Two PhD Positions in Second Language Acquisition / Study Abroad Research (100%) University of Basel in Switzerland

The Department of Languages and Literatures at the University of Basel invites applications for two fully funded PhD positions (100%, four years) within the SNSF Starting Grant project LINC – The Long-Term Impact of Study Abroad on Linguistic Proficiency, Intercultural Competence, and Plurilingualism, led by Dr. Zeynep Köylü.

The LINC project examines the short- and long-term impact of study abroad on second language proficiency, intercultural competence, and plurilingualism. Using a longitudinal, mixed-methods design, the project follows Swiss pre-service teachers before, during, immediately after, and several years after their study-abroad experiences. It combines perspectives from Second Language Acquisition, study abroad and international mobility research, intercultural competence, and multilingualism/plurilingualism.

The project collects a rich dataset including language proficiency measures, questionnaires, repeated measures, weekly diaries, interviews, and additional qualitative and quantitative materials. This creates an excellent environment for doctoral researchers who are interested in longitudinal data, mixed methods, language learning, and mobility research.

As one of the two PhD researchers, you will contribute to the implementation of the project while developing your own independent doctoral dissertation within the thematic and methodological framework of LINC. Responsibilities include collecting and managing data, recruiting and maintaining contact with participants, administering research instruments, analysing longitudinal datasets, contributing to quantitative and/or qualitative analyses, presenting at conferences, and preparing research articles for publication.

Applicants should hold a completed or near-completed Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition, English Linguistics, Foreign/Second Language Education, or a closely related field. The position requires excellent English, strong organisation, the ability to work with complex longitudinal data, and the capacity to work both independently and collaboratively. Experience with German or another Swiss national language, quantitative analysis (e.g. R, SPSS), qualitative methods, mixed methods, corpus or learner-language analysis, longitudinal analysis, or research with plurilingual participants is an advantage.

The positions are fully funded for four years and are supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). Employment conditions and salary follow SNSF and University of Basel regulations.

The application deadline is 27 September 2026. Applications must be submitted electronically and should include a cover letter, CV, degree certificates and transcripts, a writing sample, a short PhD research statement, and the names and contact details of two academic referees.

Academic questions can be directed to Dr. Zeynep Köylü at [email protected].