Two Postdoctoral Researchers for the Language in Interaction Research Consortium

Two Postdoctoral Researchers for the Language in Interaction Research Consortium

  • 40 hours per week
  • Maximum gross monthly salary: € 4,978
  • Dutch Research Consortium ‘Language in Interaction’
  • Duration of the contract: 3 years
  • Application deadline: 22 September 2019

We are looking for
We are looking for highly motivated candidates to enrich a unique Dutch consortium of researchers that aims to cross the boundaries of various disciplines to unravel the neurocognitive mechanisms of language and its interaction with other cognitive systems. This specific project aims to advance our understanding of the mechanisms of fast, flexible linguistic inference by leveraging recent major advances in our understanding of the representations and computations necessary for sequential model-based action planning.

Currently, our consortium advertises two Postdoctoral Researcher positions. These positions provide the opportunity for conducting world-class research as a member of an interdisciplinary team. Each position has its own requirements and profile.

We ask
Each position has its own requirements and profile.
More information on: https://www.languageininteraction.nl/BQ5-2a.html

General requirements for all positions are:

  • a degree in cognitive science, cognitive neuroscience, computational cognitive neuroscience, computer science, mathematics, mathematical psychology, formal linguistics, or a related field;
  • affinity with quantitative analyses;
  • strong motivation;
  • excellent proficiency in written and spoken English.

Applications from excellent candidates with a less than ideal profile will also be considered.

We are
The Netherlands has an outstanding track record in the language sciences. The Language in Interaction research consortium, sponsored by a large grant from the Dutch Research Council (NWO), brings together many of the excellent research groups in the Netherlands with a research programme on the foundations of language. In addition to excellence in the domain of language and related relevant fields of cognition, our consortium provides state-of-the-art research facilities and a research team with ample experience in the complex research methods that will be invoked to address the scientific questions at the highest level of methodological sophistication. These include methods from genetics, neuroimaging, computational modelling, and patient-related research. This consortium realises both quality and critical mass for studying human language at a scale not easily found anywhere else.

We have identified five Big Questions (BQ) that are central to our understanding of the human language faculty. These questions are interrelated at multiple levels. Teams of researchers will collaborate to collectively address these key questions of our field.

Our five Big Questions are:
BQ1: The nature of the mental lexicon: How to bridge neurobiology and psycholinguistic theory by computational modelling?
BQ2: What are the characteristics and consequences of internal brain organization for language?
BQ3: Creating a shared cognitive space: How is language grounded in and shaped by communicative settings of interacting people?
BQ4: Variability in language processing and in language learning: Why does the ability to learn language change with age? How can we characterise and map individual language skills in relation to the population distribution?
BQ5: Inference for language and action planning: Common computations?

You will be appointed at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Both successful candidates will become members of our Big Question 5 team. The research is conducted in an international setting. English is the lingua franca.

Radboud University has seven faculties, which together cover the full range of academic disciplines. Its teaching and research staff hail from more than fifty countries. With several brand new buildings and state-of-the-art facilities, the leafy modern campus in Nijmegen provides an open and welcoming environment with a personal touch, encouraging the sharing of knowledge among academics, across disciplines, and within and between research institutes. Radboud University firmly believes that a broad perspective is essential for generating new insights and solutions in both science and society.

We offer

  • Employment: 40 hours per week.
  • A maximum gross monthly salary of € 4.978 based on a 38-hour working week (salary scale 11).
  • The exact salary depends on the candidate’s qualifications and amount of relevant professional experience. The Collective Labour Agreement (CAO) of Dutch Universities is applicable to this positions.
  • In addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
  • Duration of the contract: you will be appointed for an initial period of 12 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 24 months.
  • Dutch Universities and the institute involved have regulations in place that enable their staff to create a good work-life balance.
  • You will be able to make use of our Dual Career Service: our Dual Career Officer will assist with family-related support, such as child care, and help your partner prepare for the local labour market and with finding an occupation.
  • Are you interested in our excellent employment conditions?

The institute involved is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community, and as such encourages applications from women and minorities.

Would you like more information?
Additional information can be obtained from the contacts for the different positions.

Position 1: Dr. Andrea E. Martin, Dr. Ashley Lewis, and Dr. Saskia Haegens
Position 2: Dr. Andrea E. Martin and Dr. Iris van Rooij

Apply directly
Please address your application to Dr Andrea Martin and submit it, via apply directly, no later than 22 September 2019, 23:59 Amsterdam Time Zone.
Your application should include the following attachments:

  • A cover letter quoting at the top the number of the position you apply for.
  • Your curriculum vitae, including a list of publications and the names of at least two persons who can provide references.

