Postdoctoral researcher in Formal Semantics

Are you a high potential young researcher who recently obtained a PhD degree in Formal Semantics and would you be interested to join the inquisitive semantics group at our institute to investigate how inquisitive content interacts with modal operators and quantifiers in linguistic interpretation? If so, we invite you to apply for this position.

This postdoc position is part of the ERC Starting project: Quantification and Modality in the realm of Questions. The project explores how the inquisitive perspective on meaning extends the boundaries of logic and linguistics, with a particular focus on the domains of quantification and modality, which are central to both enterprises. The approach is highly inter-disciplinary in nature, forging cross-fertilization between the two fields.

What are you going to do?

You will be expected to fulfil the following tasks:

• collaborate with the other researchers working on the project;
• assist with the supervision of PhD candidates and MSc students;
• regularly present research results at international workshops and conferences, and publish them in conference proceedings and journals;
• participate and contribute to the organisation of research activities and events at the institute, such as workshops and colloquia.

While this is primarily a research position, you will have the opportunity to contribute to teaching activities.

What do we require?

You have:

• a PhD degree in Formal Semantics;
• a strong background in Formal Semantics, as witnessed by publications in relevant conference proceedings or journals;
• in-depth knowledge of one of the following areas is a plus: question semantics, modality, quantification;
• strong passion for research and the wish to learn new skills through working with or assisting in guiding PhD and MSc students;
• excellent communication skills in English, both oral and written.

Our offer

Starting date: as soon as possible.

Your appointment has a fixed end-date on 31 August 2021, which is the end-date of the ERC project financing the position. Your full-time gross monthly salary would be between €2,709 and €4,274 gross per month, depending on your experience (salary scale 10). Your annual salary will be supplemented with 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities applies.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Take a look at our website.

Questions?

Do you have questions about this vacancy? Or would you like to know more about our organisation? Please contact:

• Floris Roelofsen

About the Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 6,500, as well as 1,600 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

The Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) is an interdisciplinary research institute that aims at bringing together insights from various fields concerned with information and information processing, such as computational linguistics, computer science, artificial intelligence, logic, philosophy, mathematics, linguistics, cognitive science and music cognition. Its central research area is the study of fundamental principles of encoding, transmission and comprehension of information. It offers an international research environment with world-class faculty in all of its areas of specialization.

Job application

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritise diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

Applications should include (in one single .pdf file, using your surname as the file name):

• a cover letter, including a description of your research interests and accomplishments, as well as an explanation for why you are applying for this position (at most two pages);
• a detailed curriculum vitae (CV), including your list of publications;
• links to three selected publications available online, with a short motivation for the selection made (mature drafts of papers or papers currently under submission are also acceptable);
• a link to your PhD thesis available online (if available already) or an indication of the current status of your PhD thesis;
• the names, affiliations, and email addresses of three people we can contact for letters of reference for you. (NB: we will only contact these referees after we have requested your explicit permission to do so.)
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