Surrey Morphology Group (University of Surrey, UK) has an exciting opportunity for a fully funded PhD in historical linguistics on the subject of change to inflectional morphology.

We invite research proposals investigating morphological change in any language or family, and particularly encourage proposals taking an empirical approach, i.e. involving the collection and analysis of diachronic data. Potential topics for investigation could include (but are not limited to) areas such as:

• Mechanisms or statistical tendencies of morphological change;
• Interactions between morphological change and phonology or syntax;
• Origins of and/or constraints on the development of particular morphological phenomena;
• Effects of sociolinguistic conditions on morphological change.

The Surrey Morphology Group is a world-class research centre dedicated to the study of language diversity and its theoretical consequences. The student will receive comprehensive training and support in a lively and stimulating research environment, working alongside leading researchers on inflectional morphology.

This studentship is part of the project Predicting language evolution: Analogy in morphological change, funded by the Leverhulme Trust. The studentship covers all fees (international fees will be waived) and a maintenance stipend at UKRI rates (currently £17,668 p.a.), and includes a budget for conference travel. Applicants from any country are encouraged to apply.

Start date: 1 October 2023

Application deadline: 31 May 2023

Eligibility criteria

Applicants are expected to hold a good first degree (a minimum 2:1 or equivalent) in Linguistics or a related discipline, and should have training in historical linguistics. Applicants will usually be expected to have an MA or equivalent.

English language requirements: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with 6.0 in Writing, or equivalent. 

How to apply

Apply for a Linguistics PhD with us via the Linguistics programme page on the ‘Apply’ tab (https://www.surrey.ac.uk/postgraduate/linguistics-phd), selecting a full-time PhD starting in October 2023, and mentioning the studentship in your application. As part of your application you will have to upload a CV and a research proposal outlining your research questions and proposed methodology. For all enquiries contact Dr Helen Sims-Williams (h.sims-williams@surrey.ac.uk).

Contact details

Helen Sims-Williams

h.sims-williams@surrey.ac.uk