JOB: PhD student and Postdoc Position, Leiden University
Subject:
JOB: PhD student and Postdoc Position, Leiden University
Application
deadline: Nov 23, 2012
The
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) will be
funding
the Horizon research project ‘Knowledge and Culture’. This
project
will be carried out as a collaboration between the Leiden
University
Centre for Linguistics (LUCL), the Leiden University Centre
for Arts
in Society (LUCAS), the Meertens Institute (KNAW), and the
University
of Amsterdam (UvA). The Leiden University Centre for
Linguistics
(LUCL) of the Faculty of Humanities at Leiden University
will be
coordinating the research project.
Within
this project we are looking for:
A PhD
STUDENT IN ART HISTORY
(4
years, 38 hrs a week)
A
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER IN ART HISTORY
(3
years, 38 hrs a week)
(Please
scroll down for Postdoc position)
A PhD
student in art history
1.
Background
In
various domains of cognitive science, a new paradigm holds that
humans
and non-human animals are born with a small set of hard-wired
cognitive
abilities that are task-specific, language-independent, and
non-species-specific.
These core knowledge systems are innate cognitive
skills
that have the capacity for building mental representations of
objects,
persons, spatial relationships, numerosity, and social
interaction.
In addition to core knowledge systems, humans possess
species-specific,
uniquely human abilities such as language and music.
The
‘core knowledge’ paradigm challenges scholars in the humanities
to ask
the question how nurture and culture build on nature. This
project
examines the way in which innate, non specifically human, core
knowledge
systems for object representation, number, and geometry
constrain
cultural expressions in music, language, and the visual arts.
In this
research program, four domains of the humanities will be
investigated
from the point of view of core knowledge:
-
subproject 1: music cognition
(1PhD student, 1 Postdoc, teamleader: Prof.dr
H. Honing)
-
subproject 2: language and number
(1PhD student, 1 Postdoc, teamleader: Prof.dr
S. Barbiers)
-
subproject 3: visual arts and geometry
(1PhD student, 1 Postdoc, teamleaders:
Prof.dr.ir M. Delbeke &
Prof.dr C. van Eck)
-
subproject 4: poetry, rhythm, and meter (1PhD student, 1 Postdoc)
(1PhD student, 1 Postdoc, teamleader: Prof.dr
M. van Oostendorp)
2.
PhD-project: Universal decorative patterns and geometrical core
knowledge
As a part of the subproject on visual arts and geometry, this
project
seeks to establish what universals in decorative patterns can
teach us
about aspects of geometric core knowledge and of the geometric
systems
building on core knowledge. This research will be informed by
existing
research on the acquisition of geometric concepts in young
children.
This
project is therefore radically interdisciplinary, bringing
together
expertise from anthropology, art history, developmental
psychology
and the acquisition of geometry.
3.
Embedding
The
PhD-student will participate in and contribute to a research team
comprising
a total of 4 PhD students and 4 Postdocs in four teams
corresponding
to the subprojects outlined above. The entire project is
coordinated
by Prof.dr. Johan Rooryck at Leiden University. The PhD
student
will work in the research institutes LUCL (Prof.dr. Johan
Rooryck)
and LUCAS (Prof.dr. Caroline van Eck, Prof.dr.ir. Maarten
Delbeke)
at Leiden University. The project will start on 1 February
2013.
For more information, please see the full description of the
project
at
university.html
4. Your
profile
We are
looking for someone who:
- holds
a Master's or equivalent degree in art or architectural
history. Students who are close to finishing
their Master’s program
are also welcome to apply.
- has a
demonstrable interest in the general topic of this Horizon
program, as well as in the sub-project
proper, in particular the
psychological aspects of pattern recognition.
