Collaborative Research Centre 1287 - Limits of Variability in Language: Cognitive, Computational, and Grammatical Aspects

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Application for Short-Term Fellowships available in 2024

The linguistic system exhibits a high degree of variability at all levels of linguistic description. This variability in language can be characterised as a range of different possible linguistic behaviours that are available to an individual language user, a group of language users, or in specific languages. The variability is limited by the constraints of the underlying linguistic system and shaped by cognitive and social or communicative factors. This variability is not just reducible to random noise but provides an important source of information to explain and predict linguistic behaviour. By modelling the factors influencing linguistic behaviours, the CRC (22 PIs in 15 scientific projects, one transfer project, and three service projects) contributes to a better understanding of the underlying mental representations and processing architectures in individual language users, as well as of the grammatical options available in individual languages and specific linguistic varieties, and options shared by particular subgroups of languages users.

The CRC provides a fantastic research infrastructure including a large interdisciplinary network of researchers and its own graduate school (the MGK – Integrated Research Training Group).

We are offering several three- to four-month fellowships to PhD candidates from non-German universities who would like to carry out a collaborative research project within one of the projects of the CRC. Please see the available projects here: https://www.sfb1287.uni-potsdam.de/en/overview/.

The monthly fellowship is tax exempt and covers a basic amount (1365 EUR) plus direct costs (103 EUR) plus 400 EUR per child, if applicable. Holders of the grant need to cover health insurance on their own.

The University of Potsdam has a vibrant and interdisciplinary scientific community spanning many disciplines, including leading groups in the field of cognitive sciences (https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/cognitive-sciences/index). The University is located in the city of Potsdam, which is connected to Berlin city centre via a quick 30-minute train ride. Potsdam is an attractive historical city and its palaces are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Both cities are culturally vibrant and offer an unparalleled quality of life, as well as affordable cost of living.

The University of Potsdam values the diversity of its members and pursues the goals of equal opportunities regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity. In the case of equal suitability, women in accordance with Section 7 (4) BbgHG and people with a severe disability will be given preferential consideration.

The fellowships require completed academic studies at an institute of higher learning (Master’s degree or equivalent) and enrolment in a PhD programme. Furthermore, before submitting the application, candidates must have approached the principal investigators in their project of interest with a developed proposal detailing (a) what they would do during their stay, and (b) how this relates to the aims of the CRC project. Applications that do not meet these criteria will not be accepted.

Please send your application as a single PDF file to mgk-sfb1287@uni-potsdam.de. This must include:

  • a short letter of motivation (max. 1 page)
  • a research proposal and timeline for the duration of the stay (2-4 pages)
  • a full CV including
    • academic transcripts,
    • list of publications/talks/presentations,
    • a web-link to a copy of the Master’s thesis, and o names and e-mail addresses of two referees.

Additionally, the research proposal should have a title and state which project within the CRC the short-term researcher wants to be affiliated with (e.g., “B01”).

The deadline for the application for a fellowship in 2024 is September 30, 2023. Late applications may be considered if positions are unfilled.

For further details please contact the MGK coordinator, Raúl Bendezú, at mgk-sfb1287@uni-potsdam.de.

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