[alife] PhD positions on evolution of speech

[Bart de Boer]

3 PhD positions on evolution of speech
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
Deadline: July first 2012
Envisaged starting date: September 2012

The AI-lab of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel is looking for three PhD 
students that will work on Bart de Boer’s European Research Council 
project “ABACUS”. The ABACUS project investigates (evolution of) 
cognitive mechanisms for dealing with combinatorial speech. It uses a 
combination of iterated learning experiments, individual learning 
experiments and computational modeling. For each of these lines of 
research, a PhD position is available. The PhDs of the different 
projects are expected to cooperate closely with each other.

The computational project
The work consists of designing, implementing, investigating and 
describing computer models for learning and reproducing continuous, 
speech-like signals.
A candidate must have (or be about to obtain) a master’s degree in 
computer science, artificial intelligence or equivalent and have 
experience in building learning systems. Experience with speech/language 
research as well as affinity with experimental work
are a plus.

The iterated learning project
The work consists of designing, performing and describing iterated 
learning experiments based on learning and reproduction of continuous, 
speech-like signals.
A candidate must have (or be about to obtain) a master’s degree in 
psycholinguistics, cognitive science or equivalent and have experience 
in doing experiments with human participants. Experience with 
speech/language research as well as affinity with computational models 
are a plus.

The individual learning project
The work consists of designing, performing and describing individual 
learning experiments based on learning and reproduction of continuous, 
speech-like signals.
A candidate must have (or be about to obtain) a master’s degree in 
psycholinguistics, cognitive science or equivalent experience in doing 
experiments with human participants. Experience with speech/language 
research as well as affinity with computational models are a plus.

The PhD candidates will be remunerated with a scholarship (ca. 36000 
euros per year before taxes), and money for travel and hiring research 
assistants is available. We are looking for candidates with a serious 
interest in a scientific career and with good writing skills. For 
details on the projects, on conditions and on how to apply, see:
https://ai.vub.ac.be/members/bart
under “vacancies”