Funded PhD Position in Language Studies and Cognition at Radboud University Radboud University in Netherlands

Radboud University is advertising a funded PhD position in the Centre for Language Studies (CLS) within the Faculty of Arts. The project is ideal for candidates interested in linguistics, cognitive science, communication studies, and related areas of language research.

The PhD candidate will contribute to a better understanding of the cognitive and social processes underlying language systems, processing, and use. The thesis must align with one of CLS’s three major research questions: (1) how language systems are structured and evolve, (2) how humans and machines acquire languages, or (3) how human communication and cognition interact.

The position is embedded in the Graduate School for the Humanities. The successful candidate will spend 75% of their time on PhD research and thesis writing, and 25% on training and academic service in the Faculty of Arts, including teaching. The role is therefore suitable for applicants who want a research-focused PhD with some teaching and academic service experience.

Eligibility highlights: applicants should have a Master’s degree in a discipline related to CLS, or expect to complete it by 15 September 2026. A good command of English and good writing skills are required. Research experience, such as a research assistantship, is considered an advantage.

Funding and employment: this is a salaried PhD employment contract at Radboud University. The gross monthly salary is €3,059 to €3,881, with an initial contract of 1.5 years and possible extension to a total of 4 years (1.0 FTE) or 5 years (0.8 FTE), subject to evaluation. Additional benefits include an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and extra leave options.

Application deadline: 15 September 2026. Applications must be submitted via the university application portal. The application letter should be addressed to Suzanne van de Liefvoort.

This opportunity is especially relevant for students interested in language structure, language acquisition, cognition, communication, and machine language learning within a strong humanities and language research environment at Radboud University in the Netherlands.