Postdoc Position: Computational Models of Bilingual Sentence Processing

1. Introduction

Are you passionate about how the mind processes multiple languages simultaneously? Do you want to play a crucial role in groundbreaking research on language interaction in bilingual individuals? If so, join the Centre for Language Studies as a postdoc!

2. Job description

The Centre for Language Studies (CLS) seeks a postdoctoral researcher for the NWO-funded project ’The Language Leak: The statistics of language as a novel window into the multilingual mind’ which investigates how the languages of a bilingual affect each other during language comprehension. For more information about this project, see this link.

You will collaborate in a small project team investigating how a bilingual’s languages interact during the comprehension of written sentences. Your main tasks will be to develop, implement and evaluate computational models that simulate bilingual sentence processing. You will present your work at international scientific meetings and in papers in journal articles and/or conference proceedings. You will also be expected to help organise group meetings and a workshop, and may be asked to supervise undergraduate/graduate student projects.

3. Profile

• You have a PhD degree in a relevant discipline, for example Artificial Intelligence, (Computational) Linguistics or Cognitive Science.
• You have demonstrable experience with developing computational models of language.
• You have demonstrable ability to publish scientific papers.
• You possess excellent communication skills in written and spoken English; knowledge of Dutch would be useful but is not required.
• You are able to work independently and flexibly, and to take initiative when needed.
• You are able to communicate and collaborate effectively in a team setting.
• You possess good organisational skills.

4. We are

Many CLS researchers closely collaborate with colleagues at related research institutes on the Radboud University campus, in particular the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics and the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour. You can also benefit from the presence of a large and active Artificial Intelligence department at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

You will be integrated into one of three CLS research groups (Language and Speech Technology, Grammar and Cognition, or Cognitive and Developmental Aspects of Multilingualism) (https://www.ru.nl/en/cls/research), but you will also be encouraged to join the meetings of the other two groups. Dr Stefan Frank will be your direct supervisor.

5. We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of 3 years.
• Your salary within salary scale 11 depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus. 
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Support Service. The Dual Career Programme assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. Our Family Support Service helps you and your partner feel welcome and at home by providing customised assistance in navigating local facilities, schools, and amenities. Also take a look at our support for international staff page to discover all our services for international employees.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20. 

6. Practical information and applying

You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to Stefan Frank. In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application.

The first interviews will take place on 24 October. You will preferably start your employment on 01 January 2025.

We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates. If you wish to apply for a non-scientific position with a non-EU nationality, please take notice of the following information.