PhD position in the field of spoken-language comprehension

The successful candidate will work on a project entitled "Adapting to phonological reduction" funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). The purpose of the project is to investigate whether and how listeners can adapt to sloppy speaking styles. This research should result in novel insights about perceptual learning in casual speech. In particular, can listeners track talker-specific styles of speaking? The project is within a DFG focus program (SPP1234, "Phonological and phonetic competence: between grammar, signal processing, and neural activity"), so the candidate will have the possibility to interconnect with similar research projects at the annual meetings of the focus program (see www.spp1234.de). Additionally, the funding includes a budget to travel to national and international conferences.

The research involves laboratory experimentation using eye-tracking, and phonetic corpus analysis. Candidates should therefore have a degree in either (experimental) psychology or linguistics. Candidates with a background in experimental psycholinguistics or experimental phonetics may receive preference, given the aims of the project. Some experience with programming may also be advantageous. Candidates should preferably have native or near-native competence in Dutch or German; or at least the willingness to learn Dutch. Please contact Holger Mitterer for further inquiries (e.g. if you would like a copy of the full DFG project proposal).

Contact: Holger Mitterer
             Max-Planck-Institut fuer Psycholinguistik
             Postbus 310
             NL-6500 AH Nijmegen

fax:      +31-24-3521213
e-mail:  holger.mitterer(_AT_)MPI.NL
WWW: www.mpi.nl/institute/research-groups/language-comprehension-group

Deadline for receipt of applications:  November 20, 2009
Applications should include a full CV and the names of two academic referees.