Please apply before September 22, 2019, 23:59 Amsterdam Time Zone

For more information on your application: +31 24 3611173.

No commercial propositions please.

17th NVP Winter Conference on Brain and Cognition

We are pleased to announce the 17th NVP Winter Conference on Brain and Cognition that will take place in Hotel Zuiderduin, Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands, from December 19-21, 2019. This 3-day meeting brings together Dutch and international scientists working on cognition, behavior and the brain, and features plenary sessions, member-initiated symposia, poster sessions, four keynote lectures, the awarding of the NVP Dissertation Prize, and a social program. Please see http://ocs.cogsci.nl/index.php/nvp/nvp2019 for details.

Promovendus 1,0 fte

FUNCTIEOMSCHRIJVING

Wij zijn op zoek naar 2 promovendi voor de uitvoering van het project ‘Het aanleren van tekstbegripsstrategieën zonder tekst’ (NRO-project 40.5.18300.038).

Het project richt zich op het probleem dat veel leerlingen aan het einde van de basisschool nog niet goed begrijpend lezen. Blijkbaar heeft het oefenen van leesbegrip met geschreven teksten niet altijd het gewenste resultaat. Mogelijke verklaringen zijn gebrek aan voorkennis, problemen met decoderen, en gebrekkige leesmotivatie. In dit promotieonderzoek ga je je bezighouden met de vraag in hoeverre leesbegrip ook effectief geoefend kan worden zonder geschreven tekst, namelijk met online video’s. De voordelen zijn dat video’s motiverend kunnen werken en geen decodeervaardigheden vereisen. Eerder onderzoek heeft laten zien dat begrip van gesproken tekst (zoals in een video) een sterke voorspeller is van leesbegrip. Ook vonden enkele studies positieve effecten van de training van het begrip van gesproken tekst op leesbegrip. Deze studie is echter het eerste systematische onderzoek naar het effect van de training van begripsstrategieën in de context van online video’s.

Het onderzoek is opgezet in de vorm van twee promotieprojecten: één gericht op informatieve teksten (deelproject 1) en één gericht op narratieve teksten (deelproject 2). De promovendus van project 1 zal worden aangesteld aan de Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (EUR), bij de onderzoeksgroep Educational Psychology van het Department of Psychology, Child and Education Studies (projectleiders Huib Tabbers, Lesya Ganushchak en Bjorn de Koning). De promovendus van project 2 zal worden aangesteld aan de Universiteit Leiden (UL) bij het Brain & Education Lab van het Instituut Pedagogische Wetenschappen (projectleiders Paul van den Broek en Anne Helder). De opzet van beide onderzoeksprojecten is parallel, en er zal dan ook regelmatig overleg plaatsvinden.

De taken van de promovendi zullen onder andere bestaan uit het verzamelen en ontwikkelen van tekst- en videomateriaal, het werven van deelnemende scholen, het uitvoeren van drie gecontroleerde experimenten (buiten de klas) en een interventiestudie in de klas, en het analyseren van de verkregen data. Over de uitkomsten van dit onderzoek schrijft elk van de promovendi een viertal wetenschappelijke artikelen die gezamenlijk de kern vormen van zijn/haar proefschrift. Ook zullen de promovendi de resultaten onder de aandacht brengen via presentaties op (inter)nationale congressen en door het schrijven van vakpublicaties.

FUNCTIE-EISEN

  • Afgeronde (research)master in gedrags- en maatschappijwetenschappen (afstudeerrichting onderwijspsychologie, onderwijswetenschappen, of cognitieve psychologie), of in een aanverwant domein (zoals taalwetenschappen);
  • Uitstekende onderzoeksvaardigheden, blijkend uit goede cijfers voor vakken op het gebied van methoden en statistiek, een goede beoordeling van de masterthesis, en/of een wetenschappelijke publicatie;
  • Uitstekende beheersing van de Nederlandse en Engelse taal (geschreven én gesproken);
  • Ervaring met het doen van kwantitatief onderzoek in het (basis-)onderwijs;
  • Ervaring met het opzetten en uitvoeren van experimenten;
  • Een sterke ‘drive’ om onderzoek te doen;
  • Goede communicatie- en organisatievaardigheden;
  • Een pro-actieve houding;
  • Doorzettingsvermogen;
  • Flexibiliteit en stressbestendigheid;
  • Vermogen om goed in een team te werken, maar ook om in grote mate zelfstandig te functioneren.

