32.1257, Support: Cognitive Science; Computational Linguistics; Sociolinguistics: PhD, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-32-1257. Fri Apr 09 2021. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 32.1257, Support: Cognitive Science; Computational Linguistics; Sociolinguistics: PhD, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics

Moderator: Malgorzata E. Cavar (linguist at linguistlist.org)
Student Moderator: Jeremy Coburn, Lauren Perkins
Managing Editor: Becca Morris
Team: Helen Aristar-Dry, Everett Green, Sarah Robinson, Nils Hjortnaes, Joshua Sims, Billy Dickson
Jobs: jobs at linguistlist.org | Conferences: callconf at linguistlist.org | Pubs: pubs at linguistlist.org

Homepage: http://linguistlist.org

Please support the LL editors and operation with a donation at:
           https://funddrive.linguistlist.org/donate/

Editor for this issue: Becca Morris <becca at linguistlist.org>
================================================================


Date: Fri, 09 Apr 2021 12:56:34
From: Angela Heuts [Angela.Heuts at mpi.nl]
Subject: Cognitive Science; Computational Linguistics; Sociolinguistics: PhD, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Netherlands

 Institution/Organization: Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics 
Department: LEADS Group 
Web Address: https://www.mpi.nl/ 

Level: PhD 

Duties: Research
 
Specialty Areas: Cognitive Science; Computational Linguistics; Sociolinguistics 
Artificial Intelligence 

Description:

We are looking for a full-time PhD candidate to join the newly founded Minerva
Group ‘Language Evolution and Adaptation in Diverse Situations’ (LEADS), led
by Dr. Limor Raviv, at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics. The
‘Language Evolution and Adaptation in Diverse Situations’ (LEADS) group is
embedded in the Language & Genetics department of the MPI for
Psycholinguistics.

Doctoral supervisor: dr. Limor Raviv
Co-)Promotors: prof. dr. Simon Kirby & prof. dr. Simon Fisher

Job description:
The 4-year PhD project will combine experimental and computational methods to
investigate the role of age and gender diversity in shaping language
innovation and change. Specifically, you will investigate whether different
linguistic tendencies are associated with speakers of different gender and age
who are situated in diverse communities, and whether women and adolescents
really lead the process of language change from the initial stages of language
emergence. These questions will be addressed using two complementary methods:
1. Group communication games, in which mini-societies of interacting
participants come to the lab and create new artificial languages to
communicate with each other; And 2. Computational models, in which populations
of simulated hierarchical Bayesian agents interact with each other over
generations.

The position is available from September 2021, though later starts in 2021 are
possible.

What we expect from you:
Essential:
- Candidates should have, or shortly expect to obtain, a high-quality
(Research) Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field (e.g.,
linguistics, sociolinguistics, cognitive science, experimental/computational
psychology, artificial intelligence, computer science).
- Experience in data analysis/statistical analysis/programming in R and/or
Python.
- An interest in empirical research.
- An interest in computational modeling.
- An interest in language evolution, sociolinguistics, language learning
and/or communication.
Desirable (traits that would give you an advantage):
- Experience in language evolution, sociolinguistics, language learning and/or
other related fields.
- Experience in empirical research (e.g., experimental design, recruitment,
participant testing, quantitative data analysis, report writing).
- Experience in computational modelling (e.g., agent-based models, cognitive
learning models).
- Experience in programming with the experiment software Presentation/PsychPy.
- Existing publications and conference presentation experience.

What we have to offer:
The PhD position is fully funded for 4 years (starting gross salary is €
2.673,71 per month). The institute provides fully equipped research
facilities, technical support, as well as a conference and travel budget. PhD
students participate in the International Max Planck Research School for
Language Sciences, which involves core and individually chosen coursework to
complement the PhD research and training in soft skills such as writing and
presentation. You are entitled to 30 holiday days per year (on the basis of
fulltime employment), as well as Dutch and German institute holidays.
 

Application Deadline: 17-May-2021 

Web Address for Applications: https://www.mpi.nl/career-education/vacancies/vacancy/phd-position-group-language-evolution-and-adaptation-diverse 

Contact Information: 
	Dr. Limor Raviv 
	limor.raviv at mpi.nl  


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

***************************    LINGUIST List Support    ***************************
 The 2020 Fund Drive is under way! Please visit https://funddrive.linguistlist.org
  to find out how to donate and check how your university, country or discipline
     ranks in the fund drive challenges. Or go directly to the donation site:
                   https://crowdfunding.iu.edu/the-linguist-list

                        Let's make this a short fund drive!
                Please feel free to share the link to our campaign:
                    https://funddrive.linguistlist.org/donate/
 


----------------------------------------------------------
LINGUIST List: Vol-32-1257	
----------------------------------------------------------