Sina Ahmadi

I am a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Computational Linguistics at the University of Zurich, where I work with Prof. Rico Sennrich’s group on advancing natural language processing (NLP) for linguistically diverse communities. My research lies at the intersection of computational linguistics, machine learning, and language preservation, with a particular focus on developing scalable solutions for languages with limited digital resources. Prior to this position, I conducted research on the same theme at Dr. Antonios Anastasopoulos’s group within the Department of Computer Science at George Mason University.

I received my Ph.D. from the Insight Centre for Data Analytics at University of Galway in 2022, under the supervision of Dr. John McCrae. My doctoral research focused on lexicographic data linking and NLP, working closely with ELEXIS (European Lexicographic Infrastructure). Prior to this, I completed an MSc in Machine Learning from Paris Descartes University and an MA in Natural Language Processing from Sorbonne Nouvelle University, conducting research at several laboratories in France, (LIP6, LIMSI, and LIPN).

Research Vision

My research is motivated by my deep belief that every language community deserves access to modern language technology. This drives my work in:

1. Low-resourced NLP: Developing innovative approaches to tackle challenges in low-resource scenarios, from script normalization to machine translation
2. Language technology for everyone: Creating practical, solution-oriented tools and resources that address real-world needs
3. Community-centered and open-source development: Working directly with language communities while ensuring all outcomes are openly available

Languages are not merely data points in my research—they represent living communities, cultural heritage, and human expression. I’ve had the privilege of working with over 40 languages across multiple language families. Do you need help developing language technology for your language? Let me know!

Beyond research, I’m passionate about languages and music. As an amateur violinist, I’ve performed Vivaldi’s Concerto in A minor and Telemann’s concerto for 4 violins No. 2 in D major in public concerts.

In addition to this website, you can find information about me at various social networks outlets which are linked to in the left section.

My CV (last updated November 2024)