We seek to appoint a Research Associate on a project investigating the role of iconicity in word learning. The project investigates whether and how the use of onomatopoeias (e.g., meow or drip), iconic prosody (e.g., saying looooong to refer to an event lasting a long time) and iconic gestures (e.g., making a rotation gesture with the index finger while talking about spinning) aid word learning in 2-3 years old children. The project addresses three main questions, using a combination of naturalistic, semi-naturalistic and experimental methods: (1) Do caregivers use iconicity (in phonology, gestures and prosody) in their child-directed language?; (2) Does iconicity in the input aid children’s word learning?; (3) Is iconicity especially useful when referents being talked about are not present?

This post is funded for 3 years, in the first instance. Start date will be 1st April 2017 or as soon as possible after that date.

Key Requirements

Applicants must hold a PhD in relevant subject area (e.g. psychology, linguistics, speech and language, cognitive neuroscience, etc.) and Undergraduate degree (high 2.1 or First) in relevant subject area. It is essential that the post holder should have training and experience in experimental psychology, psycholinguistics, and developmental psychology. The successful candidates should have strong quantitative and statistical analysis skills, and also excellent oral and written communication skills.

Further Details

A job description and person specification can be accessed here.

Due to the duration and funding restrictions of this post, candidates need to have the right to work in the UK.

Informal enquiries should be made to Professor Gabriella Vigliocco, g.vigliocco@ucl.ac.uk

If you have any queries regarding the application process please contact Sonia Theodoric, s.theodoric@ucl.ac.uk

Closing Date: 3 Mar 2017
Interview date: 17 March