Postdoctoral Fellow: Hate Speech Detection and Prevention through Social Media Analysis

The Department of Computer Science in the College of Arts and Sciences at American University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow appointment for Calendar Year 2023. The appointment is a 12-month term position and will commence on January 1, 2023. The Postdoctoral Fellow will be affiliated with the Department of Computer Science at American University in Washington, D.C. The Fellow will work with Professor Nathalie Japkowicz and other professors and students affiliated with her lab.

The successful candidate will help create tools for combatting evolving online expressions of hatred by detecting influencer techniques and user responses on social media platforms. The work will combine Social Network Analysis methods with Natural Language Processing and Image Analysis approaches, using deep learning, graph theoretic, and other relevant AI and Security techniques. Salary is competitive.

The principal duties to be carried out (in collaboration with other lab team members) include:

• Data Analysis

• Creation of suitable representations for the data.

• System Design and Implementation

• System Optimization

• Performance Evaluation

• Addition of a self-adapting component to keep the approach current as time elapses.

• Co-supervision of Senior or Master’s students

• Preparation of conference and journal manuscripts

• Assistance in the preparation of grant proposals

The ideal candidate will hold a Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Data Science, Computer Engineering, or other related areas and will have substantial experience in Social Network Analysis, NLP, or both. Experience in Deep Learning is necessary while experience in other machine learning, statistical, and security areas are added bonuses. The candidate will have a record of publications in well-recognized conferences and/or journal venues.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until November 15, 2022 or until the position is filled, subject to on-going budgetary approval. Include a letter of application, curriculum vitae, a list of three references, and copies of recently published papers or working papers. Please contact Nathalie Japkowicz, at japkowic@american.edu if you have any questions.

American University is a private institution within easy reach of the many centers of government, business, research, and the arts located within the nation’s capital. For more information about American University, visit www.american.edu .