PostDoc position in Linguistics

IT-Systemhaus der Bundesagentur für Arbeit; Konstanz; Vor Ort; EUR 60.000 - 80.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading research university in Germany is seeking a PostDoc in Linguistics to conduct research on the role of silence and noise in language perception. The role involves analyzing infant-directed speech, conducting eye-tracking experiments, and supervising student assistants. The ideal candidate will hold a PhD in linguistics or a related field and possess strong English skills. This full-time position offers opportunities for career development in an interdisciplinary environment.

Leistungen

Opportunities for further training

Research support by student assistants

Excellent career coaching

Qualifikationen

• A very good PhD degree in linguistics, language acquisition, speech and language processing, phonetics, psycholinguistics or equivalent.
• Strong written and oral English language skills (B2 or higher).
• Experience with statistical data analysis in R.

Aufgaben

• Conduct eye-tracking experiments with children and adults.
• Supervise student assistants in recruitment and testing.
• Publish research findings based on collected data.

Kenntnisse

Prosodically analysing infant-directed speech

Statistical data analysis in R

Written and oral English skills (B2 or higher)

Good command of German

Analyzing prosody and/or (infant) eye-tracking

Ausbildung

PhD degree in linguistics or related field

Jobbeschreibung

PostDoc position in Linguistics

### (full-time, E 13 TV-L)

Reference no.: 2026/009. The start date is 1st April 2026 or soon thereafter. The position is available until the end of 2029. In principle, this position can be divided into two part-time positions.

The University of Konstanz is a dynamic and internationally successful research university with approximately 10,000 students. The campus university’s architecture promotes interdisciplinary cooperation and a sense of community among researchers, lecturers and students. The University of Konstanz has been continuously funded by the German Excellence Strategy since 2006.

The newly granted SFB 1760 (https://www.ling.uni-konstanz.de/sfb1760/) investigates the role of silence and noise in our capacity for perceiving, learning and producing linguistic signals. The first phase will run from April 2026 to December 2029 and encompasses a wide variety of theoretical, experimental, computational and empirical research within linguistics, in collaboration with projects from computer science, computational social science, media studies and sociology. Project B05 (“Children’s Tuning in to Word Recognition”) investigates whether variability in pitch accent and voice quality affects the use of these cues in word recognition in young children (18-month-olds, 20-month-olds, 22-month-olds) and adults. It analyzes natural variability in the children’s input, manipulates short-term exposure and correlates variability with eye‑tracking data.

Your Responsibilities

• Prosodically analyse infant‑directed speech and code verbal and non‑verbal behaviour of children
• Prepare materials for exposure phases with different kinds of variability in pitch accents and voice quality
• Set up and conduct eye‑tracking experiments with children and adults
• Supervise student assistants to help in recruitment, database management, testing, child coding and documentation
• Publish research findings
• A very good PhD degree in linguistics, language acquisition, speech and language processing, phonetics, psycholinguistics or equivalent
• Strong written and oral English language skills (B2 or higher)
• Good command of German (to communicate with parents) and good communication skills
• Experience with statistical data analysis in R (mixed effects modeling, Bayesian statistics or general additive modeling)
• Experience with analysing prosody and/or with (infant) eye‑tracking

We Offer

• An open, motivated research team and interdisciplinary research environment
• Opportunities for further training and collaboration with other local research groups
• Many possibilities to expand and develop your CV (e.g. possibilities to contribute in supervision of BA and MA projects)
• Research support by student assistants
• Excellent career and equal opportunity coaching

Applications should contain:

1. a short motivation letter
2. an academic CV
3. copies of all previous degrees
4. the names and email addresses of two academic referees (one from the supervisor of the PhD thesis).

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The University of Konstanz is committed to ensuring an environment that provides equal opportunities and promotes diversity, as well as a good balance between university and family life. As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to increase the number of women working in research and teaching. We also support working couples through our dual career programme. Persons with disabilities are explicitly encouraged to apply. They will be given preference if appropriately qualified (contact [e-mail], + 49 7531 88‑4016).