ARBEIDSVOORWAARDEN

Een internationaal georiënteerde en afwisselende baan in een enthousiast team, met goede arbeidsvoorwaarden overeenkomstig de Collectieve Arbeidsvoorwaarden Overeenkomst Nederlandse Universiteiten (CAO NU). Het dienstverband wordt aangegaan voor de periode van 1 jaar en kan bij goed functioneren worden verlengd met 3 jaar). Het salaris is afhankelijk van je kennis en ervaring en bedraagt bij een fulltime aanstelling  in het eerste jaar € 2325,- bruto per maand oplopend naar € 2972,- bruto per maand in het vierde jaar (schaal P). Zowel de EUR als de UL hebben aantrekkelijke arbeidsvoorwaarden, waaronder 8% vakantiegeld, een eindejaarsuitkering van 8,3% en een zeer ruime verlofregeling. Verder zijn beide Universiteiten aangesloten bij het ABP voor de pensioenvoorziening en bieden wij gedeeltelijk doorbetaald ouderschapsverlof. Ook kunnen medewerkers gebruikmaken van faciliteiten, zoals het sportcentrum en de Universiteitsbibliotheek.

WERKGEVER

De Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam is een internationaal georiënteerde universiteit met een uitgesproken maatschappelijke oriëntatie in haar onderwijs en onderzoek. Onze wetenschappers en studenten werken aan het oplossen van mondiale, sociale uitdagingen, geïnspireerd door het altijd dynamische en kosmopolitische Rotterdam. Ons academisch onderwijs is intensief, actief en toepassingsgericht. Ons onderzoek vindt steeds vaker plaats in multidisciplinaire teams, die sterk verweven zijn met internationale netwerken. Met onze onderzoeksimpact en kwaliteit van onderwijs kan de EUR zich meten met de top van de Europese universiteiten. Waarden die op de EUR van toepassing zijn en die zij hoog in het vaandel heeft, zijn durf, nieuwsgierigheid, maatschappelijke betrokkenheid, grensverleggend en streven naar succes.

De Universiteit Leiden, in 1575 opgericht, is een van Europa’s meest vooraanstaande internationale onderzoeksuniversiteiten. De universiteit heeft zeven faculteiten in het alfa-, bèta- en gammadomein. De universiteit staat van oudsher voor vrijheid van geest, van denken en spreken en voor een ongebonden ontwikkeling van onderzoek en onderwijs. De universiteit wil wetenschappers en studenten de omgeving en ruimte bieden om het beste uit zichzelf te halen. Zij staat open voor iedereen die hier wil studeren of werken en het uiterste uit zichzelf wil halen. De universiteit heeft een maatschappelijke verantwoordelijkheid en richt zich ook op toekomstige generaties. Dat betekent excellentie ten behoeve van een veiliger, gezonder, duurzamer, welvarender en rechtvaardiger wereld – lokaal, regionaal en wereldwijd.

PhD Position (1.0 fte) in Cognitive Neuroscience

The Cognitive Psychology Unit of the Institute of Psychology at Leiden University and the Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC) are looking for a highly talented student for a

PhD Position (1.0 fte) in Cognitive Neuroscience

 Vacancy number 6224

 

Research project “The impact of arousal on cognitive function and cortical state”

The waking state is characterized by constant, sometimes large, fluctuations in arousal level. Recent research suggests that such fluctuations in arousal account for a large proportion of the variability in task performance and spontaneous patterns of cortical activity (cortical state). However, the exact ways in which arousal affects the human brain, mind and behavior are still poorly understood. The major aim of the proposed research is to characterize the computational and neural mechanisms by which moment- to-moment fluctuations in arousal affect cognitive functions and cortical state.

We will manipulate arousal level (e.g., using pharmacology) or monitor spontaneous arousal fluctuations in human subjects, during rest and during the performance of challenging cognitive tasks. We will examine whether these changes in arousal are accompanied by activity changes in the tiny human brainstem nuclei that regulate arousal. Furthermore, we will examine the impact of changes in arousal on cognitive control, learning, and global patterns of cortical brain activity, as assessed with neuroimaging methods. Finally, we will use computational models to examine the mechanisms by which arousal impacts cognitive task performance and cortical state.

