IMPRS PhD Fellowships 2026

*****DEADLINE HAS PASSED*****

The IMPRS for Language Sciences invites applications for TWO PhD fellowships that are funded by the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science. The goal of the scheme is to enable young researchers to pursue interdisciplinary research projects in the language sciences, supervised by leading scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics and its partner institutes at the Radboud University -- the Centre for Language Studies and the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour.

For the current round, the hiring departments -- Language & Genetics and Language and Computation in Neural Systems -- are looking to fill one position each. Please consult the project listings further below for more information.
 

What we offer you

• The position is intended to begin in Sep-Oct 2026; start-date is negotiable but the candidate should be in place by the end of 2026.
• Full-time position (39 hours per week) for 4 years; part-time option negotiable.
• Salary determined according to the German TVöD (Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst) and is classified in salary group/level E13, 65% of level 1. The current gross monthly salary is approx. €3,185.72 based on full-time employment, plus a holiday bonus of 8% of the gross salary (€41,286.93 gross per year, including holiday bonus).
• 30 holidays per year, based on full-time employment; in addition, we honor the Dutch and German public holidays.
• Enrollment in a personal pension scheme to which both employer and employee pay a monthly contribution.
• Access to state-of-the art research and training facilities and a generous conference and travel budget.
• Educational training programme provided by the International Max Planck Research School for Language Sciences.
• Doctoral degree conferred by Radboud University, our partner university.

The employer

About our institute

The Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics is a world-leading research institute devoted to interdisciplinary studies of the science of language and communication, including departments on genetics, psychology, development, neurobiology and multimodality of these fundamental human abilities.

We investigate how children and adults acquire their language(s), how speaking and listening happen in real time, how the brain processes language, how the human genome contributes to building a language-ready brain, how multiple modalities (as in speech, gesture and sign) shape language and its use in diverse languages and how language is related to cognition and culture, and shaped by evolution.

We are part of the Max Planck Society, an independent non-governmental association of German-funded research institutes dedicated to fundamental research in the natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and the humanities.

The Max Planck Society is an equal opportunities employer. We recognise the positive value of diversity and inclusion, promote equity and challenge discrimination. We aim to provide a working environment with room for differences, where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Therefore, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Our institute is situated on the campus of the Radboud University and has close collaborative links with the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and the Centre for Language Studies at Radboud University. We also work closely with other child development researchers as part of the Baby & Child Research Center.

About our graduate school

The IMPRS for Language Sciences is a joint initiative of the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics and two research institutes based at Radboud University -- the Centre for Language Studies and the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour. The graduate school serves to bring together outstanding doctoral students from diverse disciplines in the language sciences on campus, and offer them high-quality training in an environment that both broadens their interdisciplinary experience and prepares them for fulfilling careers in the language sciences.

Our education and training programme involves both core and individually chosen coursework to complement the PhD research, and training in soft skills such as writing and presentation. Learn more here.

How to apply

Please consult the FAQs below for more information on the timeline and other potential updates in the coming period. There, you will also find links to the application portal. 

Kindly make use of the provided templates for the cv and letter of motivation. 

Language & Genetics (L&G) Project

Supervisory Team

• Prof dr Simon Fisher
• Prof dr Hans van Bokhoven

 

Deciphering gene regulatory networks implicated in developmental speech and language disorders

Moving beyond the original discovery of the FOXP2 gene, the Language & Genetics department of the Max Planck Institute has used next-generation sequencing to identify rare DNA variants at multiple additional genetic loci implicated in childhood speech/language impairments. Several of the encoded proteins (e.g. CHD3, SETBP1, SETD1A, WDR5) play key roles in regulating gene expression in the brain, and have also been linked to broader neurodevelopmental disorders. 

 

In collaboration with the Molecular Neurogenetics group at Radboudumc and the Donders Institute, this PhD project will investigate the impacts of a selection of speech-disorder gene disruptions on molecular networks in brain development, via cutting-edge lab-based analyses of human neuronal models, including 2D/3D culture from induced pluripotent stem cells. Benefiting from state-of-the-art on-site facilities and expertise, the research brings together gene-editing, tissue culture, human brain organoids, high-resolution microscopy, spatial/single-cell transcriptomics and epigenomics.