- has a
Master's thesis that shows evidence of expertise in recent
developments in psychological and
art-historical views on the
embodied nature of perception, and its
anthropological aspects,
- has a
keen interest in cognitive science, experimental methods, and
core knowledge systems,
- is
eager to expand his/her knowledge and skills in all of these
fields,
- has a
curious, enterprising, and creative mind as well as excellent
analytical and organizational skills,
- has an
excellent command of both spoken and written English, as well
as outstanding writing skills,
- has
the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, as
well as the ambition to pursue an academic
career in an
internationally oriented scientific context.
5. Your
tasks
The
successful candidate will:
-
conduct original research in line with both the general research
project and the PhD-project described above,
-
complete a PhD thesis in 4 years,
-
present intermediate research results at (international)
conferences,
- submit
research results for publication in peer-reviewed academic
journals,
- assist
in teaching activities in the second and third year of the
appointment,
-
participate in the programme’s research activities and and their
organization, including reading and
discussions groups, seminars,
conferences, workshops, and joint publications
at LUCL and LUCAS,
-
collaborate with the researchers in the other teams of the
programme.
6.
Research at LUCL and LUCAS
Leiden
University has a longstanding tradition in research in the
world’s
languages and features unique linguistic expertise. LUCL
combines
current theoretical insights and modern experimental methods
in its
research profile area ‘Language Diversity in the World’. For
more
information, see:
At
LUCAS, the research group around Prof.dr. Caroline van Eck and
Prof.dr.ir
Maarten Delbeke focuses on meaning, perception, and
interpretation
in the visual arts and architecture; interactions
between
classical rhetoric and the visual arts; architectural theory of
the
classical tradition; and primitivism, that is the return to origins
to
understand the cultural meaning of architecture in the present. For
more
information, see:
7.
Context and conditions
We offer
a dynamic, enthusiastic, inspiring and supportive working
environment.
Our focus will be on training you to be a top-notch
independent
scientist. In addition to thorough research training, the
graduate
schools of both universities offer a variety of courses aimed
at
training of professional and personal skills. In addition, advanced
courses
to deepen scientific knowledge are offered by various national
research
schools.
The
project will run for four years and must lead to the completion of
a PhD
thesis. We will offer an initial contract of 18 months, which is
extended
with an additional 30 months after a positive evaluation of
your
research skills, initial results, and compatibility. The
appointment
will be under the terms of the CAO (collective labour
agreement)
of the Dutch Universities. The gross monthly salary is set
on €
2,042.- in the first year up to € 2,612.- gross per month in
year
four. Benefits include a pension build-up, an annual holiday
premium
of 8% and an end-of-year premium of 8.3%. Non-Dutch nationals
may be
eligible for a substantial tax break (30% ruling).
8.
Application
Applicants
are kindly requested to submit the following documents
electronically
(in English):
- A
cover letter in which you motivate your candidacy,
- A
curriculum vitae,
-
References: the contact details of two people whom we may contact
for further information. One of these should
be your MA-thesis
supervisor,
- Copies
of your academic transcripts (or Dutch cijferlijst),
- Copies
of your MA thesis, and any other publication in English that
is representative of your research qualities.
- A
short essay (c. 2000 words) in which you describe how you envisage
doing the research and writing the thesis.
This should consist of a
table of contents of the thesis, with a
paragraph for each chapter
summarizing its contents, a list of sources
and bibliography, and a
workplan.
Please
submit these documents in two files:
I –
containing documents 1 to 4 ( PDF or Word file,) using your last
name
underscore 1 as document name (e.g. BROWN_1.pdf).
II – containing
document 5 (PDF or Word file), using your last name
underscore
2 as document name (e.g. BROWN_2.pdf).
If the
documents are not in the requested format, the application will
not be
taken into account.
For
further information on these projects please contact: Prof.dr
Caroline van Eck c.a.van.eck@hum.leidenuniv.nl,
prof.dr.ir Maarten
j.e.c.v.rooryck@hum.leidenuniv.nl; or with respect to practical
matters
Ms Gea
Hakker, g.c.hakker@hum.leidenuniv.nl
Applicants
should submit their application (documents as described
above)
before
23
November 2012. Applications should be sent to
vacatureslucl@hum.leidenuniv.nl, clearly indicating the application
number.