The project is part of a research program funded by a Vici grant of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research. The abstract described above concerns the entire research program. The PhD student will be a member of a team of six, closely collaborating researchers. The research group will participate in the Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), an interfaculty center for interdisciplinary research on brain and cognition (www.libc-leiden.nl).

 

Key Responsibilities

  • Literature study, development and execution of behavioral and neuroimaging studies;
  • Report results at conferences and in international journals, leading to a PhD dissertation;
  • Supervise BSc and MSc thesis projects;
  • Participate in the Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC).

 

Selection Criteria

  • Master degree in cognitive psychology, cognitive neuroscience or closely related field;
  • Experience or affinity with neuroimaging techniques and computational modeling;
  • Programming experience (e.g., Matlab);
  • Excellent research and writing skills;
  • Excellent command of

 

Our faculty

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences comprises four institutes: Education and Child Studies, Political Science, Psychology and Cultural Anthropology & Development Sociology. The Faculty also includes the Centre for Science and Technology Studies. The Faculty is home to 5,000 students and 600 members of staff. Our teaching and research programmes cover diverse topics varying from adoption to political behaviour. For more information, see http://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/social-behavioural- sciences.

For research in our institute we offer an exciting research environment including EEG, fMRI, eye tracking, virtual reality, and brain stimulation. For more information see

https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/social-behavioural-sciences/psychology/cognitive-psychology and http://www.libc-leiden.nl/

 

Terms and conditions

The appointment is for four years (one year plus a further three years after a positive evaluation) and should lead to a doctoral degree. The gross income is € 2325 per month in the first year, increasing to €2972 per month in the fourth year, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities).

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. More at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job- application-procedure-and-employment-conditions.

 

Diversity

Leiden University is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups.

 

Information

For inquiries, please contact professor Sander Nieuwenhuis, email snieuwenhuis@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.

 

Applications

Please submit online your application no later than the 5th of May 2019 via the blue button of our application system (from the 23rd of April; https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at).

Applicants should submit online a letter of interest and a cv with a list of publications.

Postdoc Position (1.0 fte) in Cognitive Neuroscience

The Cognitive Psychology Unit of the Institute of Psychology at Leiden University and the Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC) are looking for a highly talented researcher for a

 

Postdoc Position (1.0 fte) in Cognitive Neuroscience

 

Vacancy number 6225

 

Research project “The impact of arousal on cognitive function and cortical state”

The waking state is characterized by constant, sometimes large, fluctuations in arousal level. Recent research suggests that such fluctuations in arousal account for a large proportion of the variability in task performance and spontaneous patterns of cortical activity (cortical state). However, the exact ways in which arousal affects the human brain, mind and behavior are still poorly understood. The major aim of the proposed research is to characterize the computational and neural mechanisms by which moment- to-moment fluctuations in arousal affect cognitive functions and cortical state.

We will manipulate arousal level (e.g., using pharmacology) or monitor spontaneous arousal fluctuations in human subjects, during rest and during the performance of challenging cognitive tasks. We will examine whether these changes in arousal are accompanied by activity changes in the tiny human brainstem nuclei that regulate arousal. Furthermore, we will examine the impact of changes in arousal on cognitive control, learning, and global patterns of cortical brain activity, as assessed with neuroimaging methods. Finally, we will use computational models to examine the mechanisms by which arousal impacts cognitive task performance and cortical state.

The project is part of a research program funded by a Vici grant of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research. The abstract described above concerns the entire research program. The postdoc will be a member of a team of six, closely collaborating researchers. The research group will participate in the Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), an interfaculty center for interdisciplinary research on brain and cognition (www.libc-leiden.nl).

 

Key Responsibilities

  • Literature study, development and execution of behavioral and neuroimaging studies;
  • Report results at conferences and in international journals;
  • Supervise BSc and MSc thesis projects;
  • Participate in the Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC).

 

Selection Criteria

  • PhD degree in cognitive psychology, cognitive neuroscience or closely related field;
  • Experience or affinity with neuroimaging techniques and computational modeling;
  • Programming experience (e.g., Matlab);
  • Excellent research and writing skills;
  • Excellent command of

 

Our faculty

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences comprises four institutes: Education and Child Studies, Political Science, Psychology and Cultural Anthropology & Development Sociology. The Faculty also includes the Centre for Science and Technology Studies. The Faculty is home to 5,000 students and 600 members of staff. Our teaching and research programmes cover diverse topics varying from adoption to political behaviour. For more information, see http://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/social-behavioural- sciences.

