PhD Neural Control of Vocal Pitch: Exploring the Intersection between Speech and Language Processing

PhD Neural Control of Vocal Pitch: Exploring the Intersection between Speech and Language Processing (V24.0349)

• « Back to the overview

Job description

Period of funding:
1.0 FTE, 4 years
0.8 FTE, 5 years

The overarching goal of this project is to characterize the influence of linguistic context, tonal language experience, and pitch sensitivity on neural control of pitch. To elucidate the influence of linguistic context on neural pitch control, the first aim is to investigate the neural processes (via electroencephalography, EEG) that underlie pitch monitoring in linguistic (language) versus non-linguistic (acoustics) contexts. To determine the role of tonal languages in linguistic and non-linguistic aspects of pitch control, the neural processes underlying these contexts will be assessed in both tonal and non-tonal language speakers. We are open to additional and/or complimentary ideas from the candidates that can potentially expand the project.

The PhD candidate will be enrolled in the Graduate School for the Humanities and will be involved in the Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Research School (BCN), embedded within the Center for Language and Cognition Groningen (CLCG). The project will be conducted within the Speech Lab Group, Speech Biosignal Processing Lab (https://aburlab.web.rug.nl/ ), and Computational Linguistics Department. The experimental data collection will be via the mobile sound booth van “SPRAAKLAB” at the Faculty of Arts provides state-of-the-art speech (articulation) recording equipment, analysis tools, and a mobile laboratory. Candidates will also be expected to participate in public engagement events (including festivals such as Noorderzon, Lowlands, etc.). This project is primarily supervised by Dr. Defne Abur, who brings expertise in speech motor control and vocal pitch processing, and Dr. Frank Tsiwah, who brings expertise in neural processing of language and machine learning techniques for linguistics research.

Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has established an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative university offering high-quality teaching and research. Its 36,000 students are encouraged to develop their own individual talents through challenging study- and career paths. The University of Groningen is an international centre of knowledge: It belongs to the best research universities in Europe and is allied with prestigious partner universities and networks worldwide.

The Faculty of Arts is a large, dynamic faculty in the heart of the city of Groningen. It has more than 5000 students and 700 staff members, who are working at the frontiers of knowledge every day. The Faculty offers a wide range of degree programmes: 15 Bachelor’s programmes and over 35 Master's specializations. Our research, which is internationally widely acclaimed, covers Archaeology, Cultural Studies, History, International Relations, Language and Literary Studies, Art History, Linguistics, and Media and Journalism Studies.

Qualifications

• Master degree in one of the following or related field for the project: Psychology, Linguistics, Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, Computational Linguistics. Candidates who are in the process of completing their Master's degree at a date between the deadline of this application and the start date are also encouraged to apply.
• Coding experience (MATLAB or R).
• Research experience in one of the fields above.
• Proven track record of interest in speech and language processes.

.

Organisation
Conditions of employment

In accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, the University of Groningen offers you:

• A salary of € 2,770 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,539 gross per month in the final year, based on a full-time position.
• A holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income.
• An 8.3% end-of-the-year allowance.
• A temporary 1.0 FTE appointment for a specified period of four years. The candidate will first be appointed for twelve months. After six months, an assessment will take place of the candidate’s results and the progress of the PhD project, in order to decide whether employment will be continued. The PhD candidate is expected to conduct a total of 0.4 FTE teaching spread over the second, third and fourth year of their appointment.
• Excellent work-life balance.
• Willingness to move and reside in The Netherlands.

The appointment is expected to start in November 2024, but there is flexibility regarding start date that can be discussed with the project supervisors. Please note that in the case of VISA applications, the candidate will need to account for 3 months prior to the start date.

Application

Applications should be made in English and contain the following materials:

• A short statement (c. 1,000 words), explaining your motivation for applying.
• An outline of max 1000 words with your own research proposal in the wider frame of this project.
• A curriculum vitae.
• Copies of MA diploma and list of grades.
• Copy of MA thesis.
• If available, a copy of an article, book chapter or other academic text that you feel best represents your work.
• Contact details of two academic referees (no letters of recommendation are needed for the application process).

Please send in your application as two PDF files (one for the MA thesis, and one for all other documents). You may apply for this position until 9 July 11:59pm / before 10 July 2024 Dutch local time (CEST) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website).

Candidates will be notified whether they were selected for an interview by 16 July 2024.

Interviews with selected candidates will be held on 20 August 2024 and final decisions will be sent out by 26 August 2024.

The University of Groningen strives to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality are a joint responsibility and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also our diversity policy webpage: https://www.rug.nl/(...)rsity-and-inclusion/

Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode and European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code

We provide career services for partners of new faculty members moving to Groningen.

Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

Information

For information you can contact:

• Dr Defne Abur, [email protected]
• Dr Frank Tsiwah, [email protected]
• For practical information you can contact Merel Lobo, [email protected]

Please do not use the e-mail address(es) above for applications.

Apply