Vacancy for a Post-doc on the ISLA project.

Post-doc B: A computational model of FE processing
Application deadline: 15 November 2014
For more details, also on how to submit your application, click here.

Job description

The post-doc project is being hosted by two research instutes: the Donders Centre for Cognition (DCC) in the Faculty of Social Sciences, and the Centre for Language studies (CLS) in the Faculty of Arts. The project is part of a programme investigating the processing of formulaic expressions (FEs). The project’s aim is to integrate theoretical conclusions and empirical findings from the acquisition, comprehension, and production projects in the programme into a computational model. First, a quantitative dynamic description will be made of on-line lexical / sentence processing and off-line individual acquisition as a result of FE training through a CALL system. Next, a connectionist type of model will be implemented in which internal word and polyword representations are activated from left to right in an on-line competition process, in order to simulate comprehension and production of FE expressions.

Job requirements

Preference will be given to candidates with a PhD in Language and Speech Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Neuroscience, or related research fields, who are highly motivated to conduct cognitive research. Candidates must demonstrate past interest in the computational modeling of cognitive processes, preferably in the domain of monolingual and/or bilingual language use.
In addition, experience with programming / scripting languages (such as Java, C++, MATLAB, Perl, Python) are prerequisites for application.
Some experience with neurocognitive (especially electrophysiological) and other experimental methods in language research is commendable.
To be able to present and publish the research results internationally, the candidate should have an excellent written and spoken command of English. Because German-Dutch bilinguals will act as experimental participants, it is also desirable that the candidate knows some Dutch and German.