For research in our institute we offer an exciting research environment including EEG, fMRI, eye tracking, virtual reality, and brain stimulation. For more information see

https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/social-behavioural-sciences/psychology/cognitive-psychology and http://www.libc-leiden.nl/

 

Terms and conditions

We offer a full-time, fixed-term post for 2-3 years (to be negotiated), including a 2-month trial period. Salary range from € 3637 to € 4978 gross per month (pay scale 11, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities).

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3%), training and career development. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. More at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job- application-procedure-and-employment-conditions.

 

Diversity

Leiden University is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups.

 

Information

For inquiries, please contact professor Sander Nieuwenhuis, email snieuwenhuis@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.

 

Applications

Please submit online your application no later than the 5th of May 2019 via the blue button of our application system (from the 23rd of April; https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at).

Applicants should submit online a letter of interest and a cv with a list of publications.

Assistant Professor in Cognitive Psychology or Cognitive Neuroscience (1.0 fte)

The Cognitive Psychology Unit of the Institute of Psychology of the Faculty Social and Behavioural Sciences and the Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC) are looking for a highly talented staff member for the position of

Assistant Professor in Cognitive Psychology or Cognitive Neuroscience (1.0 fte)
Vacancy number 6195

 

Key Responsibilities

  • Conducting independent research in your field (40%);
  • Teaching suitable BSc and MSc courses and supervising BSc and MSc research projects (60%);
  • Contributing to organizational activities of the institute.

 

Selection Criteria

  • We seek candidates who have demonstrated excellence in teaching abilities, and have experience with various types of teaching and supervision of students at different stages of their education;
  • Candidates should have a strong research record, evident from (among others) a completed PhD thesis and peer-reviewed (international) publications on topics in cognitive psychology or related fields;
  • Valued research experience: modeling skills; programming; neuroimaging (fMRI and/or EEG); valorization of research; collaboration with industrial / non-academic parties.
  • Proficiency in the Dutch language is not essential but candidates are expected to acquire a good command of the Dutch language within the first year;

 

Our faculty
The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences comprises four institutes: Education and Child Studies, Political Science, Psychology and Cultural Anthropology & Development Sociology. The Faculty also includes the Centre for Science and Technology Studies. The Faculty is home to 5,000 students and 600 members of staff. Our teaching and research programmes cover diverse topics varying from adoption to political behaviour. For more information, see http://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/social-behavioural-sciences.

 

For research at our institute LIBC we offer an exciting research environment including EEG, fMRI, eye tracking, virtual reality, and brain stimulation. For more information see

https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/social-behavioural-sciences/psychology/cognitive-psychology and http://www.libc-leiden.nl/

Terms and conditions
We offer a four-year term position. Salary range from € 3637.- to € 5656.- gross per month (pay scale 11 or 12 in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities).

 

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. More at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions.

Leiden University requires teaching staff to obtain the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ). If the successful applicant does not already possess this qualification or its equivalent, he/ she must be willing to obtain this Qualification within two years.

 

Diversity
Leiden University is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups.

 

Information
For inquiries, please contact professor Sander Nieuwenhuis, email snieuwenhuis@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.

 

Applications

Please submit online your application no later than the 30th of April 2019 via the blue button of our application system (available from April 16th at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at). Applicants should submit online a letter of interest and a cv with a list of publications.

 

Postdoc position in the Dutch Research Consortium ‘Language in Interaction’ (1.0 FTE)

Donders Institute, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging
Maximum salary: € 4,978 gross/month
Vacancy number: 30.05.19
Application deadline: 5 May 2019

 

Responsibilities

We are currently recruiting for a 3-year postdoctoral researcher position regarding “Understanding the nature of the mental lexicon” in the Language in Interaction consortium. The goal of this project is to use advanced computational models applied to neural data to understand the structure and function of the language system and obtain a better understanding of the mental lexicon.

You will be member of Big Question 1 (BQ1), a larger endeavour to develop computational models of the mental lexicon from linguistic, psychological and neuroscience perspectives. Your responsibility is to develop computational models and apply them to neural data to obtain new neurolinguistic insights. To this end, you will make use of existing publicly available datasets. You will also facilitate collaborative projects in BQ1 that combine the scientific expertise across different work packages. You are expected to take a leading role in translating modeling work to scientific output that provides new insights into the neural correlates of language, as disseminated via high-impact publications. The position also includes a small number of organizational and administrative tasks within BQ1 and the larger consortium.

