Recruitment

Recruitment

Applications are invited for 14 PhD positions (ESRs) for Marie Skłodowska-Curie ITN on Early Language Development in the Digital Age (e-LADDA).


Where to apply: recruitment@e-ladda.eu

Application deadline: 24.01.2020 23:00 CET/Brussels

The central scientific goal of e-LADDA is to establish whether the new and quite intuitive interactions afforded by digital tools impact on young children’s language development and language outcomes in a positive or adverse way. We further aim to identify exactly what factors in both the technology itself and the communication channel advance language learning and growth or may impede it. e-LADDA’s main objectives are:

1) to provide a platform for the training of the next generation of scientists drawing for the first time on interdisciplinary perspectives from basic, applied and translational research on language learning in the digital age

2) to provide a unified research approach to the benefits and drawbacks of digital technologies for young childrens’ language learning 

3) transform and develop new digital solutions that benefit learners

4) to provide guidance to policy makers, educators, practitioners and families in how emerging digital environments should be navigated, regulated and transformed.


Benefits

Benefits

The successful candidates will receive an attractive salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations for Early Stage Researchers. The exact (net) salary will be confirmed upon appointment and is dependent on local tax regulations and on the country correction factor (to allow for the difference in cost of living in different EU Member States). The salary includes a living allowance, a mobility allowance and a family allowance (depending on family status). The guaranteed PhD funding is for 36 months (i.e. EC funding, additional funding is possible, depending on the local hiring institution, and in accordance with the regular PhD time in the hosting country). In addition to their individual scientific projects, all fellows will benefit from further continuing education, which includes secondments, a variety of training modules as well as transferable skills courses and active participation in workshops and conferences.


Eligibility criteria

Eligibility criteria

Applicants need to fully respect three eligibility criteria (to be demonstrated in the Europass CV format):

Early-stage researchers (ESR) are those who are, at the time of recruitment by the host, in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers. This is measured from the date when they obtained the degree which formally entitles them to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the research training is provided, irrespective of whether or not a doctorate was envisaged.

Conditions of international mobility of researchers:

Researchers are required to undertake trans-national mobility (i.e. move from one country to another) when taking up the appointment. At the time of selection by the host organization, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. Short stays, such as holidays, are not taken into account.

English language: Network fellows (ESRs) must demonstrate that their ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English is sufficiently high for them to derive the full benefit from the network training. Knowledge of the local language will weigh positively in selection.

Selection prosess

Deadline for applications is 24.01.2020. To attract the right students, the required profiles are clearly listed for each ESR position (see individual project descriptions).

Stage 1:

Candidates apply by sending a CV and a letter of motivation both in English and a copy of highest academic degree. The candidates apply for a maximum of three specific ESR positions and list their order of preference in the letter of motivation. The Recruitment Committee selects suitable candidates based on eligibility checks and background expertise, and produces a short list for each ESR position. Applications should be sent to: recruitment@e-ladda.eu

Stage 2:

Short-listed applicants from Stage 1 are then invited to apply locally (see local hiring organization links) by February 15th, 2020. Each Supervisory team prepares a short-list of applicants to be invited for interviews which will provide the basis for the final selection.

All chosen candidates are expected to start their contract by the end of June 2020 at the latest.
 


INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS (ESR positions) in the e-LADDA ITN

INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS (ESR positions) in the e-LADDA ITN

Research Group "Psychology of Language", Georg-Elias-Müller Institute for Psychology - https://www.psych.uni-goettingen.de/de/lang

Required skills:

ESRs must have a masters degree in Psychology, Linguistics, Cognitive Science or related fields and not have more than four years full time research experience. Strong statistical skills and programming experience in R or Matlab is beneficial. Experience working with eyetracking data and/or experience with web programming are similarly beneficial. The working language of the group is English and fluency in German is not required although an interest in learning German is a requirement of the position

LALP Lab - https://www.ntnu.edu/langdevlab

Required skills:

ESRs must have a masters degree in Psychology, Linguistics, Cognitive Science or related fields and not have more than four years full time research experience. A background in psycholinguistics, child development, statistics, eye-tracking/neurophysiology/EEG/ERPs would be beneficial. Knowledge of a Scandinavian language will be appreciated.

