Student Assistant - Sign Language Video Processing

Tilburg University; Tilburg; Hybrid; EUR 10,000 - 11,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary 895–915 EUR gross monthly

Temporary 2-month contract

Vacation pay 8%

Year-end bonus 8.3%

Sustainable commuting reimbursement

Inclusive work culture

Job summary

Tilburg University invites applications for a Student Assistant in Sign Language Video Processing. The role is 0.2 fte (8 hours per week) with a start date of October 1, 2026, embedded within the Computational Cognitive Science department.

The successful candidate will process sign language video data, analyze spatial-temporal patterns, and explore annotation opportunities for the XSL Hotel Review Corpus using tools like MediaPipe.

Qualifications

• Enrolled student at Tilburg University with at least 60 ECTS (bachelor) or 20 credits (master).
• English proficiency CEFR level at least C1/C2; Dutch not required.
• Background in data science, computer science, or computational linguistics.
• Experience with spatial-temporal data.

Responsibilities

• Process sign language video data and analyze spatial-temporal patterns.
• Explore possible annotation of the corpus with phrase/utterance segmentation or sign spotting.
• Collaborate with the ISMT group and department on project tasks.

Skills

Advanced programming

Video processing

Spatial-temporal data

Multimodal data experience

Education

Data science / computer science / computational linguistics background

Tools

MediaPipe

Job description

Student Assistant - Sign Language Video Processing (24454)

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

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.

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 theTilburg 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 therecruitmentcode 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.