Applications are invited for a full-time Early Stage Researcher/PhD student position in the Speech Production and Bilingualism Group (SPB), led by Prof. Albert Costa , at Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona), http://www.spb.upf.edu.

The position is part of The Multilingual Mind (MultiMind) project. MultiMind is an international, multidisciplinary and multisectorial training network on multilingualism. MultiMind is funded by the European Union’s Horizon2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska Curie grant agreement No 765556. https://www.multilingualmind.eu/

 

ESR8 Project

The foreign language effect on decision making

Lead beneficiary: University Pompeu Fabra  (Barcelona, Spain)

Main supervisor: A. Costa (UniversityPompeu Fabra)  ESR8 Committee: A. Garcia-Palacios (University Jaume I, Castellón, Spain)

Background:

Although some recent studies have shown that people’s choices are affected by the language in which information is conveyed, the so-called foreign language effect in decision making, at present we do not know why, how, or when foreign language affects our decisions. This project assesses whether the use of a foreign language may affect our choices, judgments, and behaviour, may help promoting self-control and reducing temptation in financial and health decisions, and aid mental health treatments.

Objectives:

·         To explore the origin of the foreign language effect on decision making.

·         To assess the role of language context on temptation and intertemporal choices.

·         To assess whether foreign language context can aid mental treatments by promoting the adoption of emotion regulatory strategies.

·         To explore the role of emotional distancing in the presence of the foreign language effect.

·         To assess whether language context can be used as a nudge to promote better decisions.

Planned secondments:

In the 1st year a 6-month secondment at the University Jaume I to develop the experimental protocol to implement foreign language as a tool when treating anxiety-related disorders. The ESR will also receive training in evidence-based mental health treatments, a training that can enhance the ESR’s future career within or outside the academia. In the 3rd year, 2 months with BC to receive hands-on experience in public engagement and research dissemination.

 

Selection criteria for ESR 8

Previous experience: Knowledge of clinical psychology, experimental psychology

Languages: Spanish

For further information contact Prof Albert Costa

 

 

Starting date for the ESR: 1st September 2018.

Duration of the research employment: 36 months.

Salary: The ESR will receive a Living Allowance (€3,110 per month multiplied by the country correction coefficient for Spain: 97.6% = €3,035.36 per month) and a Mobility Allowance (€600 per month). ESRs who have a family at the beginning of their employment will also receive a family allowance (€500 per month).

How to Apply:

 

You must send a project application form and supporting documents to info@multilingualmind.eu The application form and application process is described here: https://www.multilingualmind.eu/copy-of-15-early-stage-researchers-

 

More information about all open ESR positions is here: https://www.multilingualmind.eu/15-early-stage-researchers-esrs​

 

The initial closing date for the positions will be June 30, 2018, but applications will continue to be considered until suitable candidates have been appointed.

 

Eligibility

·       Early-Stage Researchers (ESRs): All researchers recruited in MultiMind must be ESRs and undertake transnational mobility (see below). For all recruitments, the eligibility of the researcher will be determined at the time they start working at the project (September 2018).
Note: ESRs are defined as researchers who at the time when they start working for MultiMind are in the first 4 years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree.

·       Nationality: The ESR can be of any nationality.

·       Transnational mobility: The ESR is required to undertake transnational mobility (i.e. move from one country to another) when taking up their appointment. Nationality is therefore not a criterion. Rather the location of the researcher’s residence or main activity during the 3 years prior to their recruitment is determining. The researcher must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host organisation (Spain) for MultiMind for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the start date (September 2018). Short stays, e.g. holidays, are not taken into account.
Note: the mobility rule applies to the (first) beneficiary where the researcher is recruited, and not to beneficiaries to which the researcher is sent or seconded. It is also only determined at one point in time: at the time when they start working for MultiMind (1st September 2018).

Examples:

·       Danish nationals can be eligible for recruitment at a beneficiary located in Denmark if they have resided or carried out their main activity outside of Denmark for more than 24 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the starting date (September 2018).

·       Indian nationals can be eligible for recruitment at a beneficiary located in the UK if they have resided or carried out their main activity outside of the UK for more than 24 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the starting date (September 2018).

Refugees: Researchers with refugee status, as defined by the Geneva Convention, benefit from a less restrictive mobility rule: the refugee procedure (i.e. before refugee status is conferred) will not be counted as a ‘period of residence/activity in the country of the beneficiary. This period will only be counted as of the day that they are recognised as refugees. This is because refugees, by definition, are likely to have made unplanned changes of country, moving abroad rapidly without being able to arrange a research position in advance. They may have had to suspend their education or professional activities while obtaining permission to stay in the country. Therefore their mobility is not required to be as recent.