning; (2) background in natural language processing, linguistics, and/or human reasoning; (3) strong coding skills; and (4) strong conceptualization and writing skills. The successful candidate for this position will have the opportunity to work on a unique large-scale corpus of patient-provider messages as well as opportunities for supervision in their own independent research. 

About the School

The mission of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SSBS) aligns with the values of a metropolitan research university, rooted in the belief that human behavior, social institutions, and culture are best understood through interdisciplinary perspectives that integrate a variety of intellectual and methodological approaches. Our dedicated team of educators, scholars, and staff are committed to embodying the ASU Charter in every aspect of our work. https://newcollege.asu.edu/ssbs 

Within the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Cognition, Behavior, and Information research cluster is a group of 5 research faculty whose research focuses on gaining psychologically-grounded insights from large-scale naturally occurring and experimentally collected data, and using cutting-edge quantitative methods to draw causal inferences about real-world problems.

For more information about the Cognition, Behavior, and Information research group, visit https://newcollege.asu.edu/cbi. 

About the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences

At ASU’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, we take pride in breaking down disciplinary barriers, cultivating an environment where innovative research flourishes. Our faculty are not just educators; they are trailblazers in their fields, consistently expanding the frontiers of knowledge. We invite you to join this dynamic community, where you will lead and engage in pioneering projects that redefine academic excellence.

Our interdisciplinary approach offers you unparalleled opportunities for personal and professional growth. By joining our faculty, you’re not just advancing your career; you’re shaping the future of education and research in meaningful ways. You’ll be empowered to innovate and address complex global challenges, all while preparing the next generation of leaders. We are committed to supporting and guiding you throughout your academic journey, ensuring that your contributions are impactful and transformative. For more information visit us at https://newcollege.asu.edu/. 

New College is located on ASU’s West Valley campus, blending a liberal arts education with 21st-century workforce preparation and a learning hub for students of all ages and backgrounds supporting the rapid growth of its surrounding 14 communities. Integrating modern amenities with the natural beauty of outdoor spaces, the West Valley campus offers over 125 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across business, engineering, education, and the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. 

About Arizona State University

Arizona State University, ranked the No. 1 “Most Innovative School” in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for ten years in succession, has forged the model for a New American University. Year after year, ASU ranks at or near the top of the list in areas that matter. ASU is a comprehensive public research institution, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves. ASU operates on the principles that learning is a personal and original journey for each student; that they thrive on experience and that the process of discovery cannot be bound by traditional academic disciplines. Through innovation and a commitment to accessibility, ASU has drawn pioneering researchers to its faculty even as it expands opportunities for qualified students, attracting some of the highest- quality students from all 50 states and more than 130 nations. To learn more about ASU, visit http://www.asu.edu.

All we do at ASU is guided and inspired by the ASU Charter, which reads: 

ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.

Successful candidates will demonstrate throughout their materials how their teaching and research will contribute to the fulfillment of this charter. 

Essential Functions

• Design, code, and manage pipelines for training, fine-tuning, and testing machine learning and language models for text classification
• Support and help to manage an interdisciplinary, multi-institution research team
• Develop independent research contributing to the ASU-wide “Cognition, Behavior, and Information” research cluster that explores large-scale naturalistic and experimentally-collected data for the purpose of generating new insights about psychological processes
• Publish high quality research in the fields of machine learning, computational linguistics, cognitive psychology, and/or related fields
• Effectively supervise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students
• Represent program, school, and university interests at professional academic conferences and meetings

Qualifications

Successful candidates will be effective communicators who engage in productive scholarship and may be asked to perform duties common to academic personnel including grant writing, mentoring students, and participating in faculty meetings. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in psychology, neuroscience, computer science, computational linguistics, or related field by the time of appointment
• The candidate must be within five years from receipt of the doctoral degree 

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated interest in and ability to contribute to research on language models and/or human evidential reasoning
• Experience working with machine learning and neural network models and managing or creating large-scale datasets
• Strong proficiency in Python and neural network / machine learning toolchains (e.g. pytorch, transformers)
• Software development and project management skills, such as experience with version-control systems (e.g. git)
• Evidence of independent scholarship and team collaboration, strong interpersonal communication skills, and outstanding academic writing skills
• Demonstrated commitment to working successfully with a multicultural student population, including first-generation college students

For more information about Dr. Duran’s Applied Cognitive Dynamics and Communication Laboratory, please visit https://dynamicog.org. For more information about Dr. Powell’s Cognitive Data Science Laboratory, please visit https://cognitivedatascience.org. 

This position is located at Arizona State University’s West Valley campus. All postdoctoral fellowship positions are for one year. Options for an additional year of funding may be available.

Application Instructions

Application Deadline:

The initial application deadline is February 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled or closed. A background check and official transcripts are required prior to employment. For assistance with your application, or for position-related questions, contact Tracy Lowder at Tracy.lowder@asu.edu.

Application Procedure:

Only electronic submissions via Interfolio will be reviewed. All required materials must be submitted at time of initial application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Applications must contain:

• Cover letter that addresses the required and desired qualifications and how your experience will demonstrate the University Charter
• Curriculum vitae with contact information, including email address and phone number
• One-page statement of research interests
• Unofficial graduate transcripts
• Information for three professional references (their position, title, e-mail, phone number); one reference must be from your current employer

ASU conducts pre-employment screening for all positions which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Employment is contingent upon the successful passing of the background check.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

A background check is required for employment. Arizona State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

See https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html and https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/.

In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources.  ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf  You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.