This year I had the opportunity to work as a research assistant on the project «Generative AI and Machine Translation in the Translation Profession,» led by Jean Nitzke at the Department of Foreign Languages and Translation. Although it was a short-term position, I was able to gain relevant experience. As a student, interpreter, and translator interested in artificial intelligence and translation studies, I was excited to contribute to this project. It gave me valuable insights into the «behind-the-scenes» aspects of research projects and enriched both my academic knowledge and practical skills.
My responsibilities encompassed a variety of tasks. One task involved testing a questionnaire designed for translators and interpreters, and providing feedback on technical and other issues. This gave me a better understanding of the challenges faced by professionals in the field and the importance of effective data collection in research.
Another task involved translating and testing various stimuli into Norwegian. These stimuli were taken from public spaces in Germany and France, which created an interesting challenge regarding cultural and contextual accuracy. Additionally, I also had to translate infographics about machine learning from English into Norwegian. This was particularly challenging due to the need to preserve both the content and the visual layout of the infographics. The constraints of word count and formatting complicated the task further, but they also provided valuable experience in dealing with translation challenges.
Writing a blog post was also included in the project, and this activity helped me to reflect on my contributions as a research assistant.
In my opinion, a research assistant position is an excellent opportunity for students to combine their academic interests with professional practice and acquire meaningful educational experience. For me, as a student of the Translation and Professional Communication program, the skills and knowledge I have gained will be useful in my future academic work, especially for my master’s thesis.