PhD position in experimental psycholinguistics

The MPI in Nijmegen is a leading research institute, with a stimulating environment and excellent facilities and resources. It is the only institute devoted to the question of how we acquire, produce, and understand language. Its investigations are highly multidisciplinary, uniting anthropology, linguistics, psychology, neuroscience, computer science, and now genetics.
(For further details see http://www.mpi.nl ).

The successful candidate will be affiliated with the department Psychology of Language (A. S. Meyer). The mission of the department is to understand the psychological processes and representations underlying the production and comprehension of spoken utterances. Much of the research in the department is currently directed at understanding how and why adults differ in linguistic knowledge and their ways of using this knowledge. The research is carried out in close collaboration with the departments Language and Genetics and Neurobiology of Language. The new PhD project should concern individual differences in the structure of the mental lexicon and in lexical access.

We seek exceptional students with a talent and inclination for first class research. Candidates should have, or shortly expect to obtain, a high quality scientific degree in psychology, cognitive neurosciences, linguistics, computer sciences or related areas (MA or equivalent). Solid knowledge of statistics and experimental design is a requirement. Candidates should have excellent written and spoken command of English and ideally some knowledge of either Dutch or German.

The position is funded for 3 years. Starting date is September 1, 2012, or January 1, 2013. The institute provides state-of-the art research facilities and technical support, and a generous conference and travel budget. A program of taught courses is provided by the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS).

The Max Planck Society is an equal opportunity employer.

Inquiries and applications should be sent as soon as possible to

Evelyn Giering

(evelyn.giering@mpi.nl)

phone: +31-24-3521336.

Applications should include the candidate's CV, a short statement of research interests,  a sample of their writing, and the names and e-mail addresses of two potential referees.