PhD candidate in Anthropological and Descriptive Linguistics Leiden University in Netherlands

Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL), part of the Faculty of Humanities at Leiden University, is offering a fully funded PhD position in Anthropological Linguistics / Descriptive Linguistics within the NWO Vidi project “Grammars of Space and Time: Language, Culture and Cognition in Ethiopia’s Omo Valley”. The project examines how language, culture, and environment shape concepts of space and time in communities in southwestern Ethiopia, combining linguistic description, ethnographic fieldwork, and cognitive methods.

The PhD project focuses on Aari, an Omotic language spoken in southwestern Ethiopia. The successful candidate will conduct immersive fieldwork and produce a grammatical analysis of Aari, with special attention to spatial and temporal expressions. The work will explore variation in both rural and urban communities and how language use changes across ecological and sociocultural settings.

Research tasks include collecting audio-visual linguistic and cultural data, transcribing and annotating naturalistic data, developing stimuli for investigating spatial and temporal domains, presenting findings at conferences and workshops, publishing results, contributing to the Omo Valley Space-Time Database, and writing a PhD thesis within the appointment period. Teaching or assisting in teaching at bachelor or master level may also be part of the role.

Applicants must have a completed Master’s degree in linguistics or a closely related discipline such as anthropology of language. Strong interest in language documentation, field linguistics, semantics, linguistic anthropology, or cognitive linguistics is expected, along with excellent research and fieldwork skills. Good English is required; knowledge of Amharic or another Ethiopian language is an advantage. The position values collaboration and a cooperative working style.

The appointment lasts four years, starting 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter, with an initial 12-month contract followed by a 36-month extension after positive evaluation. The salary ranges from €3,059 gross per month in the first year to €3,881 in the fourth year for a full-time appointment, with holiday pay and end-of-year bonuses. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a tax advantage.

Applications must be submitted online by 15 September 2026. Required documents include a motivation letter, CV, a PDF or link to the applicant’s MA thesis, a PDF of an article or term paper, an official transcript of Master’s modules, and the names, positions, and contact details of two referees. Interviews are planned for the end of October.