[Lingtyp] PostDoc in semantic typology ERC SHAPE (M/F)

[Frank Seifart]

The interdisciplinary ERC-Synergy project SHAPE investigates how shape 
is represented in cognition, language development, and across languages 
(spoken and signed). The Paris team, led by Frank Seifart, investigates 
the variability of shape expression across a diverse, worldwide sample 
of spoken languages. We are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher who 
will carry out cross-linguistic research on shape encoding, in 
collaboration with team members (two other PostDocs and the PI) and 
independently steer selected research sub-projects, and collaborate with 
SHAPE's international and interdisciplinary network of field linguists 
and project partners.

Activities:
- Conduct research on the cross-linguistic encoding of shape 
(semantic/morphosyntactic typology) across a global sample of languages.
- Perform typological analyses integrating SHAPE's experimental data, 
literature reviews, and expert consultations.
- Collaborate with SHAPE's sub-projects in Cologne, Trondheim, and Indiana
- Contribute to studies and publications across the project team, 
assuming a leading role in some of them

Your Profile:

Skills:
Required:
- PhD in Linguistics, Cognitive Science, or a related field.
- Prior research experience in functional-typological frameworks and 
semantic/morphosyntactic typology.
- Fluency in English
- Ability to lead research in a collaborative research context and 
communicate effectively across teams.
Preferred:
- Fieldwork experience and an established fieldwork site on a 
non-European language for collecting data using the project's set of 
experiments
- Prior research on nominal classification, positional verbs, space, 
motion, noun semantics, or related topics
- Experience with quantitative methods for data processing and analysis 
(R, Python, etc.)
- Working knowledge of French or commitment to learning it.

Your work environment:
- 38.5 hours per week
- presence at 5-6 in-person project workshops per year in Paris
- presence at weekly online meetings

Offer:
- Three years full time employment with the possibility of one year 
extension (extension subject to funding and CNRS regulations)
- Monthly gross salary between approx. €3,131 and €4,756.76 gross/month, 
in line with CNRS regulations for postdoctoral researchers, commensurate 
with experience, in addition to benefits
- A central role in a prestigious ERC-Synergy project with an 
international, interdisciplinary team.
- Access to Paris's unparalleled linguistic research community and 
resources.
- Partial remote work can be negotiated
- Opportunities for fieldwork, conference travel, and career advancement.
- Opportunity for independent research design, as well as mentorship 
from senior scholars

Application:
- Two pdf files (max. 10MB each), in English:
(i) CV, including names of two referees who have agreed to be contacted 
regarding this application
(ii) motivation letter (max. 2 pages), in addition to - if applicable - 
pdf(s) of up to two relevant publication(s). For book-length 
publications, please provide a URL for download instead of a pdf.
- Upload through 
https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UMR8202-FRASEI-004/Default.aspx?lang=EN
- Deadline: 31st March 2026, 23:59h Paris time

Additional Information:
- the selection process will include a first round of remote interviews 
in April or May 2026, and a second round of in-person interviews in 
Paris in June 2026
- for questions, contact Frank Seifart
- start date as soon as possible in or after September 2026, depending 
on availability, and (for non-EU candidates) on visa processing times

-- 
Frank Seifart
Linguist, CNRS-SeDyL Paris-Villejuif https://frankseifart.info/
PI, ERC Synergy SHAPE https://www.ntnu.edu/shape
Editor, DoReCo https://doreco.huma-num.fr