Postdoc - the interface(s) between prosody/syntax/information structure - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Research environment

The announced postdoctoral position will be connected with the interdisciplinary network of researchers at the departments of Phonetics, Japanese, Nordic languages and German at the Center for Languages and Literature (SOL), who are working on research questions at the interface between prosody, syntax, and information structure. Current research within the network has a long tradition at Lund University and is situated, both theoretically and empirically, at the cutting edge of this multidisciplinary area. Within phonetics, the internationally well-reputed research in prosody has its origin in seminal work done in the 1970's which has had great influence on the development of prosody modelling worldwide. During more recent years, the interaction between prosody and syntax has been investigated with the help of state-of-the-art methods for brain imaging. The network's researchers in Nordic languages and German have developed models for describing prosody and syntax and their relation to information structure, both in Swedish and German, as well as other Germanic languages. The research in Japanese has been directed towards theoretical and experimental investigations on the interface between syntax, prosody, and information structure in Japanese. The group's research involves contrastive, comparative and typological studies as well as neurolinguistic investigations. There is a rich seminar environment associated with the network including the Grammar seminar, Research seminars in linguistics, phonetics, and Nordic languages, the Lund Circle of East Asian Languages (LCEAL) seminar series, as well as the new phonology seminar.

Duties

The successful candidate is expected to work independently, but also to cooperate with other researchers within the subject. The postdoc should take part in, and contribute to, the research environment by, among other things, actively participating in the relevant research seminars and other research-related activities, and thereby stimulate theoretical discussion, present their own studies in the area, and contribute to the common work of initiating new research ideas. The postdoc is expected to conduct their research mainly at the workplace in Lund. Teaching, supervision and other teaching-related tasks may occur within the scope of the position; however, this will account for a maximum of 20% of working hours.

Qualifications

A person qualified to be a postdoc has been awarded a PhD or an international qualification deemed equivalent to a doctorate and has completed the degree no more than three years prior to the last date for applications. If the degree was awarded earlier, certification relating to parental leave, illness or similar circumstances should be submitted with the application.

Very good English language skills is a requirement.

Assessment criteria

The expertise to develop and complete high-quality research, and teaching expertise. In the appointment of the postdoc, research expertise is considered to be particularly important. As a basis for the assessment of the applicants’ qualifications, the applicant is to enclose a research plan for the research that is
intended to be conducted within the period of employment. Only applicants whose research plan and previous work can strengthen the research environment are to be considered for appointment as postdoc.

Specific additional qualifications (in order of priority)

• dissertation and/or later publications focusing primarily on one of the areas prosody, syntax, and information structure, or on interfaces between these
• previous experience of research on prosody.

The application should be written in English to enable assessment by an international external expert. It is to contain the following:

• a signed complete curriculum vitae (CV) and attested copy of the PhD degree
• list of publications (including DOI, ISBN or ISSN numbers)
• a signed plan, maximum 1 500 words (excluding literature lists), of the research project the applicant intends to conduct during the period of employment.

The research plan is to contain a description of:

• aim and research question
• theory and method
• relation to the international research front including the most important international work in the field
  of research
• schedule and expected results
• the applicant’s capacity and expertise to conduct the project.

Note: The applicant is responsible for ensuring the application is complete in accordance with the instructions above, that everything has been scanned (as a single PDF file) and that the University receives the application by the application deadline via the recruitment portal.

Conditions
The appointment is a fixed-term position for a maximum of two years and is full time in accordance with “Agreement on fixed-term employment as a postdoc” between labour market parties dated 4 September 2008 (Swedish Agency for Government Employers, OFRs, SACO-S and SEKO).