37.1500, Jobs: English; Computational Linguistics, Pragmatics, Psycholinguistics, Semantics: Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational and Experimental Linguistics, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-37-1500. Mon Apr 20 2026. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 37.1500, Jobs: English; Computational Linguistics, Pragmatics, Psycholinguistics, Semantics: Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational and Experimental Linguistics, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf

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Date: 20-Apr-2026
From: Jacopo Romoli & Yulia Zinova [jacopo.romoli at hhu.de]
Subject: English; Computational Linguistics, Pragmatics, Psycholinguistics, Semantics: Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational and Experimental Linguistics, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf


Job Location: Düsseldorf, Germany
Web Address: https://www.ling.hhu.de/
Job Title: Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational and Experimental
Linguistics
Job Rank: Post Doc
Salary: TV-L E13 (100%)

Minimum Education: PhD

Specialty Areas: Computational Linguistics; Pragmatics;
Psycholinguistics; Semantics

Specialty Language(s): English (eng)

Description:
Project Description:
The position is part of the DFG-funded project Learning Linguistic
Inferences and Their Alternatives (PIs: Jacopo Romoli and Yulia
Zinova, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf). The project
investigates how language models learn linguistic inferences —
including implicatures, presuppositions, implicated presuppositions,
free choice, and distributive inferences — and whether training on one
inference type facilitates learning of others. Combining theoretical,
experimental, and computational methods, the project addresses
foundational questions about the semantics–pragmatics interface and
what language models actually learn about meaning. The project
involves constructing novel datasets, running behavioral experiments
with human participants, probing inference derivation and its
ingredients in both humans and language models as well as training and
fine-tuning models using collected data.
Broader context: LaSTing Priority Programme
This position is embedded within the DFG Priority Programme LaSTing
(SPP 2556): "Robust Assessment & Safe Applicability of Language
Modeling: Foundations for a New Field of Language Science &
Technology" (https://www.lasting-spp.org). LaSTing brings together
researchers across linguistics, cognitive science, and language
technology to advance our understanding of language models for safer
and more principled use, especially in the language sciences. The
programme fosters interdisciplinary community-building, networking,
and the training of a new generation of researchers at the interface
of language science and language technology.
Position Description:
We invite applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher (3
years) to join the project team. The postdoc will play a central role
across the project's work packages, contributing to the computational
components of the project as well as to the design and implementation
of online behavioral experiments, dataset construction, and data
analysis. The postdoc will also contribute to the writing and
dissemination of research outputs, and will collaborate closely with
both PIs and with Mercator Fellow Paul Marty (University of Lisbon).
Required Qualifications:
 - PhD in Linguistics or a closely related field
 - Expertise in computational linguistics
 - Ability to engage with both the experimental and computational
aspects of the project
Desirable Qualifications:
 - Experience with experimental methods in psycholinguistics
 - Background in formal semantics and pragmatics and familiarity with
formal approaches to pragmatic inferences
 - Experience working with large language models (LLMs)
 - Familiarity with natural language inference (NLI) tasks and
datasets

Application Deadline: 18-May-2026
Email Address for Applications: jacopo.romoli at hhu.de
Application Instructions:
Applicants should send the following to jacopo.romoli at hhu.de:
 - A CV
 - A cover letter describing their research profile and interests,
explaining how these match the goals of the project and what they
could contribute to it
 - Informal inquiries are also welcome at the same address.
Contact Information:
        Jacopo Romoli
        Email: jacopo.romoli at hhu.de



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