The selection procedure will take place in December 2012, and
selected
candidates can expect to be invited for an interview in
December
2012 or January 2013   —
POSTDOCTORAL
RESEARCHER IN ART HISTORY
(3
years, 38 hrs a week)
1.
Background
In
various domains of cognitive science, a new paradigm holds that
humans
and non-human animals are born with a small set of hard-wired
cognitive
abilities that are task-specific, language-independent, and
non-species-specific.
These core knowledge systems are innate cognitive
skills
that have the capacity for building mental representations of
objects,
persons, spatial relationships, numerosity, and social
interaction.
In addition to core knowledge systems, humans possess
species-specific,
uniquely human abilities such as language and music.
The
‘core knowledge’ paradigm challenges scholars in the humanities
to ask
the question how nurture and culture build on nature. This
project
examines the way in which innate, non specifically human, core
knowledge
systems for object representation, number, and geometry
constrain
cultural expressions in music, language, and the visual arts.
In this
research program, four domains of the humanities will be
investigated
from the point of view of core knowledge:
-
subproject 1: music cognition
(1PhD student, 1 Postdoc, teamleader: Prof.dr
H. Honing)
-
subproject 2: language and number
(1PhD student, 1 Postdoc, teamleader: Prof.dr
S. Barbiers)
-
subproject 3: visual arts and geometry
(1PhD student, 1 Postdoc, teamleaders:
Prof.dr.ir M. Delbeke &
Prof.dr C. van Eck)
-
subproject 4: poetry, rhythm, and meter (1PhD student, 1 Postdoc)
(1PhD student, 1 Postdoc, teamleader: Prof.dr
M. van Oostendorp)
2.
Postdoc project: Basic proportional patterns and geometrical core
knowledge
As a part of the subproject on visual arts and geometry, this
project
will investigate the relation between basic proportional
patterns
and geometrical core knowledge. Do simple proportional
patterns
indeed possess the universality that has always been claimed
for
them, and what is their connection with geometrical core knowledge?
Research
in this project will include fieldwork with the Batammaliba in
Benin,
who have a rich architectural lexicon, as opposed to the
Amazonian
Munduruku, who lack precise geometrical terms (Dehaene’s et
al 2006,
Science, 311(5759), 381–384). The main research question of
this
project is how the Batammaliba geometrical lexicon affects their
perception
of space.
3.
Embedding
The
Postdoc will participate in and contribute to a research team
comprising
a total of 4 PhD students and 4 Postdocs in four teams
corresponding
to the subprojects outlined above. The entire project is
coordinated
by Prof.dr. Johan Rooryck at Leiden University. The Postdoc
will
work in the research institutes LUCL (Prof.dr. Johan
Rooryck)
and LUCAS (Prof.dr. Caroline van Eck, Prof.dr.ir. Maarten
Delbeke)
at Leiden University. The project will start on 1 February
2013.
For more information, please see the full description of the
project
at
university.html
4. Your
profile
We are
looking for someone who:
- has
completed a doctoral degree in architectural history or theory.
PhD
students who are close to defending their
dissertation are also
welcome to apply. In addition, applications
from MA students with
demonstrable expertise, as evidenced from
their thesis or other
writings, are also welcomed.
- has
demonstrable interest in the general topic of this Horizon
program, as well as in the sub-project
proper, in particular with
respect to perception of space and
proportion, and anthropological
approaches to architectural design and its
perception,
- has a
keen interest in cognitive science, experimental methods, and
core knowledge systems,
- has
publications in peer-reviewed journals or with established
academic publishers,
- has a
curious, enterprising, and creative mind as well as excellent
analytical and organizational skills,
- has an
excellent command of both spoken and written English, as well
as outstanding writing and presentation
skills,
- has
the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, as
well as the ambition to pursue an academic
career in an
internationally oriented scientific context.
