University or Organization: UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Department: Language and Culture
Job Location: Troms, Norway
Web Address: https://en.uit.no/enhet/isk?p_dimension_id=210121
Job Title: Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Multilingualism
Job Rank: Post Doc

Specialty Areas: General Linguistics

Required Language(s): English (eng)
Ukrainian (ukr)
Germanic
Slavic

Description:

The advertised postdoc is part of the Language domain in C-LaBL. This domain studies numerous language/dialect combinations in a concerted effort to probe the mental mechanisms of interacting languages/varieties. A core goal is to establish what measures of linguistic similarities, differences, and distance between varieties are cognitively relevant for crosslinguistic influence (CLI). Our approach is empirically driven: We systematically investigate the presence and extent of CLI in multilingual language acquisition and evaluate the role of overall proximity between languages and structural similarity between individual linguistic properties.

In order to investigate how structural overlap affects the dynamics between the languages in multilingual minds, we will investigate the acquisition of these grammatical properties in selected learner populations (simultaneous and sequential heritage bilinguals, L2 and L3 learners, and potential attriters) of specific language combinations. To assess the effect of linguistic distance, we investigate the acquisition of structurally (dis)similar properties in a variety of acquisition contexts and compare groups of speakers whose languages are closely related to groups whose languages are more distant. The effect of linguistic distance will also be measured against exposure (input, usage, experience). In sum, this approach enables us to probe how linguistic distance influences the acquisition and processing of multiple languages; more specifically, whether the effects of cross-linguistic influence in a multilingual mind are stronger between closely related languages/varieties than between more distant ones.

For further information about the position, please contact Associate Professor Natalia Mitrofanova ([email protected]) or Head of Department Cathrine Theodorsen ([email protected]).

Your application must include:
- Application letter
- Contextualizing statement/proposal (max 2 pages), detailing how the candidate fits into the research done in C-LaBL (including investigations across the domains).
- Contextualizing statement/proposal, detailing how the candidate plans to contribute to the research in the Language domain (2-3 pages).
- CV (containing a complete overview of education, supervised professional training and professional work, as well as a list of publications).
- Diplomas and transcripts (all degrees)
- Documentation of English proficiency
- 3-4 references, inclusive of contact information
- Two samples of published work or other professional writings.

If you're in the final stages of your PhD, you may still apply for the position, provided that you submit parts of your dissertation along with your application. This enables the evaluation committee to assess the quality and likelihood of completion by the desired employment date. You must include a statement from your supervisor or institution stating the expected completion date for your PhD degree. Documentation of your completed PhD degree must be submitted before commencement.

All documentation to be considered must be in a Scandinavian language or English. If English proficiency is not documented in the application, it must be documented before starting in the position. We only accept applications and documentation sent via Jobbnorge within the application deadline.

Application Deadline: 31-Jan-2025
Mailing Address for Applications:

Web Address for Applications: https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/270222/postdoctoral-research-fellow-in-multilingualism
Contact Information:
Dr. Marie-Josée H. Halsør
Email: marie-josee.h.halsø[email protected]
Phone: +47 77 64 46 59