Research Assistant

The Information Systems Program within CMUQ seeking a motivated and talented Research Assistant to join the team and work on our groundbreaking project focused on developing the first automated system for scoring Arabic essays. This innovative system will assess essays written by high school and first-year university students in Qatar, focusing on four key dimensions: style, relevance, organization, and development. The project is a collaboration with Qatar University, and Qatar University Testing Center (QUTC).This research project is funded by the Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council (QRDI).

Given the advances in AI and machine learning, Automated Essay Scoring (AES) has been widely studied, particularly for English, but little attention has been given to Arabic. This project seeks to fill that gap by creating and deploying an Arabic AES system that predicts scores across the four dimensions.

The project has five main objectives:
(1) creating the first publicly available Arabic AES dataset,

(2) developing effective holistic and dimension-specific scoring models,

(3) designing cross-lingual and cross-prompt scoring models,

(4) utilizing multi-task learning to enhance performance, and

(5) deploying the system at the two end user sites.

Core responsibilities include:

- Assist in the acquisition, cleaning, and annotation of Arabic essay datasets.
- Contribute to the development and fine-tuning of machine learning models for automated essay scoring.
- Participate in research and experiments involving cross-lingual and cross-prompt learning models.
- Support the integration and deployment of the developed AES system at the end-user sites.
- Collaborate with team members to prepare research papers, reports, and presentations.
- Perform other research-related tasks as required by the project.

Flexibility, excellence, and passion are vital qualities within the Information Systems program. Inclusion, collaboration and cultural sensitivity are valued competencies at CMU. Therefore, we are in search of a team member who is able to effectively interact with a varied population of internal and external partners at a high level of integrity. We are looking for someone who shares our values and who will support the mission of the university through their work.

Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Linguistics, Data Science, or a related field.
- Strong programming skills, particularly in Python, and experience with machine learning libraries (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).
- Familiarity with natural language processing (NLP) techniques and tools.
- Experience with Arabic language processing is highly desirable.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
- Prior research experience is a plus, especially in areas related to AES, NLP, or machine learning.

What We Offer:

- Opportunity to work on a pioneering project with significant academic and societal impact.
- Mentorship and professional development in cutting-edge research areas like NLP, AES, and machine learning.
- A collaborative and dynamic research environment at CMUQ and Qatar University.
- Potential to contribute to high-impact publications and attend conferences.
- Competitive salary and benefits based on qualifications and experience.

A cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications for the position. A detailed CV, including relevant research experience and publications (if any).
- Contact information for at least two academic or professional references

Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits.

Benefits eligible

employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including

comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance

as well as a generous

retirement savings program

with employer contributions. Unlock your potential with

tuition benefits

, take well-deserved breaks with ample

paid time off

and observed

holidays

, and rest easy with life and accidental death and disability insurance.

Additional perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, access to our

Family Concierge Team

to help navigate childcare needs,

fitness center access

, and much more

For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our

Benefits page


At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond credentials, we evaluate the role and responsibilities, your valuable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We appreciate your unique skills and the perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.

Location

Doha, Qatar

Job Function

Researchers

Position Type

Staff - Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Full Time/Part time

Part time

Pay Basis

Hourly

More Information:
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