JOB: Postdoc in neurolinguistics and language variation @ University of Marburg, Germany

The Department of Germanic Linguistics at the University of Marburg is seeking to fill the position of a postdoctoral researcher (salary according to EG 13 TV-H; i.e. approx. €3110-3640 / month before taxes commensurate with experience, amounting to approx. €1844-2082 / month after taxes and including health insurance) for the duration of three years. Starting date: January 1st 2012 or soon thereafter.

The position is part of the research unit "Exploring the building blocks of language" ("Fundierung linguistischer Basiskategorien"; financed by the German state of Hesse as part of the LOEWE programme), which aims to identify empirically grounded concepts and categories for linguistic theorising by combining empirical insights from neurolinguistics, language acquisition, language variation and change as well as linguistic typology. The postdoctoral researcher will conduct experiments on the learnability (plasticity) of hypothesised fundamental building blocks in the domains of phonology and the syntax-semantics interface using EEG and fMRI. He/she will also assist other projects within the research unit with experimental design and other methodology-related issues.
The successful candidate will hold a PhD in linguistics, psychology or a related field and will have prior experience with neuroscientific methodologies in language processing. Experience with EEG-based measures is particularly important, but additional familiarity with fMRI would be beneficial. He/she will have a good knowledge of experimental design and statistics and good programming skills. As some of the experimental work within the research unit will involve different German dialects, a willingness to travel and conduct mobile EEG experiments is essential. The candidate should also have an excellent command of English, good interpersonal skills and the ability to supervise students and research assistants. Knowledge of German is not required when taking up the position, but we do expect an interest in learning the language.

Applications should include the names and contact details of three referees. Please send your application via e-mail to Prof. Ina Bornkessel-Schlesewsky (iboke@staff.uni-marburg.de), quoting reference fb09-0019-wmz-2011. Review of applications will begin on November 3rd 2011, but will continue until the position is filled.