PhD candidate Logic, Language and Computation

Are you interested in interdisciplinary research and would you like to work in an interdisciplinary research institute? The ILLC is looking for an excellent PhD candidate who is interested in conducting research in an area within the ILLC that fits naturally in the Faculty of Science.

What are you going to do?

You are expected:

• to complete and defend a PhD thesis within the official appointment duration of four years;
• to give regular presentations of intermediate research results at international workshops and conferences, and publish them in proceedings and journals;
• to collaborate with researchers in other relevant sections of ILLC;
• to participate in the organization of research activities and events at ILLC, such as conferences, workshops and joint publications.

Furthermore, all PhD candidates at ILLC are expected to make a small contribution to the institute’s educational mission, e.g. by working as teaching assistants for courses in their area of expertise, and by assisting with the supervision of student research projects.

What do we require?

• A master’s degree with excellent grades in a relevant field, such as logic, computer science, mathematics, artificial intelligence, linguistics, philosophy, musicology or cognitive science;
• good academic writing and presentation skills;
• good social and organizational skills;
• g strong interest in a scientific career;
• fluency in English, both written and spoken.

Our offer

A temporary employment contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years. The initial appointment will be for a period of 18 months and, after satisfactory evaluation, this will be extended for a further 30 months. The appointment should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of (soft skills) courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.

The salary will be € 2.325 to € 2.972 (scale P) gross per month, based on fulltime (38 hours a week), exclusive 8 % holiday allowance and 8.3 end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Then find out more about working at the Faculty of Science.

Questions?

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

• Dr Luca Incurvati, Director of the ILLC PhD Programme

About the Faculty of Science and the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 7,000, 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 a research institute in which researchers from the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Humanities collaborate. Its central research area is the study of fundamental principles of encoding, transmission and comprehension of information. Research at ILLC is interdisciplinary, and aims at bringing together insights from various disciplines concerned with information and information processing, such as logic, mathematics, computer science, linguistics, natural language processing, cognitive science, artificial intelligence, music cognition, and philosophy.

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.

Do you recognize yourself in the job profile? Then we look forward to receiving your CV and cover letter by 17 February 2020. You may apply online by using the link below.

Applications should include:

• your curriculum vitae;
• a list of grades obtained for your Master (of equivalent) programme; at this stage a certified document is not yet necessary;
• a letter of motivation (max 2 pages) describing (i) your research interests and (ii) some concrete research questions that you would like to work on;
• the name of an ILLC staff member you would like to supervise your PhD project, as well as a motivation for your choice;
• a writing sample, such as a project paper or chapter of a master’s thesis, of up to 10,000 word.

Please supply this information in one single file in .pdf format (not zipped), using your initials and surname as a file name.

Please note the following:

• you may apply even if you have not yet completed your Master’s degree. If this is the case, we need a signed letter from your supervisor stating that you will graduate before 1 September 2020;
• you are strongly encouraged to contact the ILLC staff member whom you have listed as your prospective supervisor to discuss your plans before formally applying.

Completed applications should be submitted by 23:59 hours (CET) on 17 February 2020 via the link below. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

The selection committee will make a shortlist of candidates from all applications received. Candidates on the shortlist will be contacted by the chair of the committee, and will be requested to send a certified document listing their grades. Interviews of shortlisted candidates (if necessary, via Skype) will be held in March. #LI-DNP