This position provides an opportunity to conduct world-class research as a key member of an interdisciplinary team operating at the interface between artificial intelligence and cognitive neuroscience.

Work environment

The Netherlands has an outstanding track record in the language sciences. The Language in Interaction research consortium, which is sponsored by a large grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific research (NWO), brings together many of the excellent research groups in the Netherlands in a research programme on the foundations of language. In addition to excellence in the domain of language and related relevant fields of cognition, our consortium provides state-of-the-art research facilities and a research team with ample experience in the complex research methods that will be invoked to address the scientific questions at the highest level of methodological sophistication. These include methods from genetics, neuroimaging, computational modeling, and patient-related research. This consortium realises both quality and critical mass for studying human language at a scale not easily found anywhere else.

We have identified five Big Questions (BQs) that are central to our understanding of the human language faculty. These questions are interrelated at multiple levels. Teams of researchers will collaborate to collectively address these key questions of our field.

Our five Big Questions are:
BQ1: The nature of the mental lexicon – How to bridge neurobiology and psycholinguistic theory by computational modeling?
BQ2: What are the characteristics and consequences of internal brain organization for language?
BQ3: Creating a shared cognitive space – How is language grounded in and shaped by communicative settings of interacting people?
BQ4: Variability in language processing and in language learning – Why does the ability to learn language change with age? How can we characterise and map individual language skills in relation to the population distribution?
BQ5: How are other cognitive systems shaped by the presence of a language system in humans?

You will be appointed at the Donders Institute, Centre for Cognition, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The project is embedded in the Donders Institute’s research theme “Brain Networks and Neuronal Communication” and will be supervised by Prof. Marcel van Gerven. The research is conducted in an international setting at all participating institutions. English is the lingua franca.

What we expect from you

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a PhD degree in Cognitive Neuroscience, Computational Linguistics, Artificial Intelligence or a related field of research. We expect you to have expertise in the domain of language research, excellent computational skills and Python programming experience, as well as experience with neural data analysis. You will further develop the modeling approaches that are being created within the team and apply these approaches to rich neural datasets to generate new insights about the nature of the mental lexicon. You should have an outstanding scientific track record, excellent organisational, and communication skills, a strong motivation, and high proficiency in written and spoken English.

Applications from excellent candidates with a less than ideal profile will also be considered.

What we have to offer

  • employment: 1.0 FTE;
  • a maximum gross monthly salary of € 4,978 based on a 38-hour working week (salary scale 11);
  • in addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
  • term of contract: you will be appointed for an initial period of 12 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 24 months;
  • UFO job profile: Researcher, Level 3;
  • the Collective Labour Agreement (CAO) of Dutch Universities is applicable to this position;
  • Dutch universities and the institute involved have a number of regulations in place that enable employees to create a good work-life balance;
  • you will be able to make use of our Dual Career Service where our Dual Career Officer will assist with family related support, such as child care, and help your partner prepare for the local labour market and with finding an occupation.

Are you interested in our excellent employment conditions?

Other Information

The institute involved is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community, and as such encourages applications from women and minorities.

Would you like to know more?

Further information on: Language in Interaction
Further information on: Donders Institute

For more information about this vacancy, please contact:
Prof. dr. Marcel van Gerven, Principal Investigator Artificial Cognitive Systems, and
Telephone: +31 24 365 59 31
E-mail: m.vangerven@donders.ru.nl

Prof. dr. Peter Hagoort, Programme Director Language in Interaction consortium
Telephone: +31 24 361 06 48, +31 24 352 13 01
E-mail: p.hagoort@donders.ru.nl

Are you interested?

You should upload your application (attn. of Prof. dr. M. van Gerven) exclusively using the button ‘Apply’ below. Your application should include (and be limited to) the following attachment(s):

  • a cover letter
  • CV, including a list of publications and the names of at least two persons who can provide references

Please apply before 5 May 2019, 23:59 CET.

PhD course 2019 Neurophilosophy of Mind and Consciousness

The question that has baffled scientists and philosophers for centuries is how molecules, cells, neurotransmitters and hormones in our brains create consciousness and self-awareness? There have been breakthroughs in the fields of philosophy, psychology, neuroscience and psychiatry, but the quest for understanding the origins of mind and consciousness continues. The PhD course Neurophilosophy of Mind and Consciousness provides students with novel and practical insights into this field, which will contribute to theorizing and academic writing skills.

