Two PostDoctoral Research fellowship at LCRC, JCU, Australia

Tue Nov 27 07:17:22 UTC 2012

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Anthropological Linguistics
within the Language and Culture Research Centre, James Cook University, Australia‏

Applications are invited for one three-year Postdoctoral Research Fellowship and one two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship within the Language and Culture Research Centre, James Cook University, to work under the leadership of the Directors of the Centre (Distinguished Professor Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald and Professor R. M. W. Dixon). The positions are available from 1 February 2013.

Applicants should have been awarded their doctorate within the last five years. They should have experience of linguistic fieldwork and will, ideally, have already completed a grammatical description of a language that has not previously been described in terms of basic linguistic theory (not their native language). The University may consider cases in which the period since the award of the doctorate is in excess of five years (due to special circumstances). Applications will be considered from candidates whose thesis is currently under examination. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree or have equivalent qualifications at the date of appointment. A Fellowship will not normally be awarded to an applicant who already holds an appointment within the University. 

The successful applicants will work either within the Australian Research Council Discovery project 'How languages differ, and why', or within the project 'The grammar of knowledge: a cross-linguistic view of evidentials and epistemic expressions', under the leadership of Distinguished Professor Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald, and  Professor R.M.W. Dixon, in collaboration other members of the Language and Culture Research centre. The aim of each Fellowship is to produce a comprehensive grammar of a language from Papua New Guinea or from the Amazonian region of South America, based on extensive immersion fieldwork, in each case paying special attention to linguistic and social conceptualization of knowledge, and focusing on linguistic diversity. The choice of language will be made after discussion between the successful applicant, and Professors Aikhenvald and Dixon. 

Closing date: until filled.

Salary level: A6$71,027 p/a

The key duty is to conduct research in anthropological linguistics, with particular attention to language analysis, and the production of high quality publications in refereed outlets.

Key selection criteria are:

1. Thorough professional training in linguistics, with special reference to language description, general linguistics and linguistic typology;
2. PhD (conferred or pending) in descriptive linguistics, in terms of basic linguistic theory;
3. Demonstrated ability to work, under direction, as a member of a research team;
4. Demonstrated ability to work to a timetable, and produce results on time.
5. Demonstrated ability and commitment to disseminate the results of research in high quality publications within agreed timeframes; evidence of high level written, oral and interpersonal communication skills to diverse audiences.

Desirable selection criteria are:

1. Ideally, to have produced a description of a language, preferably (a) a language for which there had previously been no good description; and (b) a language other than that of which they are a native speaker.
2. Some training in anthropology.

It is essential to contact with Professor Alexandra Aikhenvald (Alexandra.Aikhenvald at jcu.edu.au, a.y.aikhenvald at live.com), providing details of background, qualifications and interests (including a curriculum vitae). Applicants are advised to send samples of their written work in linguistics (at least some of this should be in English). Competitive applicants will then be provided with details concerning the Project and the application process.

Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald, PhD, DLitt, FAHA

Distinguished Professor and Research Leader (People and Societies of the Tropics)
Australian Laureate Fellow
Director of the Language and Culture Research Centre
The Cairns Institute, James Cook University
PO Box 6811, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia
 http://www.jcu.edu.au/cairnsinstitute/people/JCUTST_057570.html
https://plone.jcu.edu.au/researchatjcu/research/lcrc
 mobile 0400 305315, office 61-7-40421117
fax 61-7-4042 1880  http//www.aikhenvaldlinguistics.com
https://eresearch.jcu.edu.au/spaces/TLA

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