Tilburg University | School of Humanities and Digital Sciences
is looking for a
Student Assistant – Sign Language Video Processing
Department: Computational Cognitive Science
Hybrid
Contact size: 0.2 fte (8 hours per week)
Part-time employment (0.2 fte) gross monthly salary: €895-915
Intended start date: October 1st, 2026
Project description:
This project focuses on data processing of sign language video data from the XSL Hotel Review Corpus, a multilingual parallel corpus of Sign Language of the Netherlands (Nederlandse Gebarentaal - NGT), Flemish Sign Language (Vlaamse Gebarentaal - VGT), Spanish Sign Language (Lengua de Signos Espanola, LSE), written English, Dutch, Spanish and Irish. The data are in the form of text for written languages and of video for sign languages. A current limitation of the corpus is that there is no alignment between written sentences and video fragments, and no annotation available.
The goal of this project is to perform some processing (e.g. MediaPipe) and analysis of the data (of one or more languages), and to explore using these for annotating the corpus: e.g. phrase/utterance level segmentation, and/or sign spotting and annotation.
Your position:
For this role we are looking for a student assistant with advanced programming skills who is interested in processing videos, analysing spatial-temporal data, and has experience with similar projects. Some prior knowledge of multimodal visual language or sign language is a plus.
Your profile
- You are enrolled as a student at Tilburg University and have obtained at least 60 ECTS in a university bachelor’s program or at least 20 credits in a master’s program.
- Minimum CEFR level [C2/C1/B1] English. Dutch is not required.
- You have a data science, computer science, or computational linguistics background.
- You have experience with spatial-temporal data.
What do we offer?
Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment:
- Employment of 0.2 fte (8 hours per week).
- Salary between €895 and 915 gross per month for part-time employment (0.2 fte) ((UFO profile Student Assistant, salary scale SA). Salary depending on the course year you are in.
- This is a vacancy for a Student Assistant who 2. contributes to scientific education or research in accordance with Article 10.1 paragraph 2 CLA Dutch Universities. You will receive a temporary contract for the duration of 2 months.
- Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
- More than 8 weeks of vacation leave.
- If you don’t have student grants, reimbursement for sustainable commuting: walking, cycling and public transportation.
- Inclusive work culture: everyone welcome, equal opportunities.
Want to know more?
Would you like to know more before applying? Feel free to contact Dr. Mirella De Sisto at
[email protected].
Want to apply?
We kindly invite you to apply before 14th of September 2026; this can only be done online. Address your cover letter to Dr. Mirella De Sisto and attach your resume. We look forward to your response.
The letter selection will take place by 21st of September 2026. You will be notified as soon as possible thereafter. The selection interviews will take place in the week of 21st -25th September.
The selection committee consists of:
You will ideally start working for Tilburg University on 1st of October 2026.
About Tilburg University
Tilburg University is the university in the humanities and social sciences. Ever since our foundation in 1927, we have been committed to a just, inclusive, and sustainable society. With leading research and inspiring education, we contribute to the interpretation and, where possible, solutions to current societal issues, from climate change to digitalization
Our community is personal, engaged, and small-scale. On our green, compact, and vibrant campus there is room for encounter, collaboration, reflection, and personal growth. Read more about Tilburg University.
Working at Tilburg University means working in an inclusive team with attractive employment conditions. At Tilburg University, you will receive ample opportunities to strengthen your talents and develop your career, in a warm working atmosphere where we attach great importance to the following values: curious, connected, caring, and courageous.
About the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences (TSHD)
Research and education at the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences (TSHD) focuses on humans, technology, culture, and their interactions in a globalizing digital society. From the interplay of our disciplines, our research and education focuses on the development of artificial intelligence and interactive technologies, their influence on communication, culture and society, and moral and existential challenges that arise. The School of Humanities and Digital Sciences consists of six Departments: Communication and Cognition, Computational Cognitive Science, Intelligent Systems, Culture Studies, Philosophy, and the Tilburg Center of the Learning Sciences. Collaboration across disciplines is encouraged among both researchers and students. With this approach, we nurture a way of thinking that takes into account different perspectives and the diverse, sometimes conflicting needs and interests of people and society. At TSHD, we foster a culture of integrity, trust, diversity and inclusion, and constructive and critical dialogue. All members of our community are recognized and valued for their unique contributions.
University College Tilburg, with its interdisciplinary Liberal Articles and Sciences program, holds a unique position within the School. This collaboration with other Schools also includes the disciplines of economics, law, and the social sciences. Read more about the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences (TSHD).
About the ISMT group
The Inclusive and Sustainable Machine Translation group focuses on inclusive language technology, sustainable and environmentally conscious AI. The XSL Hotel Review Corpus project is based on the work of the ISMT members working on sign language technology. The group is international and diverse, and is formed by researchers with a range of expertise which go from linguistics to computer science.
Recruitment code
Tilburg University applies the recruitmentcode of the Dutch Association for Personnel Management & Organization Development (NVP).
Disclaimer
The text of this vacancy advertisement is copyright-protected property of Tilburg University. Use, distribution and further disclosure of the advertisement without express permission from Tilburg University is not allowed, and this applies explicitly to use by recruitment and selection agencies which do not act directly on the instructions of Tilburg University. Responses resulting from recruitment by non-contractors of Tilburg Universities will not be handled.
