"Postdoctoral Researcher in Memory access in language"

Do you want to contribute to an understanding of the interaction between memory and language? In this two-year postdoctoral position, you will join the ERC-funded project Memory access in language (MEMLANG): How we store and retrieve linguistic information, led by Jakub Dotlacil, at the Institute for Language Sciences (ILS), Utrecht University. Together with an interdisciplinary team, you will investigate how linguistic information is represented, accessed and modelled.

The project aims to develop, implement and test a general model of memory that provides insight into how linguistic information is stored and retrieved, and how language use is intertwined with memory during communication. The model will be hybrid, merging linguistic factors uncovered in computational and theoretical linguistics with general cognitive mechanisms. The overarching goal is to determine how memory mechanisms can be generalised across linguistic domains, from the lexicon through syntax to discourse semantics, and how plausible memory models can predict diverse quantitative data in linguistics and cognitive science.

The project has two components: an empirical one and a computational one. The empirical strand develops and analyses behavioural experiments (reaction times, eye fixations) and EEG data. The computational strand simulates behavioural and neural data related to processing and memory retrieval.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will be part of the computational component of the project. You will collaborate closely with the principal investigator, two PhD candidates (working in psycholinguistics and cognitive science) and one postdoctoral researcher (working on NLP, with a focus on multimodal models combining vision and language).

Your research will focus on developing, implementing and testing a general model of memory that explains how linguistic information is stored and retrieved, and how language use and memory processes interact during communication. The computational model will integrate insights from computational and theoretical linguistics with general cognitive mechanisms, with the goal of predicting behavioural and neural data across linguistic domains, from the lexicon through syntax to discourse.

Your main tasks will include: data modelling and analysis, in particular modelling behavioural (reading-time) and EEG data by combining NLP techniques with theoretical insights from underlying cognitive processes and computational cognitive modelling; reporting findings in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences; contributing to the supervision of PhD candidates within the team.

Requirements

You have a strong background in computational research on language, in AI, NLP, computational psychology, or closely related fields. In addition, you are interested in foundational and formal aspects of computational models of language, you can demonstrate experience with, or a clear interest in, experimental research, and you are interested in interdisciplinary collaboration with psycholinguists and cognitive scientists. Furthermore, you have the following qualifications: a PhD degree in (computational) linguistics, AI, computer science, psychology or a closely related field; solid programming skills; excellent academic English skills (C1 level); the ability to work both as an independent researcher and as a team member in an interdisciplinary team; strong organisational, social and communication skills.

Conditions of employment

A position for two years starting on 1 March 2026; a working week of 0.9 fte and a gross monthly salary between €4,412 and €4,571 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 10.5-10.6 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU)); 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus; a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

Employer

Universiteit Utrecht: A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

The Faculty of Humanities has around 7,000 students and 1,100 staff members. It comprises four knowledge domains: Philosophy and Religious Studies, History and Art History, Media and Culture Studies, and Languages, Literature and Communication. With its research and education in these fields, the Faculty aims to contribute to a better understanding of the Netherlands and Europe in a rapidly changing social and cultural context. The enthusiastic and committed colleagues and the excellent amenities in the historical city centre of Utrecht, where the faculty is located, contribute to an inspiring working environment.

The Institute for Language Sciences (ILS) is part of the Department of Language, Literature and Communication. The team carrying out this work (led by the PI Jakub Dotlacil) operates within the research group Language, Logic and Information of ILS and will be carried out in collaboration with researchers in related research teams.