POSTDOCTORAL POSITION -- CENTER FOR LANGUAGE SCIENCE, PENN STATE UNIVERSITY

The Center for Language Science at the Pennsylvania State University invites applications for an anticipated postdoctoral position associated with a new NSF training program, Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE): Bilingualism, mind, and brain: An interdisciplinary program in cognitive psychology, linguistics, and cognitive neuroscience. The program seeks to provide training in research on bilingualism that will include an international perspective and that will take advantage of opportunities for collaborative research conducted with one of our international partner sites in the UK (Bangor, Wales), Germany (Leipzig), Spain (Granada and Barcelona), The Netherlands (Nijmegen), and China (Hong Kong and Beijing) and in conjunction with our two domestic partner sites at Haskins Labs (Yale) and the VL2 Science of Learning Center at Gallaudet University.

The successful candidate will benefit from a highly interactive group of faculty whose interests include language processing, language acquisition in children and adults, and language contact. Applicants with an interest in extending their expertise within experimental psycholinguistics, cognitive neuroscience, or linguistic field research are particularly welcome to apply. There is no expectation that applicants will have had prior experience in research on bilingualism. The time that a candidate will spend abroad will be determined by the nature of their research project and by ongoing collaborative arrangements between Penn State and the partner sites.
Questions about faculty research interests may be directed to relevant core training faculty: Psychology: Judith Kroll, Ping Li, Janet van Hell, and Dan Weiss; Spanish: Giuli Dussias, Chip Gerfen, and John Lipski; German: Richard Page and Carrie Jackson. Administrative questions can be directed to the Director of the Center for Language Science, Judith Kroll: jfk7@psu.edu or to the Chair of the search committee, Janet van Hell: jgv3@psu.edu. More information about the Center for Language Science (CLS) and faculty research programs can be found at http://www.cls.psu.edu.

The initial appointment will be for one year, with the possibility of renewal for the next year. Salary and benefits are set by NSF guidelines. Provisions of the NSF training program limit funding to US citizens and permanent residents.

Applicants should send a CV, several reprints or preprints, and a statement of research interests. This statement should indicate two or more core PIRE faculty members as likely primary and secondary mentors and should describe the candidate's goals for research and training during a postdoctoral position, including directions in which the candidate would like to expand his/her theoretical and methodological expertise in the language sciences and ways in which the opportunity to conduct research abroad with different bilingual populations would enhance those goals. Applicants should also provide names of three recommenders and arrange for letters of recommendation to be sent separately.

Application materials should be sent electronically to pirepostdoc@gmail.com. For fullest consideration, all materials should be received by February 1, 2011. Decisions will be made by March 2011. The appointment can begin any time between May 15 and August 15, 2011. We encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its workforce.