Postdoctoral Researcher for Dutch Research Consortium 'Language in Interaction'

 

Human language is the most powerful communication system that evolution has produced. It is the basis of culture and social life. It comes in many forms. At the same time it is deeply rooted in the neurobiology of the human brain. The overarching quest of our programme is to account for, and understand, the balance between universality and variability at all relevant levels of the language system and the interplay with different cognitive systems, such as memory, action and cognitive control. 

The Language in Interaction research consortium invites applications for two senior postdoctoral positions. We are looking for highly motivated candidates to enrich a unique consortium of researchers that aims to unravel the neurocognitive mechanisms of language at multiple levels. The goal is to understand both the universality and the variability of the human language faculty from genes to behaviour. You will contribute to the integration of empirical research in our consortium and will aid in the coordination of 'Theory of Language' meetings in which cutting-edge research is discussed by consortium researchers. You will act in close collaboration Prof. Peter Hagoort, programme director of the consortium. These positions provide opportunities to conduct world-class research as a member of an interdisciplinary team and to contribute to the development of a theoretical framework for our understanding of the human language faculty.

Profile

• You have a PhD in an area related to the neurobiology of language and/or language sciences.
• You have expertise/interest in theoretical neuroscience and language.
• You have an integrative mindset.
• You have a theory-driven approach.
• You have good communication skills.
• You have excellent proficiency in written and spoken English.

We are

The Netherlands has an outstanding track record in the language sciences. The research consortium 'Language in Interaction', sponsored by a large grant from the Dutch Research Council (NWO), brings together many of the excellent research groups in the Netherlands with a research programme on the foundations of language. In addition to excellence in the domain of language and related relevant fields of cognition, our consortium provides state-of-the-art research facilities and a research team with ample experience in the complex research methods that will be invoked to address the scientific questions at the highest level of methodological sophistication. These include methods from genetics, neuroimaging, computational modelling, and patient-related research. The consortium realizes both quality and critical mass for studying human language at a scale not easily found anywhere else. We have identified five Big Questions (BQ) that are central to our understanding of the human language faculty. These questions are interrelated at multiple levels. Teams of researchers will collaborate to collectively address these key questions in our field. Our five Big Questions are: BQ1: The nature of the mental lexicon: How to bridge neurobiology and psycholinguistic theory by computational modelling BQ2: What are the characteristics and consequences of internal brain organization for language? BQ3: Creating a shared cognitive space: How is language grounded in and shaped by communicative settings of interacting people? BQ4: Variability in language processing and in language learning: Why does the ability to learn language change with age? How can we characterize and map individual language skills in relation to the population distribution? BQ5: How are other cognitive systems shaped by the presence of a language system in humans? You will be appointed at one of two participating institutes: The Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen or the Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, also located in Nijmegen. The research is conducted in an international setting at all participating institutions. English is the lingua franca.

Radboud University
We want to get the best out of science, others and ourselves. Why? Because this is what the world around us desperately needs. Leading research and education make an indispensable contribution to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. This is what unites the more than 24,000 students and 5,600 employees at Radboud University. And this requires even more talent, collaboration and lifelong learning. You have a part to play!

We offer

• Employment for 1.0 FTE.
• The gross monthly salary amounts to a minimum of €3,807 and a maximum of €5,211 based on a 38-hour working week, depending on previous education and number of years of relevant work experience (salary scale 11). At the Max Planck Institute the gross monthly salary will be between € 4,187 and € 4,911. 
• Employment at the Max Planck Institute or Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging at Radboud University.
• Each participating institute has a number of regulations that make it possible for employees to create a good work-life balance.
• The participating institutes are equal opportunity employers, committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community, and as such encourage applications from women and minorities.
• You will receive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• It concerns a temporary employment for a maximum period of two years.
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Care Services. Our Dual Career and Family Care Officer can assist you with family-related support, help your partner or spouse prepare for the local labour market, provide customized support in their search for employment  and help your family settle in Nijmegen.
• Working for us means getting extra days off. In case of full-time employment, you can choose between 29 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the legally allotted 20.

Additional employment conditions

Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes. 

The institute involved is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community, and as such encourages applications from women and minorities. Employment at the Max Planck Institute or Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging at Radboud University. Each participating institute has a number of regulations that make it possible for employees to create a good work-life balance. The participating institutes are an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community, and as such encourage applications from women and minorities.

Would you like more information?

For questions about the position, please contact Peter Hagoort, Programme Director Language in Interaction at +31 24 361 06 48 of +31 24 361 06 51 or peter.hagoort@donders.ru.nl .

Practical information and applications

You can apply until 1 March 2022, exclusively using the button below. Kindly address your application to Peter Hagoort. Please fill in the application form and attach the following documents:

• A letter of motivation.
• Your CV, including a list of publications (if applicable) and the names of at least two people who can provide references.

The first round of interviews will take place within two weeks after the closing date. You would preferably begin employment on ?

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The institute involved is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community, and as such encourages applications from women and minorities.

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