Post-Doctoral Researcher Position in Multimodal Language Processing

We are recruiting an exceptional post-doctoral researcher to lead technical development in our pioneering project creating the first computational framework for simultaneously modeling Icelandic speech and sign language. This role offers the opportunity to advance the frontiers of multimodal language processing while addressing real-world accessibility challenges.

About The Project

The Sign and Talk project tackles fundamental challenges in multimodal representation learning by developing novel approaches to align distinct embedding spaces from speech and sign language modalities. Sign languages encode information through parallel channels—manual signs, spatial grammar, facial expressions—operating simultaneously in 3D space, presenting unique computational challenges for cross-modal alignment. The project will pioneer new mathematical frameworks for multimodal integration, advance video transformer architectures for temporal-spatial dynamics, and develop few-shot learning methodologies for ultra-low-resource scenarios with only 200-300 primary users.

Working Environment at CADIA

You will join the Center for Analysis and Design of Intelligent Agents (CADIA) at Reykjavik University, one of Iceland's leading AI research centers. CADIA provides a collaborative environment where researchers tackle challenging problems in AI, machine learning, and human-computer interaction. The center offers regular seminars, visiting researcher opportunities, access to modern GPU clusters for deep learning research, and strong academic-industry connections. CADIA's commitment to open science aligns perfectly with this project's goals of creating accessible, community-driven technology solutions.

Research Leadership Responsibilities

The Post-Doctoral Researcher Will:

• Lead development of cross-modal embedding alignment frameworks
• Design and implement novel mathematical approaches for mapping between distinct embedding spaces
• Supervise and mentor the PhD student
• Coordinate technical integration across multiple work packages
• Drive innovation in low-resource language technology

Technical Focus Areas

• Cross-modal Integration: Develop frameworks for relating speech embeddings (Whisper, wav2vec2) with video transformer embeddings
• Advanced Computer Vision: Implement and adapt video transformer architectures for sign language processing
• Spatial Grammar Modeling: Create techniques to represent 3D spatial grammar unique to sign languages
• Domain Adaptation: Apply reinforcement learning and other approaches for cross-domain generalization

Qualifications

Essential:

• PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing, or closely related field
• Demonstrated expertise in deep learning and neural networks
• Strong publication record in top-tier venues (CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, NeurIPS, ICML, etc.)
• Experience with multimodal learning or cross-modal representation learning
• Proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow)
• Excellent leadership and mentoring skills

Desirable:

• Experience with video processing and temporal modeling
• Knowledge of speech processing or sign language recognition
• Track record in low-resource or few-shot learning
• Interest in accessibility or assistive technology research
• Grant writing and project management experience
• Collaborative research experience with non-technical stakeholders

Career Development Opportunities

• Lead high-impact research with significant societal benefits
• Develop academic leadership skills
• Build international collaborations and networks
• Mentor next-generation researchers
• Potential for follow-on research grants and career advancement

What We Offer

• Salary commensurate with experience
• Flexible working arrangements
• Access to cutting-edge computational resources
• Opportunity for significant academic and societal impact
• Pathway to permanent academic or industry positions

Application Materials

• Detailed CV including full publication list
• Research statement (max 3 pages) outlining your vision for the project
• Teaching and mentoring philosophy (max 1 page)
• Contact information for two professional references
• Selected publications demonstrating relevant expertise
• Evidence of leadership experience (optional but valued)

Project Impact

This position offers the rare opportunity to:

• Pioneer research in an underexplored but critical area
• Directly benefit an underserved linguistic minority
• Advance Iceland's position in language technology
• Contribute to international best practices in sign language technology
• Support government policy goals for accessibility and inclusion

Application Deadline: The position will be until filled. Applications will be reviewed starting September 15, 2025.

Duration: 3 years

Contact for Inquiries: Prof. Torfi Thorhallsson, torfith@ru.is

The positions is a part of the Sign and Talk project, funded by the Icelandic Language Technology Fund (Markáætlun í máltækni). The project is conducted in collaboration with the University of Iceland, Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, RÚV Iceland Broadcasting, and the Communication Centre for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

About Reykjavik University (RU)

Reykjavík University has around 4.300 students and 300 faculty and employees in addition to numerous adjunct faculty in two schools: Technology and Social Sciences. We offer a welcoming and stimulating environment in which to work and live. The University is centrally located in Reykjavík, the capital city of Iceland. The role of Reykjavik University is to create and disseminate knowledge to enhance the competitiveness and quality of life for individuals and society, guided by good ethics, sustainability, and responsibility. Education and research at RU are based on strong ties with industry and society. We emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration, international relations, and entrepreneurship.

About Iceland

Iceland is well known for its breathtaking natural beauty, with volcanoes, hot springs, lava fields and glaciers offering a dramatic landscape. It consistently ranks as one of the best places in the world to live. It offers a high quality of life and is one of the safest places in the world, with high gender equality and strong healthcare and social support systems. Reykjavik is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city that provides an ideal environment for combining cultural and family activities with an active lifestyle.