Researcher position - Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language

Experienced Researcher position within the Marie Curie Initial Training Network Language, Cognition, and Gender
BCBL - Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language

The Marie Curie Initial Training Network on Language, Cognition, and Gender (ITN LCG - (www.itn-lcg.eu), funded by the European Commission, comprises 15 Doctoral and 3 Postdoctoral projects at 10 Universities in 7 European countries. ITN LCG aims at investigating the interplay of language, cognition, and gender, for the first time from cross- language and cross-cultural perspectives.
The ITN LCG research programme is organized in four work packages (WP):

How does language shape the cognitive representations of gender (WP A)? How do features of European languages correspond with gender equality in European societies (WP B)? How does language contribute to social behaviour towards the sexes (WP C)? How can gender equality be promoted through strategies for gender-fair language use (WP D)?

Young fellows’ individual projects will be integrated into one comprehensive research and training network. They will be offered an innovative training in a unique combination of scientific methods that span from neuroimaging and electrophysiology over experimental techniques of cognitive and social psychology to linguistic methods of language analysis and scientific training strategies. The network is strongly based on the exchange and transfer of knowledge between academia and public and private organisations and will provide its fellows with network-wide training activities (1 workshop, 2 summer schools) and training-in-collaborations (working visits and secondments).

THE CENTER AND THE BENEFITS
The Fellow will join one of the ITN-LCG partners, the BCBL (Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language – www.bcbl.eu) and will focus his/her research in WP A: How does language shape the cognitive representations of gender? This WP aims to determine the extent to which features of a language such as grammatical gender or gender-typical role names result in gender-related representations in speakers and listeners: a systematic comparison of languages concerning their features that lead to gender-related representations remains to be done. The languages studied in this WP (i.e., Basque, English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish) are particularly suited for this comparative analysis as they differ considerably in their grammatical gender systems.

The BCBL was created at the end of 2008 and, although relatively new, is considered one of the most prestigious laboratories in Spain in the field. The BCBL focuses on 5 main research lines, which include: (i) Language acquisition, representation, and processing, (ii) Multilingualism, (iii) Neurodegeneration, language and learning disorders, (iv) Formal studies of Basque, (v) Advanced methods for cognitive neuroscience. The BCBL investigates different areas of psycholinguistics, and offers an outstanding expertise in this field of research as well as the state-of-the-art necessary infrastructure. The scientific staff of the BCBL has ample experience in investigating language processing on various informational levels (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics etc.). Members of the BCBL are highly skilled in a broad range of research methods, behavioral indices, eye-tracking, computational modeling as well as methods of cognitive neuroscience such as ERP, MEG and fMRI.
The fellow will enjoy full salary employment contract with all social securities (assurances). One year and a half contract plus six months extension (within the Spanish working and salaries conditions) will be offered and moreover, different surcharges as, mobility allowance, travel allowance and career exploratory allowance will be paid. The contract can start in spring 2011, at the earliest convenience of the chosen candidates, once the work permit has been obtained.

REQUIREMENTS
The eligibility conditions for recruitment are the following: Candidates can be nationals of any country other than the country of the host institute where they will carry out their project. Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host university for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment (transmobility requirement). The applicants must have a University Degree and a PhD or at least 4 years of research experience. In all cases eligibility will be determined at the time of recruitment.
We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a strong background in Social Sciences, Linguistics, Psychology, or Neuroscience, an excellent command of English and a high motivation to learn the language studied at the employing institution. We expect a strong interest for and motivation to work on the interplay of language, cognition, and gender, the willingness to invest in interdisciplinary collaboration, and the ability to work in teams.

HOW TO APPLY
This application (in English) should include:
a letter of motivation detailing the candidate's particular scientific experience, knowledge, competencies and interests; a detailed curriculum vitae two academic letters of recommendation.
Closing date for applications 30th April 2011.
The candidates’ dossier should be send as an electronic file to the Project Manager of BCBL, Ms. Ana Fernández (a.fernandez@bcbl.eu). The application dossiers will be forwarded to the partner/s in charge of the respective individual research projects. Review of applications begins just after the closing date for applications.