Job Details

Postdoctoral Scholar - Script Encoding Initiative - Linguistics Department

The Script Encoding Initiative (SEI) in the Department of Linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley invites applications for a two-year postdoctoral scholar position. The postdoc will contribute to an NSF-funded project on the politics of digitizing newly-invented writing systems.

About SEI: The Script Encoding Initiative (SEI) is a research group based in Berkeley's Department of Linguistics that works to support the inclusion of the world's writing systems in digital technologies. Since 2002, SEI has partnered with the Unicode Consortium, technology companies, scholars, and international user communities to document scripts and develop proposals for their digital representation. Of the 170+ scripts currently supported on digital devices, SEI has contributed to the successful encoding of more than 120. SEI also serves as a hub for research and education on the politics of writing systems and digital standards. Visit sei.berkeley.edu to learn more.

Project Description The NSF-funded project, "Script Legitimacy in Digital Environments: Investigating Silicon Valley's Position as a Global Language Authority" examines how the Unicode Consortium evaluates proposals to encode modern "neographies" writing systems invented within the last century. Neographies often lack the institutional backing and demonstrated stability of older scripts, raising unique questions about what establishes a script as legitimate and ready for encoding. Via a mixture of archival research, interviews, and participant observation, the project investigates how technical decision-making intersects with language policy and authority in the digital age. Researchers will primarily carry out data collection in the Bay Area, CA and may have the opportunity to travel to sites in South Asia and/or West Africa (to be finalized based on team expertise). The postdoctoral fellow will work closely with Research Director Anushah Hossain and the SEI team.

Position Responsibilities

• Conduct archival research and qualitative data analysis on Unicode proposals and decision-making.
• Participate in ethnographic fieldwork, including interviews and observation, in designated field sites.
• Contribute to SEI's ongoing activities, including research on scripts, collaboration with technology and type design industries, and public-facing dissemination.
• Produce publications and reports based on project findings.
• Present research in academic and professional forums.
• Mentor undergraduate researchers engaged in SEI's work.

Basic qualifications (required at time of application):

• PhD degree (or equivalent international degree) or enrollment in a PhD (or equivalent international degree) program

Additional qualifications (required at time of start):

• PhD degree (or equivalent international degree)
• No more than 3-years post PhD research experience

Preferred qualifications:

• PhD in Anthropology, Linguistics, Science and Technology Studies, Area studies, or a related field, completed within the last three years at the time of appointment
• Training in qualitative research methods (e.g., interviewing, participant observation, archival analysis).
• Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following:
  • Writing systems
  • Language politics
  • Modern South Asia
  • Modern West Africa
  • Text technologies and digital standards
• Familiarity with digitization, the Unicode Standard, or technical standards-making
• Prior fieldwork experience in South Asia or West Africa
• Experience working across disciplines
• Strong record of writing and presentation
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a small research team and contribute to SEI's outreach and partnerships

Document requirements:

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter - 2-3 pages detailing research background and relevance to this project
• Writing Sample - Please provide one writing sample of related work, (preferably <10,000 words, published or unpublished)

Reference requirements:

• 3 required (contact information only)

Help contact: ...@berkeley.edu