IMPRS PhD Fellowships 2025

PhD
IMPRS Fellowships Language and Genetics Multimodal Language Department
full-time part-time

The International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Language Sciences is offering two fully-funded PhD Fellowship for four years (2025-2029) with a preferred start-date in September or October, 2025.

The IMPRS for Language Sciences invites applications for TWO PhD fellowships that are funded by the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science. The goal of the scheme is to enable young researchers to pursue interdisciplinary research projects in the language sciences, supervised by leading scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics and its partner institutes at the Radboud University -- the Centre for Language Studies and the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour.

For the current round, the hiring departments -- Language & Genetics and Multimodal Language -- are looking to fill one position each. Please consult the project listings further below for more information.
 

What we offer you

  • The position is intended to begin in Sep-Oct 2025; start-date is negotiable but the candidate should be in place by the end of 2025.
  • Full-time position (39 hours per week) for 4 years; part-time option negotiable.
  • Salary determined according to the German TVöD (Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst) and is classified in salary group/level E13, 65% of level 1. The current gross monthly salary is approx. €3,008.69 based on full-time employment, plus a holiday bonus of 8% of the gross salary (€38,992.00 gross per year, including holiday bonus).
  • 30 holidays per year, based on full-time employment; in addition, we honor the Dutch and German public holidays.
  • Enrollment in a personal pension scheme to which both employer and employee pay a monthly contribution.
  • Access to state-of-the art research and training facilities and a generous conference and travel budget. 
  • Educational training programme provided by the International Max Planck Research School for Language Sciences.
  • Doctoral degree conferred by Radboud University, our partner university.

 

The employer

About our institute

The Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics is a world-leading research institute devoted to interdisciplinary studies of the science of language and communication, including departments on genetics, psychology, development, neurobiology and multimodality of these fundamental human abilities.

We investigate how children and adults acquire their language(s), how speaking and listening happen in real time, how the brain processes language, how the human genome contributes to building a language-ready brain, how multiple modalities (as in speech, gesture and sign) shape language and its use in diverse languages and how language is related to cognition and culture, and shaped by evolution.

We are part of the Max Planck Society, an independent non-governmental association of German-funded research institutes dedicated to fundamental research in the natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and the humanities.

The Max Planck Society is an equal opportunities employer. We recognise the positive value of diversity and inclusion, promote equity and challenge discrimination. We aim to provide a working environment with room for differences, where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Therefore, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Our institute is situated on the campus of the Radboud University and has close collaborative links with the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and the Centre for Language Studies at Radboud University. We also work closely with other child development researchers as part of the Baby & Child Research Center.

About our graduate school

The IMPRS for Language Sciences is a joint initiative of the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics and two research institutes based at Radboud University -- the Centre for Language Studies and the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour. The graduate school serves to bring together outstanding doctoral students from diverse disciplines in the language sciences on campus, and offer them high-quality training in an environment that both broadens their interdisciplinary experience and prepares them for fulfilling careers in the language sciences.

Our education and training programme involves both core and individually chosen coursework to complement the PhD research, and training in soft skills such as writing and presentation. Learn more here.


How to apply

Please consult the FAQs below for more information on the timeline and other potential updates in the coming period.
Kindly make use of the provided templates for the cv and letter of motivation. The application portal is accessible here.

 

Language & Genetics Project 1

Supervisory Team

 

Genetic architecture of the human language network

This project investigates the intricate relationship between genetics and the connectional anatomy of the perisylvian language network in the human brain. To do so, we will employ advanced neuroimaging techniques to map neural circuits implicated in language processing, characterise interindividual differences in their properties (HMOA, FA, Volume), and associate these with variation at the DNA level, using a range of resources, including publicly available cohorts (e.g. the UK Biobank) and in-house (e.g. our Language in Interaction dataset).


Findings will be integrated with (i) prior genome-wide association studies of language-related phenotypes, (ii) data on spatiotemporal gene expression in the human brain, (iii) evolutionary/comparative genomic signatures. Ultimately, this project seeks to enhance our understanding of the biological underpinnings of human language, with far-reaching implications for both clinical practice and fundamental neuroscience.

