Applications are invited for a full-time 4-year PhD research position (pre-doctoral grant for Formation of Researchers of the Spanish Government – Ayudas para contratos predoctorales para la formación de doctores – FPI) in The Bilingual Mind group in the Dept. of Linguistics and Basque Studies at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz.

The successful applicant will work on a new research project titled Cross-linguistic activation effects in bilingual language processing and learning led by Dr. Kepa Erdozia and Dr. Mikel Santesteban (Official title in Spanish: La activación interlingüística en el cambio de lengua y el aprendizaje de segundas lenguas; Acronym: CROSS-LING; Code: PGC2018-097970-B-I00), founded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (Spanish Government).

Location: Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain)
University: The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)
Starting time: Beginning of 2020
Salary and conditions: 17.185€ per year (gross salary, around 1200€ per month)
……………………………………+ payment of the PhD program tuition fees
……………………………………+ additional financial support for research-related stays abroad (up to 6,250€)
Deadline: On 7th November 2019, 2pm (Spanish time, UTC+2)

Project
This project aims to study important aspects related to bilingual language learning and processing. Although previous research shows that bilinguals are highly efficient at managing the activation of their two languages, it is well documented that cross-linguistic activation affects bilingual speakers’ L2 learning and processing. However, it is still not well understood the extent to which this cross-linguistic activation affects the different processes involved in language use. Thus, part of this project will investigate effects of L1 influence on L2 processing and L2 rule-learning, and another part will investigate the way cross-linguistic activation modulates language control and language selection mechanisms of bilingual speakers and thus affects their decision to switch between languages. We will also investigate whether the costs of processing code-switched sentences affect bilingual speakers’ sentence comprehension. The successful applicant will develop a research project related to these topics and will be able to investigate these issues making use of different experimental paradigms and techniques.

General selection criteria:

• Previous experience in designing, running and analysing psycholinguistic experiments (behavioural, eye-tracking and/or ERPs).
• Motivation to learn about bilingualism, language learning and/or language production/comprehension.
• Background in linguistics, psycholinguistics/neurolinguistics, psychology and/or cognitive psychology.
• Programming skills (R, Python, Matlab).
• Skill in working both independently and as part of a team.
• Good English language skills. (Basque and/or Spanish would be a plus, but is not necessary.)

Applicants must register for the Linguistics PhD program before the beginning of the contract, and have a Master’s degree before signing the contract.
Applicants from outside the EU are welcome to apply but must qualify for a valid visa.

How to apply
Applications should be submitted through the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (link).

Deadline: On 7th November 2019, 2pm (Spanish time, UTC+2)

For informal enquiries about the position and applications, please contact Kepa Erdozia (kepa.erdozia@ehu.eus) or Mikel Santesteban (mikel.santesteban@ehu.eus).

For enquiries about the way to fill in the application, please contact Edurne Petrirena: edurne.petrirena@ehu.eus.

Please pass on to interested parties.