3 February: FYI -- PhD funding, digital humanities (UK)
Index of February 2016 | Index of year: 2016 | Full index
info on this studentship.]
*Big Scripture: Tracking Translations, Citations and Paraphrases in
Multilingual e-Corpus Text Data*
*The Project*
We are searching for a full-time PhD candidate in Digital Humanities
interested in undertaking cutting edge research work.
The objective is to create new ways of discovering, tracking and
understanding past and present uses of scriptural texts (Bible, Quran) in
massive text corpora, leveraging multiple translations in diverse
languages. The sub-objectives are: (a) to track the translational
(in)stability of concepts, passages, events, and named entities; (b) to
track citations/paraphrases across linked e-corpora (archives of books and
newspapers, new web corpora); (c) to develop techniques using dynamic,
interactive visualisations to support exploratory analyses of this kind of
big, fuzzy natural language data; (d) to encourage public engagement with
this research.
The project is significant for comparative religious studies, politics,
sociology, cultural histories, area studies, linguistics and translation
studies, web studies, digital humanities, big text data analytics. It will
transform understandings of cross-language religious tradition and change.
Bible.com has 1143 Bible texts in 822 languages,
including 42 English versions: corpus total c.800m words. Online Quran
corpora are smaller but fast growing. Multimedia corpora can also be
exploited. Translations vary due to language usage changes, translators’
differing interpretations, differing target audiences. Differences between
versions, and in selections of citations and paraphrases, reflect
theological and political controversies around concepts, events,
characters, places. Innovative digital methods can make this rich research
material accessible. This is of very wide public interest, from ISIS to GOP.
Translations corpora will be used to train automated searches in other
corpora, to discover which elements of which versions are cited (and
adapted) in what contexts. Modelling intertextualities among corpora at
scale requires High Performance Computing facilities, testing different
combinations of different analytic models and their approximations to
“ground truth”.
*Eligibility*
Ideal candidates are very motivated, ambitious, focused, like to
collaborate in a team and have the following: (1) a good Bachelors or
Masters degree in Computer Science (2.1 or higher) or a closely related
discipline, (2) solid programming abilities with a strong interest in
improving their software development skills, (3) an interest in carrying
out internationally leading, scholarly research including dissemination
through conferences and journals, (4) experience in computer graphics,
e.g., OpenGL and an interest is improving their computer graphics
programming skills, (5) fluent and articulate communication in both written
and spoken English–particularly with experience in academic writing.
*About Swansea University*
This position is a great opportunity to carry out leading research in a
supportive environment with an internationally recognized track record of
success. Swansea offers an excellent balance between city and country life.
The working environment for PhD candidates is exceptional. The scholarship
provides an annual bursary (14,000 GBP in 2015/16) and a full tuition fee
waiver for three years.
*How to Apply*
To apply for this studentship, please complete the *College of Arts and
Humanities Research Scholarship Application *
.
Form and return, along with: a CV and a response (in no more than 500
words) to the following question: What specific skills, experience,
knowledge and research interests do you bring to the Big Scripture project?
to:
Gabriella Wasiniak,
Graduate Centre Administrator,
College of Arts and Humanities,
Keir Hardie Building,
Swansea University,
Singleton Park,
SA2 8PP
Gabriella Wasiniak: g.wasiniak@swansea.ac.uk
Tel: (+44) 01792 295926
The *deadline for applications is 30 April 2016*.
*Terms and Conditions for Swansea University Research Scholarships *
1. University Research Scholarships are only available for new UK/EU
postgraduate research students undertaking a full-time PhD at Swansea
University. Students will need to be eligible to pay tuition fees at the
UK/EU rate as defined under UKCISA regulations - www.ukcisa.org.uk
2. University Research Scholarships are funded by a 50% contribution
from the University, matched by 50% funding from external funding sources
and/or College contribution, to realise a fully-funded scholarship;
3. A University Research Scholarship includes the Home/EU postgraduate
tuition fee, plus a standard stipend. The tuition fee and stipend level is
governed by RCUK - http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/media/announcements/150121/
4. Payment of the stipend is made in twelve equal payments;
5. University Research Scholarships are awarded for one year in the
first instance. They are renewable for a further period of up to two years
to cover the minimum candidature period, subject to satisfactory progress;
6. Awards offered in the autumn of 2015 are valid for the 2016-17
academic session; deferral of the award to a later academic session is not
permitted;
7. To qualify for the award, students must enrol no later than 31
January 2017;
8. Recipients of awards are not permitted to be engaged in any
employment for the duration of the award except as permitted under the
University’s Guidelines for the Employment of Full-Time Postgraduates;
9. Recipients of awards are expected to actively engage and participate
in University and College based postgraduate activity, including, for
example, postgraduate training, poster competitions, seminars and
postgraduate conferences. They are also expected to co-operate in Swansea
University Open Days and marketing of the University to new students. On
acceptance of an award, recipients’ details will be made available to the
Postgraduate Student Recruitment team, to enable them to contact students;
10. With the approval of the Postgraduate Research Academic Board,
recipients of awards will be permitted to take up time-limited research
work during the period of the award. Students must suspend study for the
duration of the research work and will not receive a maintenance allowance
while suspended;
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