Postdoc in Cognitive Science

The Department of Linguistics, Cognitive Science and Semiotics within the School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University invites applications for a postdoctoral position in cognitive science. The postdoc position is affiliated with the EU ERC Consolidator project ‘The Evolution of Early Symbolic Behavior – eSYMB’, awarded to associate professor Kristian Tylén.

The postdoc position is a full-time, three-year, fixed-term position. The position begins on 01/09/2022 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The School of Communication and Culture is committed to diversity and encourages all qualified applicants to apply regardless of their personal background.

Project

The eSYMB project aims to establish a novel integrative framework for the investigation of early symbolic evolution, using records from archaeology in behavioural experimental investigations and computational modelling. Starting from the assumption that symbolic artefacts evolve adaptively over time to better fulfil their intended symbolic functions, the project investigates structural changes to symbolic artefacts and their cognitive implications to inform inferences about their past use. The project will thus establish transparent, data-driven methods and criteria to test concrete hypotheses about early human symbolic behaviour from archaeological sites across the world focussing on the later part of human evolution (~150,000 – 12,000 years ago), based on measures critical to symbolic cognition and behaviour. You can read more about the project here.

Postdoc position

The successful applicant will have a background in cognitive science, experimental psychology, experimental semiotics, and/or cultural evolution studies. Your main task will be – in collaboration with the PI and other members of the team – to design behavioural experiments, run data collections and analyse experimental data. The investigation is centred around an elaborate experimental setup using past symbolic artefacts as stimuli and targeting different cognitive dimensions of symbol use to inform inferences about the evolution of human symbolic behaviour.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a PhD degree or must document equivalent qualifications in a relevant field related to cognitive science, experimental psychology, experimental semiotics, and/or cultural evolution studies. Applicants must be able to document, relevant to the position:

• an internationally oriented research profile within cognitive science, documented by a PhD dissertation and/or research publications in relevant peer-reviewed outlets
• experience of experimental data collection
• training in quantitative methods such as programming and statistics
• experience in the self-directed management of research projects
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills, in order to engage productively both within the research team and with external organisations and institutions

Furthermore, it will be considered an advantage if applicants can document

• a track record of research publications of a high international standard, commensurate with the length of the applicant’s academic career
• experience of participation in national and international research networks

Please note that applications that do not include uploaded publications (maximum five) will not be considered.
Although the Aarhus University application system includes an option to upload letters of recommendation, please do not include letters of recommendation or references with the application. Applicants who are invited to an interview may be asked to provide references.

Work environment

Active participation in the daily life of the department is a high priority, and we emphasise the importance of good working relationships, both among colleagues and with our students. In order to maintain and develop the department’s excellent teaching and research environment. 

Deadline: 07 June 2022

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