 

Recommended Readings

 

Essentials

  • A finished (or soon-to-be finished) Masters* degree in a field with clear relevance for neuroimaging and/or genetic analyses. *see also FAQ #09
  • Skills in basic programming.
  • Creative problem-solving attitude.
  • Willingness to learn new methods through guidance from colleagues, on-line resources, and training courses as needed.
  • Critical, careful and responsible approach to scientific research, placing emphasis on robustness and reproducibility of results.
  • Ability to clearly communicate research plans and outcomes to others, in spoken and written form.
  • Interest in bridging scientific fields and working together with researchers from a wide range of backgrounds.

 

Desirables

  • For imagers, previous experience of working with relevant databases (e.g. HCP, UK Biobank, EBrains), applying diffusion-weighted imaging/ tractography experience, and/or embedding tools (e.g. UMAP).
  • For geneticists, experience/familiarity with the standard bioinformatics tools used for analysing human genomics datasets.
  • Advanced programming skills.
  • Knowledge of structural/connectional brain anatomy and foundations of human biology.

 

 

Language & Genetics Project 2

Supervisory Team

 

Mapping language-relevant genetic effects on brain variability using normative modelling

Recent studies have identified genetic influences on brain and behavioural traits that are relevant for the human capacity for language, including speech and language-related disorders, hemispheric asymmetry, and/or recently evolved brain features. However, genetic studies of language-related disorders have usually lacked brain image data, while brain imaging genetic studies typically focus on group average differences. It is likely that various genetic effects are associated with somewhat distinct alterations of the brain across different individuals, for example when due to reduced developmental control, but this possibility remains largely unexplored.

In this project we will apply state-of-the-art normative modelling approaches to large-scale brain imaging and DNA data from the general population, to map heterogeneous effects of language-relevant genetic variants on the human brain. Normative modelling is particularly powerful for studying effects of rare genetic variants, since it allows inferences to be made at the level of the individual, opening up new possibilities for understanding language neurobiology.

 

Recommended Readings

 

Essentials

  • A finished or soon-to-be completed Masters* degree in a field with clear relevance for carrying out brain imaging genetics in large-scale data. *see also FAQ #09
  • Proficiency in programming in languages such as Python, R, Matlab or C++.
  • Experience with statistical analysis and machine learning.
  • Willingness to learn new methods in neuroimage data analysis, bioinformatics, statistics and genomic data analysis, through guidance from colleagues, on-line resources, and training courses as needed.
  • Critical, careful and responsible approach to scientific research, placing emphasis on robustness and reproducibility of results.
  • Ability to clearly communicate research plans and outcomes to others, in spoken and written form.
  • Interest in bridging scientific fields and working together with researchers from a wide range of backgrounds.

 

Desirables

  • Previous experience of either brain imaging data analysis, omic-scale bioinformatics and data analysis, or neurogenetics research.

 

Multimodal Language Project 1

Supervisory Team

 

Interaction between gestures and prosody in information packaging: The case of focus marking

Human communication is inherently multimodal, with gestures (hand, head, facial) and prosodic features (fundamental frequency, intensity, and duration) playing a crucial role in shaping interactions. Both modalities contribute to the phenomenon of information packaging, particularly in focus marking, which highlights the most important elements of discourse. For example, speakers often emphasize new information in conversation through pitch accents and by raising their eyebrows.

This interdisciplinary project aims to investigate gesture and prosody as means of focus marking, as well as their interaction during communication. The target languages for investigation include English, Dutch, Greek, and Turkish. The project may focus on one of these languages, conduct a comparative analysis between them, or extend to the exploration of other languages and bilingualism. The project adopts a multi-method approach, combining quantitative and qualitative corpus analysis with experimental validation in multimodal communication.

