University of Antwerp Doctoral Scholarship

The University of Antwerp invites applications for a full-time doctoral scholarship holder in Dutch Linguistics within the Arts Faculty’s Department of Linguistics. As a dynamic and forward-thinking European university, Antwerp offers innovative academic education to over 20,000 students and conducts pioneering scientific research. The university is committed to diversity, inclusion, and excellence, providing a stimulating environment for researchers from around the world.

This PhD position focuses on the acquisition of sentence structures, particularly passive sentences, in a second language (L2). The research will involve sentence production experiments with Ukrainian learners of Dutch and Dutch learners of Ukrainian and Swedish. Additionally, the project will test computational models to simulate the learning process. The successful candidate will actively prepare and defend a PhD thesis, publish scientific articles related to the research, and provide limited teaching support for courses aligned with the research topic.

Applicants must hold or expect to obtain a Master Degree in Linguistics, Digital Text Analysis, Experimental Psychology, or related fields by the start date. Excellent academic performance is required. Candidates should demonstrate teaching competences in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision and research qualities that meet faculty and university standards. Knowledge of Dutch and Ukrainian (or another Slavic language) is an asset. Experience with linguistic research (such as psycholinguistics) and/or quantitative data analysis is desirable. Basic understanding of statistical and/or programming skills is required, with willingness to receive further training. Social skills for effective collaboration with the target audience are necessary.

The scholarship is offered for a period of four years, starting with a one-year contract that can be extended following a positive evaluation. The planned start date is October 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. The monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to university rates. Additional benefits include ecocheques, Internet-connectivity allowance, bicycle allowance or full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting, and access to a wide range of courses and educational credit through the Antwerp Doctoral School. Most work will be conducted at the city campus in downtown Antwerp.

To apply, candidates must submit their application via the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform by May 12, 2026. Required attachments include a motivation letter and CV, with relevant research experience clearly mentioned. The selection committee will review applications promptly after the deadline, and eligible candidates will be informed about the next steps. Selection interviews are scheduled for June 3 and 4, with candidates’ availability taken into account. For questions about the application process, contact [email protected]. For job-specific inquiries, contact Prof. Sarah Bernolet at [email protected].

The University of Antwerp is a sustainable, family-friendly organization that invests in its employees’ growth. It has received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award and encourages applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds and characteristics.