Department of Electronic Systems/LALP Lab NTNU

Required skills:

Speech processing, signal processing, machine learning, programming, knowledge of a Scandinavian language appreciated

School of Psychology - https://www.uea.ac.uk/psychology


Required skills:

A first degree in psychology or a related discipline. Although training will be provided, knowledge of statistical analyses and experience of brain imaging analyses would be an advantage.
 

Research Group "Psychology of Language", Georg-Elias-Müller Institute for Psychology - https://www.psych.uni-goettingen.de/de/lang

Required skills:

ESRs must have a masters degree in Psychology, Linguistics, Cognitive Science or related fields and not have more than four years full time research experience. Strong statistical skills and programming experience in R or Matlab is beneficial. Experience working with eyetracking data and/or experience with web programming are similarly beneficial. The working language of the group is English and fluency in German is not required although an interest in learning German is a requirement of the position.

Department of Computer Science - https://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk 

Required skills: Excellent programming skills are essential. Knowledge of robotics and/or machine learning research skills is also welcome

Datorzinību centrs - http://www.dzc.lv/ and Computing Science/Cognitive Science, University of Latvia - https://www.df.lu.lv/

Required skills:

A completed MA degree in linguistics, cognitive science, computer science, statistics, programming skills, knowledge of Latvian will be appreciated.
   

Department of Developmental Psychology - http://institucional.us.es/labdicole

Required skills:

Recommended skills are knowledge of Spanish, training in experimental research, knowledge of eye-tracking research, experience with children with autism or other developmental disorders.

Department of Psychology - https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/psychology/

Required skills:

Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Psychology or related discipline (essential); good statistical and analytic skill (preferably R) (essential). Experience of children’s language and literacy assessment (desirable); experience working with young children and/or children with developmental disorders (desirable).

Department of Developmental Psychology - http://institucional.us.es/labdicole

Required skills: 

Recommended knowledge of Spanish, experience in experimental psychological or linguistic research, experience in deafness research and/or intervention.

Department of psychology - https://sigarra.up.pt/fpceup/pt/WEB_PAGE.INICIAL

Required skills:

MSc in Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Experimental Psychology, or Psycholinguistics. Excellent statistical and analytical skills. Good knowledge of Portuguese language. Strong interest in emergent literacy field. Easy rapport with children

SpongeUK - https://wearesponge.com/ and University of Manchester Department of Computer Science - https://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk

Required skills:

Excellent programming skills are essential. Knowledge of educational mobile applications and/or machine learning research skills is also welcome

Media Studies, University of Amsterdam – https://mediastudies.nl

Amsterdam School of Cultural Analysis (ASCA), University of Amsterdam – https://asca.uva.nl

Required skills:

A Master or equivalent degree in one of the following disciplines: media studies, science and technology studies, digital sociology, cultural sociology, cultural studies; An interest in one or the combination of the following disciplinary fields: new media and digital culture, software studies, app studies, critical data studies; Expertise in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.

Familiarity with digital methods and programming for the social sciences and the humanities is an advantage; A creative mind and a keen interest to think across disciplines and domains, in particular linguistics, psychology and computer science; Ability to work independently as well as in a team and as part of an international research network; Excellent organizational skills and detail-oriented; Excellent command of English. Familiarity with other languages is an asset.

Furhat Robotics - https://www.furhatrobotics.com/ and Department of Computer Science - https://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk 

Required skills:

Applicants should have a masters degree (or similar) in a subject relevant for the research, such as computer science, language technology, or cognitive science. Applicants are expected to have good skills in programming, and knowledge in experimental methods and statistics. Experience in education or language learning is a plus.  
 

Hiring organisation

Hiring organisation

NTNU, Trondheim

University of East Anglia

University of Manchester

Georg-August Universität Göttingen

Lancaster University

Universidad de Sevilla

Datorzinību Centrs

University of Amsterdam

University of Porto

Furhat Robotics

SpongeUK


Location

Location

Multiple locations, see work locations below 

Type of contract

Temporary (36 months)

Job status

Full-time

HOURS PER WEEK

Hours per week

In accordance with employer’s conditions

EU Research framework programme

Horizon2020/ Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Marie Curie Grant agreement number

857897

RESEARCH FIELD

Research field

Developmental robotics, psychology, linguistics/psycholinguistics, speech recognition/synthesis, developmental deficits, digital technology, software development/educational software, digital media/digital platforms

Researcher profile

Early Stage Researcher

Application deadline 

24/01/2020 – CET/Brussels