[Slling-l] two PhD positions in sign linguistics (DGS & NGT) at the University of Amsterdam

[Вадим Киммельман]

Dear all,

The Amsterdam Center for Language and Communication (ACLC) currently has two vacant PhD positions as part of the NWO project Argument Structure in Three Sign Languages: Typological and Theoretical Aspects,supervised by Prof. dr. Enoch O. Aboh and dr. Roland Pfau. Applications are now invited from excellent candidates who wish to conduct empirical and theoretical research on the grammar of sign languages, in particular, on argument structure. One project focuses on Sign Language of the Netherlands, the other on German Sign Language.  

The positions start on September 1st, 2015. The deadline for applications is April 1st, 2015. 

The two projects aim to describe and analyze argument structure and argument structure alternations in Sign Language of the Netherlands (project 1) and German Sign Language (project 2). The research is both empirical and theoretical in nature. The empirical part consists of analyzing existing corpus data and newly elicited data in order to describe the argument structure properties of different verbs as well as the realization of various argument structure changing operations (e.g. passive and causative). In the theoretical part, lexical and syntactic approaches to argument structure will be tested against the empirical data.

Tasks will include:
* Completion and defence of a PhD thesis within four years.
* Regular presentation of intermediate research results at workshops and conferences, and at least two peer-reviewed articles, one in a journal and one in an edited volume.
* Participation in the training program of the relevant national research school and the Graduate School of Humanities

Requirements: 
* A Master's degree (or equivalent) with excellent grades, either in sign language linguistics or in general linguistics with a strong background in sign language linguistics. 
* Good qualitative research skills.
* Good academic writing and presentation skills.
* Excellent communication, social and organisational skills.
* Proficiency in English and a sign language, preferably the sign language to be investigated in the respective project. Working language of both projects will be English. Preference will be given to a deaf applicant with equal qualification.
* Firm background knowledge in argument structure theory and Generative Grammar is highly desirable.

Read the full description of the application procedure and apply via the following link: http://www.uva.nl/en/about-the-uva/working-at-the-uva/vacancies/item/15-036.html

For further information, please contact dr. Roland Pfau (r.pfau at uva.nl).
Please see http://aclc.uva.nl/news-and-events/news/news/news/content/folder-2/07/vc-pfau.html for a summary of the project;
see http://www.uva.nl/over-de-uva/organisatie/medewerkers/content/p/f/r.pfau/r.pfau.html (under “News”) for a link to the full proposal. 

Best regards,
Vadim Kimmelman