 

Recommended Readings

• The chromatin remodeler CHD3 is highly expressed in mature neurons and regulates genes involved in synaptic development and function
• Genetic pathways involved in human speech disorders
• CACNA1A haploinsufficiency leads to reduced synaptic function and increased intrinsic excitability

 

Essentials

• A finished (or soon-to-be finished) Masters* degree in a field with clear relevance for analysis of gene variants in human neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. medical biology, biomedical sciences, molecular medicine, molecular mechanisms of disease, molecular life sciences). *see also FAQs #09 & #10
• Prior experience of research activities in a molecular biology wet-lab setting.
• Willingness to learn new methods through guidance from colleagues, on-line resources, and training courses as needed.
• Critical, careful and responsible approach to scientific research, placing emphasis on robustness and reproducibility of results.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to clearly communicate research plans and outcomes to others, in spoken and written form.
• Interest in bridging scientific fields and working together with researchers from a wide range of backgrounds.

 

Desirables

• Experience applying molecular biology or cell-culture techniques used for analysing human genomic variants.

• Familiarity with literature on how/why advances in genomics and cellular models are yielding new insights into the biology of human brains and behaviour.

 

 

Language and Computation in Neural Systems (LaCNS) Project

Supervisory Team

• Prof dr Helen de Hoop
• dr Andrea E. Martin

 

Spoken Language Comprehension and the Syntax–Semantics Interface 

The PhD project investigates how syntactic and semantic distinctions are encoded and processed during naturalistic spoken language comprehension. It aims to bring together linguistic distinctions at the syntax–semantics interface with neurocognitive and computational approaches.

The central research questions include:

• How are syntactic and semantic representations instantiated in the brain during continuous speech comprehension?

• How can neural dynamics as measured with MEG reveal the unfolding of these representations in real time?

• How can computational models of language processing be built that respect linguistic representations and behavioral outcomes while being constrained by neural data?

The project is a collaboration between the Language and Computation in Neural Systems and the Grammar and Cognition research groups. It will involve the analysis of MEG recordings of participants listening to naturalistic spoken language, combined with computational modeling of the processing of distinctions that occur at the syntax–semantics interface. By grounding theoretical distinctions in neural and behavioral evidence, the project will advance our understanding of how language structure and meaning are processed in the brain. 

 

Recommended Readings

• Language-specific neural dynamics extend syntax into the time domain
• Linguistic structure as a guiding principle for human neuroscience
• What’s Surprising About Surprisal

 

Essentials

• A finished (or soon-to-be finished) Research Master’s* degree (or equivalent) in linguistics, psycholinguistics, cognitive science, cognitive neuroscience, computer science, or a related field. *see also FAQs #09 & #10
• A strong interest in spoken language comprehension and linguistics.
• Familiarity with linguistic theory and an interest in linking it to experimental and computational approaches.
• Critical, careful and responsible approach to scientific research, placing emphasis on robustness and reproducibility of results.
• Willingness to learn methods such as MEG/EEG, statistical modeling, and computational modeling.
• Willingness to learn new methods in neuroimaging data analysis through guidance from colleagues, on-line resources, and training courses as needed.
• Willingness to learn scientific programming languages (e.g., Python, Julia, R) and data analysis pipelines (e.g., MNE-Python, cebra.ai).
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.

 

 Desirables

• Experience with statistical analysis, computational modelling, or machine learning.
• Experience with MEG/EEG, statistical modeling, and computational modeling.
• Experience with scientific programming languages (e.g., Python, Julia, R) and data analysis pipelines (e.g., MNE-Python, cebra.ai).
• Ability to clearly communicate research plans and outcomes to others, in spoken and written form.
• Interest in bridging scientific fields and working together with researchers from a wide range of backgrounds.

FAQs & Application Portal | Last Updated: 28 Oct 2025

Please study this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section thoroughly.

Should any questions remain unanswered, please get in touch with the IMPRS Coordinator, dr. Kevin Lam, by e-mail. Due to the festive break, there will be no replies to e-mails received from 19 Dec 2025 to 04 Jan 2026.

Kindly note that all information presented here is subject to change without advance notice. We invite you to check back regularly for the latest details.

 

01. What is the timeline?

Tentative Schedule

Full advert posted	14 Oct 2025
Application portal opens	23 Oct
Application deadline	5 Jan 2026
Shortlisted candidates invited	13 Feb
Referees of shortlisted candidates contacted to complete a reference form	13 Feb
Reference form submission deadline	20 Feb
Informal conversations with department IMPRSers (on-site)	23 Feb – 20 Mar
Interview with selection committee and potential supervisors (on-site)	23 Feb – 6 Mar
Notice of offers & rejections sent	31 Mar

 

02. How do I submit my application and what needs to be included in the application?

You are required to submit your application by using the corresponding link for the project you're applying to: 
 *****LINKS HAVE BEEN REMOVED AS THE DEADLINE HAS PASSED*****

In order for an application to be considered for review, it must contain the following:

• a curriculum vitae (using our template)
• a letter of motivation/cover letter (using our template)
• one-page summary of your master's thesis, and
• supporting documents, such as academic degrees, certificates, diplomas and transcripts.

