Job: Postdoctoral researcher in olfactory language and cognition

[Jean-Christophe Verstraete]

(Forwarded on behalf of Asifa Majid; asifa.majid at mpi.nl)

Postdoctoral Researcher in Olfactory Language and Cognition

Philosophers, biologists and anthropologists alike have claimed that 
humans are limited in their sense of olfaction: olfactory experiences 
seem to be “ineffable”, difficult or even impossible to put into words. 
But there is recent evidence from non-Western societies and expert 
populations that challenges this view. Within this project, a team of 
researchers will investigate olfactory language and cognition in 
different cultural settings, including small-scale, lesser-known 
language communities.

This Postdoctoral Fellowship is part of the project Human Olfaction at 
the Intersection of Language, Culture and Biology funded by a Vici grant 
from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), hosted 
at Radboud University Nijmegen. You will do field work in a 
non-Indo-European language in order to investigate both olfactory 
language and cognition. You will perform linguistic documentation of 
olfactory language in a community with potential for lexical elaboration 
in this domain. You will also conduct experiments in the field to 
explore olfactory cognition. You are expected to be an active member of 
the project group. You will write high-impact peer-reviewed journal 
articles and will also present your results at conferences and workshops.

What we expect from you

You should:
- hold a PhD in Linguistics, or equivalent;
- have a strong academic record as evidenced by curriculum vitae and 
publication record;
- have experience with fieldwork in a non-Indo-European language;
- have an established field site with potential for olfactory language;
- have an excellent command of spoken and written English;
- have a strong commitment to linguistic documentation;
- have a strong commitment to interdisciplinary research;
- have experience with organizing workshops and/or conferences;
- have experience with coordinating research projects;
- have experience with supervising students;
- have the ability to work in a team;
- have knowledge of experimental and elicitation methods (desirable, but 
not necessary).

What we have to offer

We offer you:
  - employment: 0,8 - 1,0 fte;
  - a maximum gross monthly salary of € 4,418 based on a 38-hour working 
week (salary scale 11);
  - in addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% 
end-of-year bonus;
  - the starting salary will depend on qualifications and experience;
  - duration of the contract: one year with the possibility of extension 
by 1 year;
  - you will be classified as a Postdoctoral Researcher (Onderzoeker 3) 
in the Dutch university job-ranking system (UFO).

Are you interested in our excellent employment conditions 
(http://www.ru.nl/english/arbeidsvoorwaarden)?

Other Information
You must be able to begin work by September 1st 2013 at the latest.

Would you like to know more?
Further information on: Faculty of Arts (http://www.ru.nl/letteren/)

For questions regarding the project contact Prof. dr. Asifa Majid
E-mail: asifa.majid at let.ru.nl

Applications
Are you interested?
To apply for this position, please send the following documents in 
English and in PDF-format:
motivation letter (including details of fieldsite,) curriculum vita, a 
writing sample in English (40 pages max) and two letters of recommendation.

It is Radboud University Nijmegen's policy to only accept applications 
by e-mail. Please send your application, stating vacancy number 23.01.13 
, to vacatures at let.ru.nl, for the attention of  drs. L.J.P.M. van 
Mosseveld, before 29 March 2013.

For more information on the application procedure: +31 24 3612916