Open PhD Position at Freie Universitaet Berlin

Corporate Semantic Web

AG Corporate Semantic Web (http://www.inf.fu-berlin.de/en/groups/ag-csw/) at the Freie Universitaet Berlin
is currently seeking candidates for two positions as a PhD student in a 2-year industrial research project
in Semantic Patent Informatics. The project is aiming at the semantic representation and reasoning on patents
and national patent laws.

Freie Universitaet Berlin is a leading research institution. It is one of the nine German Elite universities
successful in all three funding lines in the federal and state Excellence Initiative. The AG Corporate Semantic
Web at the Freie Universitaet Berlin was founded in 2008 and has developed into a challenging and dynamic
research group. Our major objective is to establish Semantic technologies as a core pillar of modern enterprise
information technology and systems.

We offer

* A stimulating environment of a leading research group in the fields of Semantic Web, formal languages and
reasoning, rule-based and ontology-based systems and services
* Excellent ties to research groups worldwide
* Up-to-date infrastructure and resources, including funding for attending international conferences, PhD
symposia, summer schools, etc.
* Opportunity to work with internationally established academic and industrial partners
* Multicultural working place with modern infrastructure and facilities

We expect

The ideal candidate holds a very good Master degree (or German diploma
degree) in Computer Science or related field and is able to consider both theoretical and practical and
implementation aspects in her/his work. Fluent English communication and programming skills are fundamental requirements.

* A strong background in Computer Science or related disciplines
* Willingness to work in an international environment
* The ability to take part in a large-scale international research project with an industry partner
* Willingness to combine formal scientific work with application-oriented research in order to solve real-world problems
* Research interest and expertise in at least one of the areas:

Formal languages and reasoning (Description Logics, Logic Programming, normative legal reasoning), rule and ontology languages, Semantic Web, formal logic-based patent informatics, logic-based natural language processing and knowledge representation.

Excellent candidates are invited to apply to one of these positions with:

* Curriculum vitae and copies of degree certificates/transcripts,
* Writing samples/copies of relevant scientific papers (e.g. thesis, etc.),
* Letters of recommendation.

The university strives to increase the proportion of women in scientific service and therefore particularly welcomes 
applications from women. Also handicapped applicants, if qualified, will be given preference.

Please send your application in a printed version indicating in the subject "041950/CSW/SPI" to the following contact.
The application deadline is March 28th, 2011.

Contact and application:

Freie Universität Berlin
Institut für Informatik
AG Corporate Semantic Web
Melanie Siering
Königin-Luise-Straße 24-26
D-14195 Berlin
siering@inf.fu-berlin.de