[ACT-R-users] PhD position Computational Modeling of Language / Development @ Groningen, The Netherlands

[Hedderik van Rijn]

If you're interested in a project on computational modeling of language acquisition or proficiency (see below), this might be an excellent opportunity. The computational modeling work will most likely be done in collaboration with the cognitive modeling group in Groningen, a vibrant and multi-departmental group of 5 tenured faculty and a large group of PhD students. 

Feel free to contact me or Petra Hendriks <P.Hendriks at rug.nl> for more information.

 - Hedderik.

P.S. The PhD position is fully funded, no tuition fees etc are required, and a (smalll) budget for travel and other expenses is available. 


PhD position Semantics and Cognition
Vacancy number 212040

This PhD position in Semantics and Cognition concerns a follow-up project related to the NWO-funded Vici project "Asymmetries in Grammar" (2007-2012), led by Prof. Petra Hendriks. The Vici project investigated asymmetries between production and comprehension in child language through a combination of theoretical, experimental and computational methods (http://www.let.rug.nl/~hendriks/vici.htm). One of the findings of this project is that children's production of SVO word order and pronominal objects precedes the same children's comprehension of these forms. Ongoing research investigates in what way these comprehension delays in language acquisition are dependent on linguistic factors such as grammatical and discourse constraints, and cognitive factors such as processing speed, Theory of Mind abilities and working memory capacity.

Applicants for this PhD position should be interested in one or more of the following areas: semantics/pragmatics, computational (cognitive) modeling, language acquisition, human sentence processing and are invited to submit a research proposal addressing the comprehension and production of a relevant aspect of child, adult or elderly language. The PhD project will be supervised by Prof. Petra Hendriks.

Qualifications
•    MA/MSc degree in relevant discipline 
•    strong motivation to complete a PhD thesis in four years 
•    proven affinity with chosen subject 
•    indication of research preferences and strategies for the elaboration of the PhD 
•    proven research abilities 
•    fluency in written and spoken English (TOEFL 620, IELTS 7,5, Cambridge Advanced CAE).
Conditions of employment
The University of Groningen offers a salary of € 2,042 gross per month in the first year to € 2,612 gross per month in the fourth year (figures based on full employment). The appointment is temporary for a specified period of four years.

Affiliation
The three PhD candidates will be affiliated with and enrolled in the research training program of the Graduate School for the Humanities. A staff-member of the Faculty of Arts will be the principal supervisor ('promotor'). The positions require residence in Groningen, 36 hours/week research and research training, and must result in a PhD thesis. After the first year there will be an assessment of the candidates' results and the progress of the project to decide whether the employment will be continued.

How to apply
Please adhere to the guidelines of the GSH format for applications to write your application. See:www.rug.nl/gradschoolHumanities/admissions/phdPositions
Send us your entire application in just 1 pdf-file please + motivation letter in separate file. Incomplete dossiers will not be taken into consideration. Interviews with a selection of the best candidates will take place in the course of May.

Starting date of the PhD projects: 1 September 2012.

You may apply for one of these positions before 1 March 2012, 24:00 CET.

Information
For information you can contact:
Prof D.J. Wolffram, Academic Director of the Graduate School of Humanities, +31 50 3637699,  d.j.wolffram at rug.nl
Ms M.R.B. Wubbolts, MA (for practical information), Coordinator of GSH, +31 50 3637336,  m.r.b.wubbolts at rug.nl