PhD position in Computer Science on Information Retrieval and Text Mining
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The Faculty of Informatics of the Universita’ della Svizzera Italiana (a.k.a. University of Lugano) Switzerland, is looking for a candidate for a fully funded PhD position, available for 4 years (starting 1 July 2017 or as soon as possible thereof), in connection with the SNSF funded project titled "The Global Structure of Knowledge Networks (GSKN)".

*The Project*
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The GSKN project will develop and test new and innovative information retrieval techniques and new network-analytic models for the analysis of very large datasets characterized by complex micro-relational structures. The main objective of the project is to study and use next generation of statistical models for the analysis of “big” network data. The project is organised into three sub projects dealing with: a) the use of database management techniques  to create and manage data related to patents; b) the study of innovative data retrieval algorithms and topic modelling techniques to identify and delineate different subnetworks in the global structure of patent networks; and c) design new statistical models of patent as social networks that scale up to the analysis of networks of arbitrary size.

*The positions*
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The PhD position will be in the area of Information Retrieval and Text Mining. The PhD student will work in collaboration with two postdocs in the context of the second sub project, titled "Developing new computational approaches to the analysis of knowledge structures”. This subproject aims at appling innovative data retrieval algorithms and topic modelling techniques to identify and delineate the different subnetworks linking Switzerland to the global structure of patents networks and to represent the evolutionary development of knowledge structures in which Switzerland is embedded. Your main responsibility will be to carry out research in the above area, but you will be given the opportunity to acquire some teaching experience and qualification as well. The work will be supervised by Prof. Fabio Crestani.

*Our offer*
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We offer a full-time PhD position with a competitive salary and social security insurance. The year salary of a PhD student, in accordance with Swiss regulations, ranges (gross) from CHF 47,040 in the first year to CHF 50,040 in the last year, with taxation around 20%. The university and, in particular, the Faculty of Informatics whose official language is English, provides excellent facilities for both professional and personal development and the city of Lugano offers an enjoyable environment all year round.

*Your profile and application process*
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Application are invited as soon as possible as the selection will start from early March 2017. Applicants are expected to already have or be about to get a Master degree (or comparable level) in Computer Science, Information Science or closely related disciplines (Maths, Statistics, etc).

Please send the following information to Prof. Fabio Crestani (at fabio.crestani@usi.ch) using the subject “GSKN PhD Position":

1. Motivation letter indicating your background and interests.
2. Full curriculum vitae, including a list of all courses and marks.
3. Contact information for at least two academic references.
4. Evidence of the command of English (fluent in writing and speaking).