(version française à la fin)
Three research positions (PostDoc, PhD)
in Romance historical linguistics and psycholinguistics
Institut für Linguistik/Romanistik, University of Stuttgart
DFG Research Unit FOR 5157 “SILPAC”
The new Research Unit “Structuring the Input in Language Processing, Acquisition, and Change” (FOR 5157 SILPAC, funded by the German Research Foundation DFG) invites applications for PostDoc and PhD positions. Positions should be filled between January and March 2022. Selected researchers will work in one of eight projects of the Research Unit, located at the Universities of Mannheim, Braunschweig, Kaiserslautern, Konstanz and Stuttgart. Positions will be funded for up to four years and will be remunerated according to the public pay scale TV-L E13 (100% for PostDoc, 65% for PhD positions unless stated otherwise).
Successful candidates will conduct their primary research within one of the projects. However, a major goal of the Unit is to bring together historical linguistics and psycholinguistics. Thus, candidates are also expected to contribute to the Unit’s success by collaborating with the other projects and/or by contributing to “bridge” projects linking historical linguistic and psycholinguistic research questions. Candidates will also be able to take advantage of the SILPAC training package, offered by the Research Unit and its collaborators, to develop their knowledge of both historical linguistic and psycholinguistic theory and methods. Some funding is also available for presenting project work at conferences. Further information and a brief description of the group and the individual projects can be found here: https://silpac.uni-manheim.de
1 75% PostDoc position (TV-L E 13) in historical corpus linguistics (French, Italian).
In SILPAC project H2: Change and acquisition of verbal structures, https://silpac.uni-mannheim.de/projects/h2
This position will create resources and infrastructure for both Romance projects located in Stuttgart (H1, H2). The focus will be primarily on the argument structure of verbs (e.g. unaccusativity, auxiliaries, datives). Computational expertise in corpus exploitation and statistics, philological expertise in medieval French and a background in theoretical linguistics are essential. Knowledge of Italian, Anglo-French and Middle English is useful. Data handling, technical infrastructure and sustainability measures will be managed by this position. Extensive collaboration with all SILPAC members based in Stuttgart is expected.
Please email your application for this position to Prof. Achim Stein (achim.stein@ling.uni-stuttgart.de)
1 75% PostDoc position (TV-L E 13) in psycholinguistics
Shared between SILPAC projects H2 (Stuttgart, 25%) and project P3 (TU Braunschweig, 50%), https://silpac.uni-mannheim.de/projects/h2, https://silpac.uni-mannheim.de/projects/p3
This position will work for the “project bridge” PB1, which links historical linguistics in project H2 with psycholinguistics in project P3 by projecting syntactic changes on (mostly priming) experiments in the lab. The successful candidate will have a PhD in psycholinguistics, experience with different psycholinguistic methods (self-pace listening or reading, eye tracking etc.) and their cross-linguistic application to syntactic phenomena, a strong expertise in monolingual and bilingual experimenting with adults and children, a good knowledge of syntactic theory, and publications showing this expertise. Some knowledge of French (especially of French syntax) is highly desirable.
Please email your application for this position to Prof. Achim Stein (achim.stein@ling.uni-stuttgart.de) and Prof. Holger Hopp (h.hopp@tu-bs.de).
1 PhD position (65%) in French historical linguistics
In SILPAC project H1: “Lexical change in motion: Motion verbs and motion lexicalization from medieval to modern Romance”, https://silpac.uni-mannheim.de/projects/h1.
This position will focus on the role of lexical change in the development of motion constructions in French, in particular the loss of the verb-particle construction. The project involves analysis of data across the history of French, in particular medieval and pre-Classical French. The successful candidate will have a background in theoretical linguistics, have knowledge of Old French and/or the history of the French language, and be fluent in French. Knowledge of English historical linguistics, psycholinguistics and/or experience with using linguistic corpora is highly desirable.
Please email your application for this position to Dr. Thomas Rainsford (thomas.rainsford@ling.uni-stuttgart.de)
The application deadline is October 31, 2021. Please submit your application by e-mail in a single PDF file attachment comprising the following:
- cover and motivation letter
- academic CV
- list of publications (if applicable)
- description of relevant research experience
- degree certificates and transcripts of records
All participating universities are equal opportunity employers. All participating universities strive to increase the proportion of women in research and teaching and therefore encourage qualified women to apply. Preference will be given to applicants with disabilities provided they have the same qualifications. When applying by email, please be aware that breach of confidentiality and unauthorized access by a third party cannot be excluded for a communication without encryption.