 

Recommended Readings

 Essentials

  • A finished (or soon-to-be finished) Master’s* degree in a relevant field such as linguistics, experimental psychology, cognitive science, data science, or a related discipline. *see also FAQ #09
  • Prior experience of research activities in phonetics and visual communication, including data analysis of auditory and/or kinematic measures.
  • Linguistic and conceptual knowledge in one of the following languages: English, Dutch, Greek or Turkish.
  • Willingness to learn new experimental methods through guidance from colleagues, on-line resources, and training courses as needed.
  • Ability to clearly communicate research plans and outcomes to others, in spoken and written form.
  • Interest in bridging scientific fields and working together with researchers from a wide range of backgrounds.

 

 Desirables

  • A background in corpus linguistics and/or neuro- and psycholinguistics.
  • Affinity with computational linguistics and proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, Matlab or C++.
  • Experience with data coding and analysis tools such as ELAN, Praat, or Red Hen Rapid Annotator.

     

Multimodal Language Project 2

Supervisory Team

 Multimodal Interaction in Adult Neurogenic Communication Disorders

Language is inherently multimodal, interactive, and situated in rich, dynamic contexts. Yet, these aspects of human language have been understudied in individuals with adult neurogenic communication disorders, such as aphasia, dementia, and other cognitive-communication disorders. As a result, we know very little about the functional communication abilities of these populations, how conversation partners jointly collaborate across modalities to resolve communication breakdowns, and the impact of neural damage on flexible, multimodal language use.

This project aims to fill this gap by collecting and analyzing a video corpus of interaction between adults with neurogenic communication disorders (such as, but not limited to, aphasia) and their familiar communication partners. We will investigate how interlocutors employ multimodal strategies (e.g., gestures, facial expressions, gaze, verbal cues) to achieve mutual understanding and enhance communicative efficiency in these interactions. Ultimately, this project seeks to enhance our understanding of the division of labor between modalities in individuals with neurogenic communication disorders and the cognitive and neural mechanisms that support multimodal language use.

 

Recommended Readings

 

Essentials

  • A finished (or soon-to-be finished) Masters* degree in a relevant field such as cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychology, experimental psychology, multimodal linguistics (e.g., gesture), clinical linguistics, psycholinguistics. *see also FAQ #09
  • Interest in bridging scientific fields and working together with researchers from a wide range of backgrounds.
  • Willingness to learn new methods through guidance from colleagues, on-line resources, and training courses as needed.
  • Critical, careful and responsible approach to scientific research, placing emphasis on robustness and reproducibility of results.
  • Excellent command of written and spoken English and the ability to clearly communicate research plans and outcomes to others.

     

 Desirables

  • Prior clinical or research experience with adult neurogenic communication disorders
  • Prior experience with psycholinguistics or multimodal communication
  • Affinity for programming (e.g., R, Python) and experience with corpus-linguistic tools for data coding and analysis (e.g., ELAN, Praat, Red Hen Rapid Annotator)

 

FAQs | Last Updated: 17 Dec 2024

Update history:
[17 Dec] A note on the upcoming office closure during the festive break was added below.

 

Please study this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section thoroughly.

Should any questions remain unanswered, please get in touch with the IMPRS Coordinator, dr. Kevin Lam, by e-mail. Due to the festive break, there will be no replies to e-mails received from 20 Dec 2024 to 02 Jan 2025.

Kindly note that all information presented here is subject to change without advance notice. We invite you to check back regularly for the latest details.

 

01. What is the timeline?

Tentative Schedule

Full advert posted

31 Oct 2024

Application portal opens

01 Nov

Application deadline

6 Jan 2025

 

 

Shortlisted candidates invited

14 Feb

Referees of shortlisted candidates contacted to complete a reference form

14 Feb

Reference form submission deadline

21 Feb

 

 

 

Informal conversations with department IMPRSers       

17 Feb – 14 Mar

Informal conversation with selection committee and potential supervisors        

17 Feb – 14 Mar

Notice of offers & rejections sent

31 Mar

 

02. How do I submit my application and what needs to be included in the application?

You are required to submit your application via the portal.
In order for an application to be considered for review, it must contain the following:

  • a curriculum vitae (using our template)
  • a letter of motivation (using our template)
  • one-page summary of your master's thesis, and
  • supporting documents, such as academic degrees, certificates, diplomas and transcripts.

