PhD position in Neurolinguistics (1.0 FTE)

PhD position in Neurolinguistics (1.0 FTE) (222262)

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Job description

Applications are invited for a PhD candidate in the area of neurolinguistics and clinical linguistics.
This position is embedded in the NWO-funded VIDI project of Dr Vânia de Aguiar “Verb processing and verb learning in children with pediatric posterior fossa tumors (PPFTs)”.

The project characterizes verb processing and verb learning abilities of children with PPFTs, and compares them to the abilities of typically developing children (aim 1). In addition, neural correlates of language abilities will be studied (aim 2), while studying the effects of proton radiotherapy on language ability, as well as the relationship between changes in language and neuroanatomical changes during and after the proton therapy treatment (aim 3). Children with PPFTs will be tested from 2-3 weeks after surgery. Verb processing and learning ability will be studied in the context of various levels of syntactic (concerning grammar) and semantic (concerning meaning) complexity. This will make it possible to identify difficulties with syntax and semantics and to document their impact on verb learning.

The selected PhD candidate will conduct language assessments of children starting from 2-3 weeks after surgery up until 2 years after surgery, and will gather and analyze structural T1 MRI and diffusion MRI scans. This project entails a collaboration between the University of Groningen, the University Medical Center Groningen, and the Princes Máxima Center in Utrecht.

Qualifications

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic student with a Master degree in clinical linguistics, neurolinguistics, speech-language pathology, or psychology. Candidates who expect to obtain their degree before September 2022 are also eligible, and may be offered a position conditional upon successful completion of the Master degree.

Previous experience in administering and interpreting diagnostic tests for language assessment in children is mandatory. This may be documented via a BAPD testing license, or by clinical internships (in which case, it is recommended that the internship supervisor writes one of the recommendation letters).

Experience with scripting (R/Matlab/Python) is desirable, but not essential.

Native or native-like command of the Dutch language is mandatory, because data collection and language diagnostics with children will have to be conducted in Dutch.

Furthermore, an excellent knowledge of English and good academic writing skills are essential.

Organisation

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 center of knowledge: it belongs to the best research universities in Europe and is allied with prestigious partner universities and networks worldwide.

The Graduate School for the Humanities is the home to all PhD candidates of the Faculty of Arts (circa 250), and is committed to creating and maintaining excellent conditions for PhD research in all fields of the humanities. In addition to organizing local courses, the GSH works closely with 16 national research schools which offer regular courses and seminars by national and international top researchers.

The Centre for Language and Cognition of the University of Groningen (CLCG) is the institutional home for all the linguistic research carried out within the Faculty of Arts. The Neurolinguistics and Language Development research group is a strongly interdisciplinary group that investigates the organization of language in the brain, how language is processed and how languages are learned. To investigate these questions, a wide variety of methods is employed, ranging from spontaneous speech analysis, comprehension and elicitation experiments and the development of theoretical models, to eye tracking, EEG and functional and structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) techniques.

Conditions of employment

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

• a salary of € 2,443 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,122 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.

This 1.0 fte appointment is temporary, 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 prospective starting date is 1 January 2023.

You will be enrolled in the Graduate School for the Humanities (GSH) of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Groningen. The GSH offers the organizational infrastructure within which PhD candidates participate in advanced training and supervised research: https://www.rug.nl/(...)adschool-humanities/

You will be carrying out your research in the context of the Neurolinguistics and Language Development group of the CLCG research institute.

Application

Do you meet our qualification criteria? If yes, your application should include:

1. A motivation letter in which you describe why you wish to do this research, and why you are the right person to do it
2. A full curriculum vitae, demonstrating academic excellence, including publications and presentations (if applicable) and a proof of English proficiency test (e.g., IELTS or TOEFL test)
3. Certified copies of your Bachelor and Master degrees and grades belonging to each course unit of your Bachelor and Master degrees (in case of an on-going Master degree, please include your current grades and a certifying letter from your institution or thesis supervisor);
4. Two reference letters, emailed directly by the academic referees to [email protected]
5. A research proposal: choose one of the aims (see aims 1-3 described under “Job description”) and develop a research proposal on that topic. This proposal should not exceed 4000 words (references are excluded from this word count).

You can submit your application (in English) until 24 May 11:59 pm / before 25 May 2022 Dutch local time (CET) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website). Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Start date: 1 January 2023 (a somewhat earlier/later starting date can be discussed).

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/sollicitatiecode/ and European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code

Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

Information

For information you can contact:

• Dr Vânia de Aguiar (questions regarding the project), [email protected]
• Mrs N. Zadorina MA (for questions about the submission procedure), [email protected]

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

Apply