1.         Grant description and goals:

Descrição da Bolsa e Objectivos a atingir pelo Candidato:

Applications are invited from PhD students with a background in linguistics, psychology or cognitive neuroscience for a PhD research grant within the project Eyes and Brain – Early Markers of Language Development. This project will investigate early markers of language development in European Portuguese, following a multi-methodology approach to a set of potential early markers, using both eye-tracking (ET) and ERP measures. We wil focus on infants and toddlers with no known risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or Specific Language Impairment (SLI), and infants/toddlers with high risk for ASD and SLI. This is a multidisciplinary project that joins a team of researchers in the fields of phonology, phonetics, language acquisition, language impairment, psychology and neurophysiology. More information can be found at http://www.fl.ul.pt//laboratoriofonetica/babylab/english/projects.html .

This research grant is devoted to work on early markers of language development in one or more of the linguistic domains under study (phonetic discrimination, word stress, intonation, word learning), especially on ET measures of early language acquisition in normally developing infants and infants at risk for ASD and SLI. Applicants must have previous experience in infant speech perception research, good knowledge of the respective experimental paradigms, experimental designs and their implementation, as well as of data extraction routines and analysis. Previous experience with eye-tracking research is desirable. It is expected that the successful candidate will strongly contribute to: (i) new fundamental research on ET (and possibly also ERP) measures of early language acquisition in normally developing infants and infants at risk for ASD and SLI; (ii) the definition of early markers of language development, and early markers of risk for ASD and SLI, based on eye-movement; (iii) development of new procedures to study infant speech perception, using ET. He/she should present a PhD research project compatible with the goals of the EBELa Project.

            The successful candidate will be expected to start September 1, 2013 and the post is initially available for one year. The grant can be renewed until the end of the EBELa Project. The grant is regulated by Artº. 5º do Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação – available at http://www.bolseiros.org/pdfs/ L_40_2004.pdf.

2.         Candidate profile:

Categorias de destinatários:

Candidates should have a background in linguistics (phonetics, phonology, language acquisition), psychology or cognitive neuroscience, and a Masters Degree in a relevant field. Previous experience in infant speech perception research is essential. A background in statistical analyses will be a plus. Knowledge of Portuguese is not a must, but some knowledge of Portuguese or a close-related Romance language (e.g., Spanish, Italian) is an advantage. Proficiency in English is required.

3.         Salary:

Componentes financeiras:

Salary will be in accordance with the Portuguese Science Foundation salary scale, specifically 980 € per month, paid by bank transfer.

4.         Applications:

Apresentação das candidaturas:

Closing date for applications: 26^th July 2013. (from 08^th to 26^th July, 2013)

Please email your CV, a motivation letter, a copy of your personal identity document and of your Master Degree certificate to labfon@fl.ul.pt and to sonia.frota@mail.telepac.pt

5.         Selection criteria:

Critérios de avaliação:

The selection criteria are based on the background of the candidates, on their previous experience in in infant speech perception research, and on their personal motivation to apply to the position.

6.         Selection procedure:

Processo de selecção de candidaturas:

The results will be announced within 15 days after the closing date for applications. They will be posted at the Phonetics Lab and Lisbon Baby Lab, and at the FLUL website  (http://www.fl.ul.pt/investigacao/bolsas_flul.html). Candidates will also receive a copy of the results be e-mail.

            Candidates will have ten days from the announcement of the results to present any formal complaint about these.

        A model of the Contract to be signed between the successful candidate and FLUL, as well as the Regulations for Research Grants, are available from Unidade de Projectos e Candidaturas da Divisão de Gestão Financeira e Patrimonial da Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa (the Regulations is also available online at http://www.fl.ul.pt/lex/regulamento_bolsas.htm).