What are you going to do

Your research will mainly focus on the sociophonetic and sociophonological aspects of language contact and change in multilingual ecologies, and the implications for the study of human language, cognition, and communication. We have a special interest in scholars working on less familiar languages and communities. Your research will be part of the Amsterdam Center for Language and Communication (ACLC), https://aclc.uva.nl/. The ACLC prioritises diversity (taken in a holistic sense, e.g., ethnicity, social and/or linguistic background, gender, sexuality) and is committed to creating an inclusive research environment. We are seeking a talented researcher and teacher who can communicate well with the different ACLC research groups, develop interdisciplinary projects, and contribute to research-based teaching. The ACLC is one of the five research schools of the Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research.

You will teach in a dynamic context with ample opportunities for the development of innovative teaching methods. You will contribute to teaching and developing courses involving phonetics, phonology, sociolinguistics, research methods or statistics, and other relevant courses that are part of the BA Linguistics, the BSc Cognition, Language & Communication, the MA Language & Society, the Research MA Linguistics & Communication, or any other relevant programme. These programmes adopt an interdisciplinary approach and you are expected to be open to fields that might not be directly related to your research focus (e.g., foreign languages teaching and cultural linguistics). We welcome your commitment to the development of a stimulating and collaborative educational atmosphere for teachers and students alike.

Tasks and responsibilities
We expect you to engage in:

• Designing and conducting independent research on sociophonetics and sociophonology resulting in academic publications in peer-reviewed international journals and/or books;
• Pursuing external funding for research, notably funding from research councils, national as well as European or international;
• Contributing to and developing (inter)national research networks and collaborative research initiatives;
• Contributing to the research activities of the Amsterdam Center for Language and Communication (ACLC), and the Institute of Logic, Language, and Computation (ILLC, https://www.illc.uva.nl/);
• Developing, coordinating and teaching courses in our international Bachelor and Master programmes in the areas of phonetics, phonology, sociolinguistics and methodology, such as (among others):
  • In the BA Linguistics: Phonetics, Transcription, Sociolinguistics, First Year Group Project, Phonology, Specialization Linguistics; Research Methods & Statistics, Speech Processing;
  • In the BA Cognition, Language and Communication: Designing Research, Statistics in R, Advanced Statistics;
  • In the MA Language & Society: Language in Use, and a new course on sociolinguistic methodologies;
  • In the Research MA Linguistics & Communication: Statistics in Linguistics & Communication.
• Supervising Bachelor and Master theses and tutoring students; co-supervising PhD theses;
• Taking part in committees and working groups, and carrying out departmental administrative tasks as directed.

You are an enthusiastic and dynamic researcher with a strong publication record in sociophonetics/sociophonology, and with an international academic network. Your publications show up-to-date knowledge of phonetics, phonology and sociolinguistics; you have strong methodological skills, show evidence of the ability to carry out experimental and quantitative research, and are capable of handling big data. Your research matches the profile of the ACLC.

You are able to develop and provide teaching modules on phonetics, phonology, sociolinguistics and methodology. Important is proven flexibility in teaching on topics beyond your own research focus, a willingness to work in interdisciplinary teams of teachers and the ability to offer inspiring lectures and tutorials in the BA, MA and minor programmes that aspire to a wide range of students.

Your experience and profile:

• You hold a PhD in linguistics with a clear research focus on sociolinguistic phonetics/phonology;
• You hold an international academic network in the research area concerned;
• Your research output is commensurate with the level of the position;
• You are an enthusiastic and ambitious researcher with a strong publication record;
• You demonstrate the motivation and ability to obtain external research grants;
• You have a broad and relevant teaching experience at BA and MA level;
• You have an excellent command of English. If you do not speak Dutch, an active and passive command must be acquired within two years and the state examination for Dutch as a Second Language programme II must be passed;
• You are familiar with digital and audiovisual teaching methods as well as with IT in university teaching context;
• You have experience in knowledge utilization and practice-based education and/or research;
• You are a good team player and have no difficulty interacting with colleagues in the context of a multidisciplinary co-operation;
• You have very good organisational experience and skills;
• You have acquired the Dutch Basic Teaching Qualification (or equivalent), or are willing to acquire this within the first two years.

We offer permanent employment upon a satisfactory evaluation following a temporary employment contract of a maximum of 18 months with a probationary period of two months. If you already have an employment contract with the UvA, we offer permanent employment upon a satisfactory evaluation following a temporary employment contract of a maximum of 12 months. The employment is for 38 hours per week. Preferred starting date is 1 October 2022.

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and relevant experience, ranges between € 3,974 to € 6,181. This sum does not include the 8% holiday allowance and the 8,3% year-end allowance. A favourable tax agreement, the '30% ruling', may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

We additionally offer:

• The opportunity to collaborate in interdisciplinary teams;
• Numerous opportunities for study and personal development;
• An inspiring academic and international working environment in the heart of Amsterdam.

Faculty of Humanities

The University of Amsterdam is the Netherlands' largest university, offering the widest range of academic programmes. At the UvA, 30,000 students, 6,000 staff members and 3,000 PhD candidates study and work in a diverse range of fields, connected by a culture of curiosity.

The Faculty of Humanities provides education and conducts research with a strong international profile in a large number of disciplines in de field of language and culture. Located in the heart of Amsterdam, the faculty maintains close ties with many cultural institutes in the capital city. Research and teaching staff focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and are active in several teaching programmes.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.