Maria Olshanetska
Freelance Computational Linguist
Barcelona
Summary
As a computational linguist, my expertise lies in the formal modeling and computational representation of cognitive and linguistic phenomena. My professional background spans diverse environments, including prominent industry leaders such as Cerence, innovative startups like Process Talks, and advanced academic research projects such as TagFact and TaskGen. Throughout these roles, I have successfully designed and implemented sophisticated NLP systems, automated complex linguistic data annotation pipelines, fine-tuned cutting-edge neural architectures, and developed targeted prompt-engineering strategies to optimize performance on intricate language tasks. My technical skills are complemented by a robust academic foundation and ongoing research interests in phonology, typology, semantics, pragmatics, and linguistic anthropology, enabling me to bridge theoretical insights with practical, scalable solutions.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Certifications
Work History
Graduate Research Student
IIIA-CSIC
12.2024 - Current
- Developing advanced AI systems utilizing Large Language Models (LLMs) integrated with Unreal Engine to create immersive training simulations. My research focuses on enhancing conversational realism and natural interaction with autonomous agents, including NPCs and robots, combining computational linguistics, prompt engineering, and innovative techniques to optimize user engagement and simulation effectiveness.
- Position supported by the JAE grant.
Computational Linguist
TaskGen project
11.2024 - Current
- Implementing NLP solutions for Catalan and Russian modules, integrating traditional linguistic processing methods—including Python-based libraries and rule-based text analysis—with state-of-the-art transformer-based language models.
- Conducting NLP research aimed at resolving language-specific ambiguities, focusing on semantic precision, linguistic nuance, and computational efficiency.
Computational Linguist and Quality Assurance
Process Talks
12.2022 - Current
- Creating, curating, and maintaining linguistic datasets, along with training, fine-tuning, and evaluating language models within a multilingual environment (Spanish, Catalan, and English).
- Conducting quality assurance tasks, including platform functionality testing and supporting client onboarding to ensure smooth integration and optimal user experience.
Computational Linguist
Cerence A.I.
07.2023 - 09.2024
- Expanded and refined the Spanish Natural Language Understanding (NLU) system through the development of comprehensive grammars and lexical resources. Conducted systematic error analysis, implementing targeted adjustments to improve system accuracy and performance.
- Additionally, contributed periodically to Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) model training and evaluation.
Computational Linguist
TAGFACT project
11.2020 - 11.2021
- Contributed as part of the Grup de Recerca Interuniversitari en Aplicacions Lingüístiques, developing robust rule-based criteria for Spanish temporal expressions. My work particularly emphasized the resolution of ambiguous cases, providing a reliable and precise foundation for subsequent implementation across other linguistic modules.
Education
Master of Science - Cognitive Science and Language
UB, UPF, UAB, URV And UG
Barcelona, Spain 04.2024 - Current
Bachelor of Science - Linguistics
Universitat De Barcelona
Barcelona 04.2018 - 01.2023
Bachelor of Arts - Foreign Languages And Literatures
Universitat De Barcelona
Barcelona 01.2015 - 01.2018
Skills
Catalan
Spanish
English
Russian
Dutch
Hebrew
Certification
Universitat de Barcelona - Regression and beyond (for language scientist but not only). Frequentist and Bayesian approaches
Timeline
Universitat de Barcelona - Regression and beyond (for language scientist but not only). Frequentist and Bayesian approaches
12-2024
Graduate Research Student
IIIA-CSIC
12.2024 - Current
Computational Linguist
TaskGen project
11.2024 - Current
Master of Science - Cognitive Science and Language
UB, UPF, UAB, URV And UG
04.2024 - Current
Eumes - Ableton Live Training
02-2024
Computational Linguist
Cerence A.I.
07.2023 - 09.2024
Computational Linguist and Quality Assurance
Process Talks
12.2022 - Current
Computational Linguist
TAGFACT project
11.2020 - 11.2021
Bachelor of Science - Linguistics
Universitat De Barcelona
04.2018 - 01.2023
Bachelor of Arts - Foreign Languages And Literatures
Universitat De Barcelona
01.2015 - 01.2018
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