Format:

Neurophilosophy of Mind and Consciousness is a 5-day, 3 hours a day course, which includes lectures & discussions by experts in the fields of Psychology and Neuroscience, and apart from the daily meetings, literature study and a writing assignment.

Dates:

6 – 7 June & 12-13-14 June, 2019

Location:

Uithof Utrecht

Credits:

2 EC

Lecturers are:

Dennis Schutter (Donders Institute, Nijmegen University)
Jack van Honk (Utrecht University, University of Cape Town)

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Application:
Please apply by sending an email to jackvanh@gmail.com. This Helmholtz Institute course is exclusively for and free for national and international PhD students.

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Information

Contact: Prof Jack van Honk (jackvanh@gmail.com).

KNAW Master Class: Current Issues in (Visual) Working Memory

The KNAW hosts a master class on current issues in (visual) working memory, supported by the EPOS and Helmholtz graduate schools. Three world-renowned experts will treat conceptual, modeling, and methodological aspects of working memory research. The master class is targeted towards PhD students in the cognitive sciences and neighboring fields, and assumes background knowledge on cognitive processes. Provided there is availability, others will be welcome too. Attendance is free and includes lunch and coffee/tea. Priority will be given to members of the EPOS and Helmholtz graduate schools, but we expect there will sufficient capacity for non-members. Furthermore, PhD students are invited (and strongly encouraged) to present their work or idea to the group, in 5 minute pitches, allowing for a lively interaction. This may be on any topic, not necessarily working memory.

 

Date & Location

Wednesday 26 June 2019
Trippenhuis, Kloveniersburgwal 29, Amsterdam

Website: https://www.knaw.nl/en/news/calendar/masterclass-new-perspectives-on-visual-working-memory

 

Registration

Registration is free but compulsory. The registration form can be found here. (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxAInqcrVrHwStt7Df2emCBbNGZdNmcdj-xiF_-cdt6XNuGg/viewform)

 

Program

9:30       Welcome, coffee & tea.

10:00     Ed Awh, University of Chicago, US: Current Conceptual Issues in Working Memory

11:30     PhD pitches: PhD students presenting their work or idea in 5 minutes (sign up)

12:15     Lunch (provided)

13:00     Sebastian Schneegans, University of Cambridge, UK: Current Models of Working Memory

14:00     PhD pitches: PhD students presenting their work or idea in 5 minutes (sign up)

15:15     Rosanne Rademaker, UC San Diego, US: Current Caveats of Modeling Neuroimaging Data

16:45     Closing

 

Topic descriptions

 

Current Conceptual Issues in Working Memory

Ed Awh – University of Chicago

 

Despite decades of research, we still do not agree on what working memory (WM) actually is. What is its definition? What are its neurophysiological underpinnings? And how does it relate to long term memory (LTM)? Many characteristics we have come up with for working memory also appear to hold for LTM, except that most would agree that LTM is not actively “in mind”. I will argue that this “in mind” part provides a crucial distinction, motivated by neuropsychological evidence, as well as research on capacity limits. The  WM-LTM relationship also appears important for the current debate on “activity-silent” working memory, referring to the empirical demonstration that information is still behaviorally accessible even when neural delay activity is temporarily interrupted prior to the behavioral response. Some scientists have even argued that WM does not require persistent neural firing activity at all, as neurons only demonstrate intermittent firing patterns. I will discuss to what extent the arguments in this debate hold, and what might be a viable alternative of operationalizing working memory, one which tries to pull together the different kinds of observations above in a framework that acknowledges the constant collaboration between WM and LTM.

 

Current models of visual working memory

Sebastian Schneegans – University of Cambridge

 

The study of visual working memory has been substantially influenced by the competition between various theoretical models that aim to explain capacity limits and other aspects of behavioral performance. These models not only differ in the proposed mechanisms underlying memory limitations, but also in the level of modeling. They range from purely descriptive models used in the analysis of behavioral data, over explanatory models on a conceptual or mathematically formalized level, to models of the neural processes underlying working memory states, described at various levels of physiological detail. I will describe and compare these various kinds of models and discuss their role for behavioral research of working memory.