 

There is absolutely NO need to include any reference letters; these will not be read. More importantly, we make use of our own reference form, which will be sent to referees of invited candidates.

A photo is not required. In fact, we encourage you to remove any photos from your application.

IMPORTANT: Consult the remaining FAQ items to ensure that your application is complete and meets the requirements to be considered for review.

 

03. What information must be included in the curriculum vitae and letter of motivation/cover letter?

To ensure you provide all the necessary information we will need for the review process, please make use of the provided templates. Note that we provide useful comments within each file to help you complete your application properly. Should these comments not be visible, please consult this webpage.

 

04. What should I do if I won't have completed a thesis project by the deadline?

If your thesis project begins after the deadline or is still underway on the deadline, we ask you to do both of the following:

• Provide a one-page summary of a research project or study that you have already completed. Indicate if this was part of a course, internship, etc.
• Provide a one-page summary of the anticipated thesis project proposal. Indicate when the project is expected to begin and to be completed. If you do not yet know what your project will entail, you can provide a writing sample that most closely resembles a complete experimental study. Indicate if this was part of a course, internship, etc.

 

05. May I apply to both projects?

Given the non-overlapping profiles required for each project, we do not expect applicants to be applying to both projects.

 

06. Do I need to include transcripts from my bachelor and/or master studies? What if I do not have official transcripts in English / Dutch / German?

Yes, please enclose official transcripts (in English, Dutch or German) of all your degree-level studies.

Documents in languages other than English, Dutch or German must be translated into any of the aforementioned languages. We apologise for any inconveniences this may cause.

For the application, you may submit a tentative non-certified English / Dutch / German translation of the document(s). The original document(s) must be included in your application.

Certified true or notarised copies (including translated ones) must be promptly provided upon request when the applicant is invited for an interview. Ultimately, these versions will be required in order for an official offer of employment to be made and to be issued a contract of employment at the MPI for Psycholinguistics.

 

07. Am I required to submit a certificate of English proficiency?

Solid knowledge of the English language (CEFR B2 level) is necessary. However, we do not require proof of English language proficiency by means of a language test. Nevertheless, you may include the result of any such test if you have already taken one.

 

08. Am I required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test?

No, we do not require any GRE scores. Nevertheless, you may include the result of any such test if you have already taken one.

 

09. May I apply while still completing my current academic degree?

Certainly! Please be sure to include a transcript of records that includes the grades of all coursework completed so far. Do note that if your application is successful, you are required to provide the original final transcript and your academic certificates (as well as certified translations if these are not in English, Dutch or German) no later than the time of admission into the graduate school.

If hired, you are expected to have completed all your degree requirements before the PhD programme can begin. 

 

10. What counts as an equivalent of a (research) masters degree?

Applicants who are completing, or have completed, a 4-year thesis-based Bachelor Honours degree may be considered for our Fellowships. Such degrees may be recognised by the conferring institution as equivalents of masters degree for the purpose of admission into a PhD programme. If this applies to you, please be sure to include an official signed confirmation statement from your institution as part of your supporting documents. We will review all such applications on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that the degree's graduating requirement must include a year-long individual research project supervised by a faculty member, which culminates in a written thesis in the final year. Moreover, evidence of substantial relevant research experience in the intended research topic(s) is desirable.

 

11. May I complete the doctoral programme on a part-time basis?

Yes, there is the opportunity to do so. We invite you to discuss this with the supervisory team, should you be invited for an interview.

 

12. Are there opportunities to acquire teaching experience?

Though you will not be required to teach as part of your contract, we provide our IMPRS members with opportunities to teach within and outside the IMPRS community. Such opportunities include workshops, lectures, courses as well as guest lectures at the Radboud University. If you have interest in making use of these opportunities, we invite you to have a conversation about this with the supervisory team, should you be invited for an interview.

 

13. Who confers the doctoral degree upon graduation?

The doctoral degree will be conferred by one of the faculties at Radboud University.

 

14. If successful, will I get help with finding accommodation?

For applicants arriving for the first time in the Netherlands, we can assist you in finding appropriate temporary accommodation, e.g., at the campus guest house. Nevertheless, we cannot guarantee housing in time for your arrival, given the scarce availability. You are strongly advised to actively search for housing on your own and not rely solely on our support. Ultimately, the successful applicant is responsible for arranging their own accommodation for the duration of their PhD project.