Job description

2-3 Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships (SKO 1352) in Developmental Pragmatics are available at the Department of Philosophy, Classics, History of Art and Ideas, University of Oslo. The fellowships are associated with two different projects and the applications should address the specifics of these (particulars below). The projects will work towards the same overarching goal of providing new theoretical and empirical insights into pragmatic development and non-literal uses of language. Both projects are led by Ingrid Lossius Falkum and there will be a joint project team.

Two 3-year positions are funded by the European Research Council (ERC) and associated with the project DEVCOM - The Developing Communicator: Pragmatics, Sense Conventions and Non-Literal Uses of Language (ERC StG no. 853211), led by Ingrid Lossius Falkum. DEVCOM aims to provide an account of the stages and factors involved in children’s developing pragmatic competence with non-literal uses of language, focusing on both production and comprehension. DEVCOM investigates the hypothesis that children’s growing sensitivity to sense conventions, which determine the publicly accepted meaning of words in their language, impedes their pragmatic reasoning with non-literal uses in the pre-school years. The empirical data will be gleaned from experimental studies with typically developing children and children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, using eye-tracking, elicitation and behavioral paradigms.

One further 2.5-year position, with a possibility of extension, is funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN) and associated with the project Creativity and Convention in Pragmatic Development: Typical and Atypical Perspectives (FINNUT project no. 302083), led by Ingrid Lossius Falkum. The overarching framework is shared with DEVCOM but the project focuses more specifically on the atypical pragmatic development in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

More about the position

The research fellows will conduct experimental research in one of the following areas:

1) The development of lexical innovation (typical and/or atypical), where speakers create new word forms from existing ones (e.g., denominal verbs, noun-noun compounds, metonymic uses)

2) The development of lexical modulation (typical and/or atypical), cases where the speaker’s communicated meaning involves an adjustment of the literal meaning (e.g., in the form of narrowing or broadening of conceptual content).

Applicants should indicate the area chosen in their application. Project proposals should be framed within the overall framework of DEVCOM and/or Creativity and Convention in Pragmatic Development, and applicants should be familiar with the projects' contents and objectives. For more information about the projects, see the project websites. If you have any questions, please contact Principal Investigator Ingrid Lossius Falkum, i.l.falkum@ifikk.uio.no.

The project group will have access to the Socio-Cognitive Laboratory of the Center for Multilingualism in Society across the Lifespan (MultiLing), located in the Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies. MultiLing’s Socio-Cognitive Laboratory has an eye-tracker, an EEG system, and a video studio https://www.hf.uio.no/multiling/english/topics/lab/.

There is a possibility for a 10 % component of the positions being devoted to teaching and administrative duties.

The successful candidates are expected to become part of the research environment and network and contribute to its development. The main purpose of postdoctoral research fellowships is to qualify researchers for work in higher academic positions within their disciplines.

Qualification requirements

• PhD or equivalent academic qualifications with a specialization in pragmatics (theoretical, experimental or developmental), psycholinguistics, developmental psychology, pedagogy, autism research or other areas relevant to the project.
• The candidate's research project must be closely related to DEVCOM and/or Creativity and Convention in Pragmatic Development.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English. Proficiency in a Scandinavian language is an advantage.
• Personal suitability and motivation for the position.

Appointment is dependent on the public defense of the doctoral thesis being approved.

Applicants who are or have previously been employed as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (SKO 1352) at the University of Oslo cannot be hired in another Post-Doctoral fellowship. Such candidates are eligible for a position as Researcher (SKO 1109). In that case, the percentage of teaching and administrative duties is not applicable.

In the evaluation of the applications, emphasis will be placed on:

• The project’s scientific merit, research-related relevance and innovation
• The applicant’s estimated academic and personal ability to carry out the project within the time frame and contribute to the research of the project team
• Good co-operative skills, and an ability to join interdisciplinary academic communities.

We offer

• Salary NOK 523 200 – 605 500 per annum depending on qualifications
• Budget for travel and research assistance
• A professionally stimulating working environment
• Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Attractive welfare benefits, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include

• Application letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and motivation for the position
• Curriculum Vitae with a list of education, positions, teaching experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities
• List of publications
• Project description (3 - 5 pages). The project description must present a feasible progress plan. It is expected that the applicant will be able to complete the project during the period of appointment
• Up to 3 academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered (these can be dissertation chapters)
• Copies of educational certificates (PhD, MA)

Please note that all documents must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented academic qualifications, the project description, and the quality of the project as well as the candidate's motivation and personal suitability.

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, Jobbnorge.

The short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview. The successful candidates are expected to start in the autumn of 2020, although a different starting date may be negotiable.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Fellow period at the University of Oslo.

Following the Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) § 25, Chapter 2, information about the applicant may be used in the public list of applicants even if the applicant opts out from the entry in the public application list.

The University of Oslo has an Acquisition of Rights Agreement for the purpose of securing rights to intellectual property created by its employees, including research results.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contact information

For questions about the position:

• Associate Professor Ingrid Lossius Falkum, e-mail: i.l.falkum@ifikk.uio.no

For questions on how to apply:

• HR Officer Julie Tøllefsen

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