 

Current caveats of modeling human neuroimaging data 

Rosanne Rademaker – UC San Diego

At the dawn of the human neuroimaging revolution, it was probably the bright colors of univariate contrasts “lighting up” the virtual human brain, that spoke to the imagination of many (most importantly, funding agencies). Since then, many more sophisticated techniques have been developed, which greatly increase our chances of understanding the overarching computational principles that guide our behavior. However, along with the increased complexity of our techniques comes an increased potential for pitfalls. Here, I will highlight a number of popular multivariate analysis techniques, and some of the important caveats to keep in mind.

Postdoc position in Linguistics for Research Consortium ‘Language in Interaction’ (1,0 fte)

Responsibilities

The Language in Interaction research consortium invites applications for a postdoctoral position in Linguistics. We are looking for a candidate with a background in theoretical and/or computational linguistics.
You will contribute to the integration of linguistic expertise into the empirical research performed by teams of researchers in our consortium that are collaborating to collectively address the key questions of our field. You will be provided the opportunity to conduct research in one or more research areas relevant to the position. Supervision of BSc, MSc and PhD projects will be part of your responsibilities. You will be provided with budgetary resources for travel, materials and lab-use.

This position provides the opportunity for conducting world-class research as a member of an interdisciplinary team. Moreover, it will provide the opportunity to contribute to developing a theoretical framework for our understanding of the human language faculty.

Work environment

The Netherlands has an outstanding track record in the language sciences. The research consortium ‘Language in Interaction’, sponsored by a large grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific research (NWO), brings together many of the excellent research groups in the Netherlands with a research programme on the foundations of language.

In addition to excellence in the domain of language and related relevant fields of cognition, our consortium provides state-of-the-art research facilities and a research team with ample experience in the complex research methods that will be invoked to address the scientific questions at the highest level of methodological sophistication. These include methods from genetics, neuroimaging, computational modelling, and patient-related research. This consortium realizes both quality and critical mass for studying human language at a scale not easily found anywhere else.

We have identified five Big Questions (BQ) that are central to our understanding of the human language faculty. These questions are interrelated at multiple levels. Teams of researchers will collaborate to collectively address these key questions of our field.

Our five Big Questions are:

BQ1: The nature of the mental lexicon: How to bridge neurobiology and psycholinguistic theory by computational modelling?

BQ2: What are the characteristics and consequences of internal brain organization for language?

BQ3: Creating a shared cognitive space:  How is language grounded in and shaped by communicative settings of interacting people?

BQ4: Variability in language processing and in language learning: Why does the ability to learn language change with age? How can we characterise and map individual language skills in relation to the population distribution?

BQ5: How are other cognitive systems shaped by the presence of a language system in humans?

Successful candidates will be appointed at one of the consortium’s home institutions, depending on the position applied for. All successful candidates will become members of our Big Question teams. The research is conducted in an international setting at all participating institutions. English is the lingua franca.

 You will be appointed at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. You will be supervised by Peter Hagoort, programme director of the Language in Interaction consortium. The research is conducted in an international setting at all participating institutions. English is the lingua franca.

 What we expect from you

We are looking for highly motivated candidates to enrich a unique consortium of researchers that aims to unravel the neurocognitive mechanisms of language at multiple levels. The goal is to understand both the universality and the variability of the human language faculty from genes to behaviour.

  • a PhD in Linguistics;
  • an integrative mindset;
  • a theory-driven approach;
  • good communication skills;
  • strong motivation;
  • excellent proficiency in written and spoken English.

What we have to offer

  • Full-time position (39 hours per week) with a term of appointment of 4 years.
  • The salary is according to the German TVöD (Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst) and is classified in salary group E13 (depending on the experience of the applicant between EUR 3.827,03 and EUR 5.683,28 gross per month, based on a full-time employment).
  • In addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance
  • The Max Planck Institute involved has a number of regulations that make it possible for employees to create a good work-life balance.

Other Information

The institute involved is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community, and as such encourages applications from women and minorities.

Would you like to know more?

Further information on: the Language in Interaction Consortium.
Further information on: Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour

For more information about this vacancy, please contact:

Prof. dr. Peter Hagoort, programme director Language in Interaction and director of DCCN and MPI

Telephone: +31 24 3610648, +31 24 3521301

E-mail: p.hagoort@donders.ru.nl

Are you interested?

Please submit your application (attn. of Prof. dr. P. Hagoort) to j.verhoef@donders.ru.nl in electronic form. Your application should include (and be limited to) the following attachments:

  • a cover letter,
  • your curriculum vitae, including a list of publications and the names of at least two person who can provide references.

 

Application deadline: February 17, 2019, 23:59 CET.