5. Your
tasks
The
successful candidate will:
-
conduct original research in line with both the general research
project and the Postdoc-project described
above,
-
present intermediate research results at (international)
conferences,
- submit
research results for publication in peer-reviewed academic
journals,
- assist
in teaching activities in the department of art history,
-
participate in the programme’s research activities and and their
organization, including reading and
discussions groups, seminars,
conferences, workshops, and joint
publications.
-
collaborate with the researchers in the other teams of the
programme.
6.
Research at LUCL and LUCAS
Leiden
University has a longstanding tradition in research in the
world’s
languages and features unique linguistic expertise. LUCL
combines
current theoretical insights and modern experimental methods
in its
research profile area ‘Language Diversity in the World’. For
more
information, see:
At
LUCAS, the research group around Prof.dr. Caroline van Eck and
Prof.dr.ir
Maarten Delbeke focuses on meaning, perception, and
interpretation
in the visual arts and architecture; interactions
between
classical rhetoric and the visual arts; architectural theory of
the
classical tradition; and primitivism, that is the return to origins
to
understand the cultural meaning of architecture in the present. For
more
information, see:
7.
Context and conditions
We offer
a dynamic, enthusiastic, inspiring and supportive working
environment.
In addition to thorough research training, the graduate
schools
of both universities offer a variety of courses aimed at
training
of professional and personal skills. In addition, advanced
courses
to deepen scientific knowledge are offered by various national
research
schools.
You can
choose an appointment for three years at 1.0fte or for four
years at
0.75fte. The Postdoc project must result in the publication of
a
minimum of three articles. The appointment will be under the terms of
the CAO
(collective labour agreement) of the Dutch Universities. The
gross
monthly salary ranges from € 2977.- in the first year up to a
maximum
of € 3530.- gross per month, depending on experience and
qualifications.
Benefits include a pension build-up, an annual holiday
premium
of 8% and an end-of-year premium of 8.3%.
Non-Dutch
nationals may be eligible for a substantial tax break (30%
ruling).
8.
Application
Applicants
are kindly requested to submit the following documents
electronically
(in English):
- A
cover letter in which you motivate your candidacy,
- A
curriculum vitae,
-
References: the contact details of two people whom we may contact
for further information. One of these should
be your PhD-thesis
supervisor,
- Copies
of your PhD thesis, and any other publications in English
that are representative of your research
qualities.
- A
short essay (c. 2000 words) in which you describe how you envisage
carrying out the research. This should
consist of a further
refinement of research questions, a
provisional outline of the
articles you are aiming to write, a list of
sources and bibliography,
and a workplan.
- If you
are applying as an MA student: copies of your academic
transcripts (or Dutch cijferlijst); copies of
your MA thesis and any
other publication in English; a short essay
(c. 2000 words) in which
you describe how you envisage doing the
research and writing the
thesis. This should consist of a table of
contents of the thesis,
with a paragraph for each chapter summarizing
its contents, a list of
sources and bibliography, and a workplan.
Please
submit these documents in two files:
I –
containing documents 1 to 4 ( PDF or Word file,) using your last
name
underscore 1 as document name (e.g. BROWN_1.pdf).
II –
containing document 5 (PDF or Word file), using your last name
underscore
2 as document name (e.g. BROWN_2.pdf).
If the
documents are not in the requested format, the application will
not be
taken into account.
For
further information on these projects please contact: Prof.dr
Caroline van Eck c.a.van.eck@hum.leidenuniv.nl, prof.dr.ir
Maarten
j.e.c.v.rooryck@hum.leidenuniv.nl; or with respect to practical matters
Ms Gea
Hakker, g.c.hakker@hum.leidenuniv.nl
Applicants
should submit their application (documents as described
above)
before
23
November 2012. Applications should be sent to
vacatureslucl@hum.leidenuniv.nl, clearly indicating the application
number.
The selection procedure will take place in December 2012, and
selected
candidates can expect to be invited for an interview in
December 2012 or January 2013.