PhD on How Auditory Processing Difficulties Impact Use and Perception of Visual Signals

Faculty/Services: Faculty of Science

Educational level: Master

Function type: PhD position

Closing date: 1 February 2024

Vacancy number: 12429

Would you enjoy working in an interdisciplinary research setting investigating multimodal language in clinical populations? The Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) is looking for a talented PhD candidate. Your research will be part of the SignLab, in collaboration with the Communicative Brain Lab in Nijmegen.

What are you going to do?

Your project will focus on understanding how the use and processing of multimodal communicative signals (e.g., manual gestures, facial expression, speech) is impacted in individuals who are hard-of-hearing or suffer from central auditory processing disorder, in particular when communicating in noisy environments. To do this, you will analyze naturalistic recordings, perform kinematic analysis of motion data, and carry out language comprehension experiments using behavioral and electroencephalography (EEG)-based paradigms. You will also have the opportunity to build on the theoretical advances made in this project by collaborating with professional and industry partners to develop novel interventions or accommodations.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• conducting independent as well as collaborative research, resulting in academic publications in peer-reviewed international journals and/or conference proceedings;

• actively interacting with relevant academic and non-academic stakeholders;

• assisting in the teaching activities of the institute, including in the supervision of Bachelor and Master thesis projects;

• contributing to community events and outreach activities, including the organization of workshops, contributing to the lab’s website, etc.

What do you have to offer?

You have experience conducting and analyzing behavioral experiments, utilizing time-series and/or multivariate analyses. You are familiar with, or interested in, analyzing data using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. You are a team-player and can communicate with a wide range of relevant stakeholders. You are persistent and self-critical, always want to reach the best result possible.

Your experience and profile:

• Master’s degree in psychology, (psycho)linguistics, (cognitive) neuroscience, artificial intelligence, behavioral science, or a related field

• Some programming (eg, R, Python, Matlab) is highly desirable

• Interest in working with diverse populations

• Interest in multimodal language

• Interest in carrying out qualitative (eg visual coding) and quantitative (eg experiments, motion tracking analysis) research

• Experience or interest in working with industry partners

• High command of academic English.

Our offer

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is March 1, 2024, but a later date is also negotiable. The PhD project should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching and supervising undergraduates and master students.

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between €2,770 to €3,539 (scale P). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile promovendus is applicable. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Besides the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment we offer you multiple fringe benefits:

• 232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime) and extra holidays between Christmas and 1 January;

• multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;

• a complete educational program for PhD students;

• multiple courses on topics such as leadership for academic staff;

• multiple courses on topics such as time management, handling stress and an online learning platform with 100+ different courses;

• 7 weeks birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;

• partly paid parental leave;

• the possibility to set up a workplace at home;

• a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two third part of the contribution;

• the possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch;

• help with housing for a studio or small apartment when you’re moving from abroad.

Are you curious to read more about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits, take a look here.

About us

The University of Amsterdam is the Netherlands' largest university, offering the widest range of academic programmes. At the UvA, 30,000 students, 6,000 staff members and 3,000 PhD candidates study and work in a diverse range of fields, connected by a culture of curiosity.

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 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 at the University of Amsterdam 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, including linguistics, cognitive science, philosophy, computer science and artificial intelligence. ILLC offers an international research environment with world-class faculty in all of its areas of specialization.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

Any questions?

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact:

• James Trujillo: j.p.trujillo@uva.nl

Job application

If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the button below. We accept applications until and including 1 February 2024.

Applications should include the following information (all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file):

• a CV including your educational background, work experience and publications;

• a letter of motivation for this specific position;

• the name and email address of one person who could provide a letter of recommendation.

Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered.

Interviews will be held in February 2024.

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.

If you encounter Error GBB451, reach out to our HR Department directly. They will gladly help you continue your application.