Seven postdoctoral positions in the Dutch research consortium "Language in Interaction"

[Hengeveld, Kees]

Seven postdoctoral positions in the Dutch research consortium "Language in Interaction"

We are looking for highly motivated postdoctoral researchers 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. For more information on the consortium, see http://www.ru.nl/donders/collaborations/projects/zwaartekracht/

Each of the 7 workpackages (WP) of the program advertises one postdoctoral position. This postdoctoral position will be for three years in the first instance, with a possible extension for two more years.  Each WP postdoctoral position has its own requirements and profile, which are specified below. The appointment will be in one of the home institutions of the consortium, depending on the research profile of the postdoctoral researcher. In all participating institutions the research is conducted in an international environment by researchers from a large number of countries.

WP 1: Speech perception and production in interaction
We seek a postdoctoral fellow with an established research profile that fits the main goals of WP1. These goals are (i) to understand the interplay between perceptual and motor processes in speech through innovative linkage of neural, psychological and linguistic levels of analysis and (ii) to specify the balance between what is language universal and what is language specific in speech processing. Key questions include (a) Are our auditory and motor cortices speech ready? (b) How does feedback support processing in speaking and in listening? (c) How do perception and production interact? WP1 will bring together expertise in the neurobiological foundations of perceptual and motor processes with psycholinguistic expertise in the perception and production of speech. The postdoctoral fellow would ideally have prior experience in bridging across these domains and should certainly be willing and able to engage in and stimulate interdisciplinary integration. The candidate should have as many as possible of the following: training in speech science, psycholinguistics and/or cognitive neuroscience; expertise in behavioural, computational and/or neuroscientific methods; and interests in linking speech perception to speech production.
Contact information WP 1: Prof. James McQueen, james.mcqueen at mpi.nl<mailto:james.mcqueen at mpi.nl>

WP 2: Semantic and conceptual basis of language
Memory structures underlie semantic content and conceptual knowledge of language users. The language system builds on existing memory structures, which co-determine the organization of linguistic knowledge. This work package plans to investigate interactions between the linguistic and mnemonic domains, with a special emphasis on the development of memory in its entanglement with linguistic behaviour. We are looking for an outgoing, interdisciplinary postdoctoral researcher who can bridge the gap between semantic modelling, computational paradigms for cognition, and functional neuroimaging. Knowledge of cross-linguistic differences in semantic systems or behavioural studies of language users would be an advantage. The ideal candidate has expertise in applying state-of-the-art semantic and/or computational models to functional neuroimaging data. Working with our group of logical semanticists, cognitive psychologists, and neuroscientists, he/she will investigate and develop state-of-the-art semantic-computational models with a view to neurobiological plausibility, which will generate predictions that can be used to analyse neuroimaging data.
Contact information WP 2: Prof. Guillén Fernández, guillen.fernandez at donders.ru.nl<mailto:guillen.fernandez at donders.ru.nl>

WP 3: Compositionality and contextuality
One of the major challenges in understanding the language system is to unify abstract computational level descriptions and neurobiologically plausible network implementations of the combinatorial aspects of language processing. The postdoctoral researcher in this work package is expected to bridge the gap between computational modelling and experimental neuroscience. We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher in formal and computational modelling at the level of sentence processing (and beyond) who has also experimental skills and neurobiological expertise. You will develop and investigate computational models with neurobiological plausibility (e.g. spiking recurrent networks), which are used to generate specific predictions about the processing steps involved in sentence processing and about their neurobiological instantiation in the brain. The successful candidate will connect formal analysis and computational accounts with empirical studies on binding in the language domain. Current computational approaches (e.g. data-oriented parsing, logic programming or unification-based models) will have to be translated into accounts with a stronger connection to the brain and should be unified with current theories on neural processing.
Contact information WP 3: Prof. Rens Bod, rens.bod at gmail.com<mailto:rens.bod at gmail.com>

WP 4: Language in action
Language interacts with other cognitive functions such as perception, action and cognitive control. Moreover, language is situated in a highly dynamic context provided by multimodal sources of information. The objective of this WP is to understand language processing and its variability during social interactions in its multimodal settings. We aim to achieve a better understanding of the cognitive and neural infrastructures involved in language use in social context, which requires establishing common ground and action coordination. We look for a postdoctoral researcher whose main interests and expertise include topics such as multi-modal integration, simulations of action and goals and/or cognitive control. Methodological expertise should include computational, experimental, observational, neurobiological and/or developmental approaches preferably within the language and/or action domain.
Contact information WP 4: Prof. Asli Ozyurek, asli.ozyurek at mpi.nl<mailto:asli.ozyurek at mpi.nl>

WP 5: Language evolution and diversity
The goal of this WP is to contribute to a better understanding of the biological underpinnings of linguistic universality as well as diversity, both at the population level (between languages and between species) and at the individual level (within a language). We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher in this area. The preferred area of specialization is evolutionary modelling of language with respect to diversity in communication. Other possible areas of expertise may include language diversity, individual differences in language abilities, animal communication, and genetic influences on speech and language.
Contact information WP 5: Prof. Pieter Muysken, p.muysken at let.ru.nl<mailto:p.muysken at let.ru.nl>

WP 6: Toolkit
We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher with a strong technical background, ideally in developing Neuroimaging Analysis Methods for integrating genetics with brain imaging approaches (e.g. MRI, fMRI, and MEG). The main task of the postdoctoral position is to develop and apply innovative analysis methods for linking complex genome-wide association data and neuroimaging data within a statistical framework. The successful candidate will have experience in relevant research areas, a track record of high-quality reviewed journal publications, strong experience in programming, ability to work in a team, and in sharing technical know-how and ideas. It would be desirable if the candidate has experience in Medical Imaging (e.g. NeuroImaging) technical research, in computational modelling of the brain, in machine learning and/or statistical methods.
Contact information WP 6: Prof. Jan Buitelaar, j.buitelaar at psy.umc.nl<mailto:j.buitelaar at psy.umc.nl>

WP 7: Utilization
We seek an enthusiastic, multi-disciplinary researcher with a keen interest to help translate scientific discoveries into practical applications and to generate different kinds of value for society. Within the university environment you will help to build ICT and other services needed to speed up and ease this process. You are required to help build awareness, translate ideas into demos and apps, therapies or services. The job entails project management of developers and coaching and advising of fellow scientists. Preferably you have experience with public-private co-operations, national and European grant schemes, clinical applications of neuroscience, and hopefully you bring a network of industry contacts. Next to managing the wide range of utilization activities in the project, there is a possibility to actively take part in a few of the developments, preferably around mobile applications (Apps) or web services. The candidate has a background in computer science, e-science, artificial intelligence, computational linguistics, computational modelling, or experience in programming languages and practices for mobile platforms and/or web.
Contact information WP 7: Prof. Peter Desain, p.desain at donders.ru.nl<mailto:p.desain at donders.ru.nl>

What we offer:
- full-time postdoctoral research positions
- salary dependent on experience, between €3,227 and € 4.778 per month
- starting date preferably September 2013
- the primary workplace will be determined in agreement with your profile
Applications should include:
- a cover letter specifying the specific WP to which you apply, your motivation, research experience, interests and plans
- a curriculum vitae
- a list of publications
- the names of two persons who can provide references

The deadline for applications: May 15, 2013

Applications should be sent electronically to:
Prof. dr. Peter Hagoort
Radboud University Nijmegen
vacatures at dpo.ru.nl<mailto:vacatures at dpo.ru.nl>


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