35.3221, Jobs: Morphology, Phonology: Postdoc in phonology and morphology, University of Surrey

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-35-3221. Thu Nov 14 2024. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 35.3221, Jobs: Morphology, Phonology: Postdoc in phonology and morphology, University of Surrey

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Date: 13-Nov-2024
From: Erich Round [e.round at surrey.ac.uk]
Subject: Morphology, Phonology: Postdoc in phonology and morphology, University of Surrey


University or Organization: University of Surrey
Department: Surrey Morphology Group
Job Location: Surrey, United Kingdom
Web Address: https://www.smg.surrey.ac.uk/
Job Title: Postdoc in phonology and morphology
Job Rank: Post Doc

Specialty Areas: Morphology; Phonology

Description:

Prof Erich Round is seeking qualified applicants for a fully-funded
two-year postdoctoral project on “REVOLUPHON: Rational Evolutionary
Phonology". This postdoctoral project contributes to the core
formal-theoretic and cognitive modelling components in the
ERC-selected, UKRI-funded project "Rational Evolutionary Phonology",
2024–2029.

The position is based at the Surrey Morphology Group at the University
of Surrey, and provides the opportunity to work in the vibrant and
highly collegial research environment for which SMG is renowned.

Background

REVOLUPHON is an ambitious project in computational cognitive science,
cultural evolution and phonology theory, which seeks deeper
explanations for human phonology. Though phonological theories are
diverse, they contain recurrent axioms and atoms: segments, features,
prosodic units, et cetera. We hypothesise that these units of
representation are explicable in terms of the interaction of phonetics
with resource limitations on human cognition (resource rationality).
Separately, recent decades show that phonologies can be reasonably
well modelled as optimisation problems, with optimisation imputed to
the mind. We hypothesise that apparent optimisation, and its
exceptions, arise because phonologies undergo cultural evolution, an
optimising process. REVOLUPHON tests these hypotheses through
computational modelling of cognition and cultural evolution, to
develop new foundations for phonological theory.

Responsibilities

The candidate will be a core member of a research team focused on
achieving the REVOLUPHON project aims, and will participate in the
broader activities both of the REVOLUPHON group and of the Surrey
Morphology Group (SMG). The candidate will have opportunities at SMG
to develop their research leadership profile while interacting with
world-class researchers.

Key responsibilities:
- Research and develop a declarative formalism of phonological
alternations within word-and-paradigm morphology, which interfaces
with the project’s cognitive models of phonological acquisition. This
research will be at times independent and in close collaboration with
other project researchers.
- Contribute to the formal operationalisation of project objectives in
the computational modelling of phonological cognition and cultural
evolution.
- Contribute to the design and development of linguistically
sophisticated synthetic datasets, and take a lead role in their
delivery.
- Analyse and scientifically interpret research results; present
outcomes at scientific conferences; and prepare co-authored research
publications.
- Collaborate with other team members in an ambitious and
multidisciplinary project, and participate in the vibrant, collegial
activities of SMG.

Essential criteria:
- A PhD in linguistics, with a focus on phonology and morphology.
- Track record of published and/or doctoral research in (1) formal,
declarative phonology, and (2) word-and-paradigm morphology.
- Track record of both independent and team-based research.
- Basic competence in at least one of python and R, and a willingness
to develop those skills further.
- Excellent written and spoken English.

Desirable criteria:
- Proficiency in Articulatory Phonology and/or related Task-Dynamic
theories.
- Advanced competence in one or more scientific software languages.
- Familiarity with Bayesian concepts and methods in computational
cognitive science


Suitable candidates trained in phonology and morphology are strongly
encouraged to apply.

Application Deadline: 09-Dec-2024
Mailing Address for Applications:
Web Address for Applications: http://jobs.surrey.ac.uk/054524
Contact Information:
        Erich Round
        Email: e.round at surrey.ac.uk



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