Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department
Language and Linguistic Science
Based at
University of York - Heslington Campus
Contract status
Fixed term
Salary
£29,541 to £36,298 a year
Role Description
Applications are invited for a 24-month postdoctoral research position based in the newly-created Centre for Linguistic History and Diversity, part of the Department of Language and Linguistic Science at the University of York. The Centre includes an international research collaboration between York, the University of Pennsylvania (USA), and the University of Campinas (Brazil), which aims to develop a unified and integrated approach to language diversity revolving around three fundamental questions:
- How can the mechanisms of language variation through time be investigated?
- What is the potential scope of language diversity (beyond the vocabulary)?
- How did the languages of the world actually diversify from their (pre-)historical ancestors?
The position is intended to develop the computional and mathematical infrastructure for current and planned research projects in the Centre. It involves developing the statistical and computational infrastructure for sophisticated linguistic modelling of large data sets, in the first instance focussed on syntax and morphology, as the basis for advanced research from historical and/or typological perspectives. A strong mathematical and computational background is necessary, as well as a demonstrated interest in addressing issues of comparative linguistic significance.
A significant amount of the funding for the position will be provided through the LANGELIN ERC Advanced Grant project, PI Prof. Giuseppe Longobardi www.york.ac.uk/language/research/projects/langelin/).
An important part of the research to be conducted by the appointee will be concerned with assessing and developing statistical and phylogenetic programs for the morphosyntactic classification of world languages and genealogical reconstruction of their prehistory.
The post is available from 1 January 2014, or as soon as possible thereafter, on a full-time basis for a fixed-term period of 24 months.
The University of York is committed to promoting equality and diversity.
