Institution/Organization: Trier University

Level: MA / MSc

Duties: Project Work

Specialty Areas: Morphology; Phonetics; Psycholinguistics
Required Language(s): Dutch (nld)
English (eng)

Description:

Cf. here for the original version of the job ad: https://www.uni-trier.de/universitaet/verwaltung/abteilung-iii-personal/jobs

The Faculty of Language, Literature and Media Studies (English Studies / Linguistics, Prof. Dr. Sabine Arndt-Lappe) invites applications for

a doctoral researcher position (Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiter/in, m/w/d),
(E 13 TV-L, 65%, fixed term: Sept 1, 2025 - March 31, 2028 (WissZeitVG))

The position is within the project Advancing Analogical Theory in Morphology (AdvAnTheMorph), led by prof. Sabine Arndt-Lappe and funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

The project and your tasks
AdvAnTheMorph is working at the interface of morphology, phonetics, and psycholinguistics. We will study how speakers form new words, how exactly they realise them phonetically, and what this tells us about how language is processed in the minds of speakers. We will study phenomena in two languages: English and Dutch. The project will involve psycholinguistic experiments, work with speech corpora, and computational modeling. The project team consists of prof. Sabine Arndt-Lappe, prof. Mirjam Ernestus and dr. Louis ten Bosch from Radboud University (Nijmegen), as well as two doctoral researchers who are based in Trier. The doctoral researchers will also pay several longer visits to Radboud University.
As one of the two doctoral researchers in this project, you will carry out your PhD project within the research program of AdvAnTheMorph, on Dutch and English, with a focus on how context influences speakers’ choices and realisations of morphologically complex words. This will require you to learn Dutch. You will actively collaborate with all researchers in the project, and you will co-lead a team of student assistants supporting the project. For more information cf. advanthemorph.uni-trier.de.

What we expect
The formal recruitement requirements are laid out in §57 Hochschulgesetz Rheinland-Pfalz. In particular, we require an above-average MA degree in linguistics or equivalent (e.g. in English Studies, Psycholinguistics or a teaching degree, with linguistics as a substantial component). Applicants who have not yet completed their MA at the time of application can be considered if they will have their degree by August 1, 2025.

Preferred applicants will also have
- very good, fluent English, both in speaking and in (academic) writing
- documented experience in carrying out empirical work in linguistics (e.g. in an MA thesis)
- a background in morphology and/or phonetics
- at least some basic knowledge of statistics
- some experience with and interest in relevant computer skills: e.g. Praat and/or R and/or experimental software and/or Python and/or similar

What we offer
The job offers an excellent, collaborative work environment at Trier University and beyond, including integration into relevant research networks and PhD support infrastructure in Trier (e.g. patterns.uni-trier.de, gut.uni-trier.de, uni-trier.de/en/international/team/translate-to-englisch-promovierende) and in the international research community. Trier University is certified by audit family-friendly university (audit familiengerechte hochschule).

Further steps in the selection process
After considering all written applications, suitable candidates will be invited for an interview via videoconferencing (date: June 10, 2025). Shortlisted candidates will then be invited for an onsite interview in Trier.

For more information on the processing of your personal data, please refer to the data protection information for application procedures in accordance with Article 13 GDPR on the university homepage.

Trier University aims to increase the quota of women in research, and encourages qualified women to apply. Disabled candidates with appropriate qualifications will be given priority (§ 2 Abs. 3 SGB IX, please enclose proof in your application).

For more information about the project cf.: www.advanthemorph.uni-trier.de

Your application should include
- a motivation letter (max. 2 pages, in English), in which you describe your research interest and research experience
- a Curriculum Vitae, incl. a list of publications (if applicable)
- a sample of your academic writing (e.g. your MA thesis)
- copies of the usual qualification documents (MA degree, etc.), including grades
- the names and email addresses of two referees, who will be willing to provide a letter of recommendation when we contact them at a later stage in the process

Note that for the Dutch part you are not required to have previous knowledge of Dutch, but to demonstrate your willingness and interest in learning the language as the project progresses.

Please send your applications until May 23, 2025, in one single pdf file.

Application Deadline: 23-May-2025

Email Address for Applications: [email protected]

Contact Information:
Prof. Dr. Sabine Arndt-Lappe