Postdoctoral Research Associate (Developmental Linguistics)

Role Description

The Department of Language and Linguistic Science is seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) in Developmental Linguistics for a fixed term of up to 1 year. The successful applicant will work on a project entitled “Identifying the role of sensorimotor feedback as a mechanism for language learning in the first three years of life” funded by an UKRI grant held by Dr Catherine Laing. The project will examine how infants' vocal development during the first year of life interacts with their early language environment to provide feedback that can be drawn upon in acquiring and developing speech sounds and, ultimately, producing first words. The project will involve working with a cohort of families and their infants aged 2-18 months to collect home-recorded data, with accompanying experiments in the York BabyLab. We will be implementing an existing methodology - ultrasound imaging of the tongue - to a new population - young infants - to understand changes taking place in the speech articulators (in this case, tongue and lips) over the course of development, and how these are affected by different language environments. Ultimately, we are aiming to test whether infants draw on sensorimotor feedback (the simultaneous sensory events experienced during vocal production, such as proprioception, muscular function, and auditory input) to drive their language learning. 

Role 

The post-holder will be required to collect and analyse lingual ultrasound data from infants at various vocal development milestones. You will work alongside the PI to analyse this data in combination with a rich corpus of home-recorded data. You will also collaborate with the PI on dissemination and impact activities.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed 

Candidates should hold a PhD in Linguistics, Psychology or another related field. Candidates with experience of running lingual ultrasound experiments (with adults or children) are especially encouraged to apply; experience working in developmental linguistics or psychology is desirable but not essential.

Interview date: To be confirmed 

For informal enquiries: please contact Catherine Laing on catherine.laing@york.ac.uk

Condition of employment

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Consequently, all applicants will be asked to declare both unspent and spent convictions on their application form.

Appointment of the successful candidate will be conditional on a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive  – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University. 

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork