PhD Candidate (SNSF) in Digital Humanities and Computational Semiotic Studies

Introduction

UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5,000 employees and 17,000 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.

Presentation

The Department of Language and Information Sciences at the University of Lausanne is inviting applications for the position of PhD Candidate (SNSF) in Digital Humanities and Computational Semiotic Studies.

Job information

• Starting Date: From March 1st, 2026


• Contract Duration: one year, renewable until the end of the Projet (31 October 2028)


• Activity Rate: 100%


• Work Location: Lausanne-Dorigny

Your responsibilities

As part of the project, most of the time will be devoted to writing a thesis in the field of computational humanities. The PhD candidate will be responsible for conducting innovative research focused on the computational study of Charles S. Peirce’s manuscripts, relying on advanced digital methods. More specifically, the candidate will be in charge of:

•    Digital Transcription of Manuscripts:
-    Selecting and applying OCR and handwritten text recognition (HTR) techniques to digitize Peirce’s manuscripts, in collaboration with specialized platforms such as Transkribus and eScriptorium.
-    Ensuring quality control of the transcriptions and annotating the texts with relevant metadata (dates, themes, semiotic aspects).

•    Textual Analysis and NLP:
-    Implementing Natural Language Processing tools and linguistic models (Large Language Models) to analyze the transcribed texts, identify stylistic and semantic patterns, and track the evolution of Peirce’s thought.
-    Conducting stylometric and discourse analyses to deepen the understanding of the work.

•     Knowledge Engineering and Cataloging:
-    Contributing to the construction of a structured knowledge graph that integrates the transcribed and annotated data, using standards such as TEI-XML and ontologies adapted to cultural and semiotic heritage.
-    Participating in the development of workflows dedicated to the management and querying of data.

•    Data Visualization and Interpretation:
-    Developing interactive visualization tools to explore the relationships between texts, diagrams, and semiotic concepts, thereby enhancing the appreciation of Peirce’s heritage.
-    Designing interfaces and APIs to facilitate access to and dissemination of the research results.

Your qualifications

The ideal candidate must have:
•  A Master’s degree in Computer Science for the Humanities (or an equivalent qualification) in a relevant discipline (Digital Humanities, Computational Linguistics, Computational Studies of Semiotics).
•    Excellent proficiency in English (B2-C1) or native 
•   A strong motivation to develop a thesis project integrating digital methods (OCR, HTR, NLP, knowledge graphs, data visualization) applied to the analysis of Charles S. Peirce’s works.
•    The ability to conduct interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research in an international environment, combining technical rigor and theoretical reflection.

What the position offers you

The position offers:
•    A stimulating research environment within an internationally renowned institution.
•    Access to cutting-edge resources and infrastructures dedicated to Digital Humanities.
•    Personalized guidance from recognized researchers and the opportunity to collaborate within a dynamic interdisciplinary network.

UNIL offer a nice working place in a multicultural, diverse and dynamic academic environment. Opportunities for professional training, a lot of activities and other benefits to discover.

Contact for further information

Please contact: Davide Picca – E-Mail schreiben

Your application

Application deadline: 1st February 2026

Applications must be submitted in PDF or Word format and include:
•    A cover letter outlining your skills and proposals for conducting the doctoral project.
•    A detailed and up-to-date Curriculum Vitae.
•    A copy of your university degrees.
•    A list of your completed research works (publications, projects, presentations).
•    An electronic version of your master’s thesis.
•    Two academic references (Name, First Name, Institution, email).

Only applications submitted via this site will be considered.

Thank you for your understanding.

Additional information

UNIL is committed to:
•    equality, diversity and inclusion within its community;
•    ensuring an open and respectful environment that is conducive to personal development;
•    offering working conditions that facilitate work-life balance;
•    supporting early career researchers.

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