Two PhD researchers position use of AI creative translation

Organisation/Company Université libre de Bruxelles Department Faculté de Lettres, Traduction et Communication Research Field Language sciences Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Final date to receive applications 30 Jun 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels) Country Belgium Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Two full-time PhD positions (4 years) within the FRS‑FNRS funded research project on the use of AI for creative translation.

We are looking for two highly motivated PhD candidates to join our team under the supervision of Damien Hansen (TRADITAL, ULB), Perrine Schumacher (CIRTI, ULiège) and Loïc De Faria Pires (FTI-EII, UMONS). The selected candidates will mainly spend the first two years of the project working together in Brussels, then will be more actively involved in the other institution. At the end of the project, both candidates will be awarded a joint doctoral degree in Languages, Literature and Translation Studies delivered by both corresponding institutions.

These PhD research packages are funded by the WelCHANGE (T.C039.26) programme through the research project “GLITCHES‑ Gains et limites de l'IA en traduction créative : humain expert ou spectateur ?”. This project aims to explore the use of translation technology in creative domains as well as on the effects of technologization on the teaching and practice of translation, focusing specifically on the cognitive and situated dimension of the technology, in addition to the more recent arrival of new generative AI tools.

Two doctoral projects are devised with those aims in mind, focusing respectively on a “literary” package and a “localization” package, two sectors where this technology has recently emerged.

Position 1 (literary translation, didactic perspective) will focus mostly on the use and effects of machine translation and generative AI tools in the context of translation education programmes.

Position 2 (localization, ergonomic perspective) will focus mostly on the cognitive aspects and actual or divergent uses of technology among translation professionals.

Through these action packages, the project aims to highlight the foreseeable and observed consequences of technology on the process and activity of translation, and to critically examine the ethical and social implications of technology use by working in collaboration with key actors and associations already involved in these issues.

Candidates are expected to carry out their research within the framework of this research project, to collaborate with other researchers, both within and outside of their home institution, and to be actively involved with students, professionals and professional associations.

E-mail

Research Field Language sciences Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Computer science Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Qualifications

• Master Degree in Languages, Literature and Translation Studies, or equivalent
• Master Degree in Natural Language Processing, or equivalent
• C2 level of French (excellent proficiency and communication skills)
• C1 level of English (very good proficiency and communication skills)

Valuable criteria

• Language proficiency other than English or French
• Interest or research experience for language technology
• Relevant professional experience is an asset , but not an eligibility criterion

For the position related to video games

• Interest for video games, localization and the field of game studies

For the position related to literature

• Interest for literary works, literary translation and literary studies

• French – Excellent
• English – Excellent

• Fully funded PhD grant (4 years)
• Participate in the advancement of pioneering research
• Integration in two institutions, with dedicated workspace and teams of researchers
• Involvement within a larger research project covering operating costs
• Connection…