Research Fellow in Language Data Science

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The role

We are seeking qualified applicants for a position as Language Data Scientist on the ERC Synergy grant ‘NILOMORPH: The evolution of suprasegmental morphology in West Nilotic’, led by Matthew Baerman. The successful candidate will perform a key role in managing, processing and analyzing language data generated across the multiple teams that make up the project. The position is based at the Surrey Morphology Group at the University of Surrey, in Guildford, UK, and provides the opportunity to work in the vibrant and highly collegial research environment for which the SMG is renowned.

Background

The NILOMORPH project aims to reconstruct the morphological evolution of the West Nilotic languages, spoken primarily in South Sudan and neighboring countries. These languages have developed some of the most remarkable morphological systems on the planet, where simultaneous manipulation of multiple phonological features (vowel length, vowel height, tone, phonation type) results in enormous paradigms marked solely by the modulation of vowel properties. 

The NILOMORPH combines fieldwork, experimental methods, and historical linguistics to account for the phonological, morphological and psycholinguistic pathways that led to this unique outcome. The project is spread across multiple teams, based in the UK, France, Germany and the USA, and will make use of a diverse range of language data taken from multiple sources: ongoing fieldwork, previous studies, text corpora and newly-generated reconstructions, as well as well as the results of computational simulations and artificial language learning experiments.

Responsiblities

The successful candidate will develop and execute a set of data management and analysis tools will enable the diverse international team of researchers to create, access and manipulate the language data that is central to the NILOMORPH project.

 As a core member of the Surrey-based team, the successful candidate will provide expert guidance on methods and tools for data analysis, including data design, data management protocols and statistical analysis. They will collaborate closely in the writing and dissemination of papers and presentations, and be expected to take initiative in the formulation of the research agenda.

 They will also participate in the broader activities both of the NILOMORPH group and of the Surrey Morphology Group (SMG). The candidate will have opportunities at SMG to develop their research leadership profile while interacting with world-class researchers. 

About you

Suitable candidates with a background in linguistics (or linguistics-adjacent fields) are strongly encouraged to apply. Please refer to the full job description, under ‘Addendum’ for essential and desirable criteria. 

How to apply

The following documents will be required:

• CV
• Contact details for 2 academic/industry referees.
• Three relevant works of research (DOI/URL links if possible).
• Research statement of one page, describing research interests and experience, and how you think this makes you suitable for the advertised post.
• A completed application form 

Interviews are planned for 02 September 2025 and will be held online. Please contact Matthew Baerman m.baerman@surrey.ac.uk with any questions.

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