 

A photo is not required. In fact, we encourage you to remove any photos from your application.

IMPORTANT: Consult the remaining FAQ items to ensure that your application is complete and meets the requirements to be considered for review.

 

03. What information must be included in the curriculum vitae and letter of motivation?

To ensure you provide all the necessary information we will need for the review process, please make use of the provided templates. Note that we provide useful comments within each file to help you complete your application properly. Should these comments not be visible, please consult this webpage.

 

04. May I apply to more than 1 project?

Language & Genetics: You may apply to BOTH projects. In your letter of motivation, please rank each project clearly and state your reasons for this ranking. Please submit ONE letter of motivation per project within the same application.

Multimodal Language: You may apply to only ONE project.

 

05. Do I need to include transcripts from my bachelor and/or master studies? What if I do not have official transcripts in English / Dutch / German?

Yes, please enclose official transcripts (in English, Dutch or German) of all your degree-level studies.

Documents in languages other than English, Dutch or German must be translated into any of the aforementioned languages. We apologise for any inconveniences this may cause.

For the application, you may submit a tentative non-certified English / Dutch / German translation of the document(s). The original document(s) must be included in your application.

Certified true or notarised copies (including translated ones) must be promptly provided upon request when the applicant is invited for an interview. Ultimately, these versions will be required in order for an official offer of employment to be made and to be issued a contract of employment at the MPI for Psycholinguistics.

 

06. Am I required to submit a certificate of English proficiency?

Solid knowledge of the English language (CEFR B2 level) is necessary. However, we do not require proof of English language proficiency by means of a language test. Nevertheless, you may include the result of any such test if you have already taken one.

 

07. Am I required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test?

No, we do not require any GRE scores. Nevertheless, you may include the result of any such test if you have already taken one.

 

08. May I apply while still completing my current academic degree?

Certainly! Please be sure to include a transcript of records that includes the grades of all coursework completed so far. Do note that if your application is successful, you are required to provide the original final transcript and your academic certificates (as well as certified translations if these are not in English, Dutch or German) no later than the time of admission into the graduate school.

 

09. What counts as an equivalent of a (research) masters degree?

Applicants who are completing, or have completed, a 4-year thesis-based Bachelor Honours degree may be considered for our Fellowships. Such degrees may be recognised by the conferring institution as equivalents of masters degree for the purpose of admission into a PhD programme. If this applies to you, please be sure to include an official signed confirmation statement from your institution as part of your supporting documents. We will review all such applications on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that the degree's graduating requirement must include a year-long individual research project supervised by a faculty member, which culminates in a written thesis in the final year. Moreover, evidence of substantial relevant research experience in the intended research topic(s) is desirable.

 

10. May I complete the doctoral programme on a part-time basis?

Yes, there is the opportunity to do so. We invite you to discuss this with the supervisory team, should you be invited for an interview.

 

11. Are there opportunities to acquire teaching experience?

Though you will not be required to teach as part of your contract, we provide our IMPRS members with opportunities to teach within and outside the IMPRS community. Such opportunities include workshops, lectures, courses as well as guest lectures at the Radboud University. If you have interest in making use of these opportunities, we invite you to have a conversation about this with the supervisory team, should you be invited for an interview.

 

12. Who confers the doctoral degree upon graduation?

The doctoral degree will be conferred by one of the faculties at Radboud University.

 

13. If successful, will I get help with finding accommodation?

For applicants arriving for the first time in the Netherlands, we can assist you in finding appropriate temporary accommodation, e.g., at the campus guest house. Nevertheless, we cannot guarantee housing in time for your arrival, given the scarce availability. You are strongly advised to actively search for housing on your own and not rely solely on our support. Ultimately, the successful applicant is responsible for arranging their own accommodation for the duration of their PhD project.

 

 

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