Postdoctoral Fellow

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Education, Arts and Sports has available one position as a Postdoc position in sign language and interpreting

The postdoc position is based at HVL and supports the faculty's commitment to sign language and sign language interpreting.

The postdoc position is linked to the project "Signed Language Depiction as an Engine for Promoting Inclusion, Communication, and Translation" (DEPICT) funded by Research Council of Norway (LINK). The main goal of the project is to empirically investigate depiction and what role it has in communication practices within sign language interactions.

The postdoc fellow's project and publications will focus on a relevant topic related to experience and expertise among bilingual sign language users. Work package 1 of the DEPICT project aims to investigate how lexical depictions are processed between different signed languages. We will do so in a cross-linguistic, experimental study where participants with different sign language knowledge will be asked to recognize referents of lexicalized depictions in their own and foreign signed languages. This data will then be analyzed with a focus on what qualities of depiction may influence cognate status of some signs.

The period of employment is two years. The postdoc fellow will be part of the academic environment within sign language and interpreting at HVL, the research group ?Sign Language Interpreting and Communication', and the strategic research program ?Language, Communication and Learning' (SKoL). In addition, the candidate is expected to complete the postdoctoral project within the set fellowship period. Working place will preferably be in Bergen. It can be opened for working at NTNU.

Within this project the main responsibilities of the postdoc will be to:

• Collect data for the work-package (in collaboration with the WP-leader)
• Collaborate in experimental design and stimuli creation
• Participate in data analysis
• Publishes, author or co-author, on at least two point-giving publications per year where at least one of them is at level 2.

In addition to the work within the work package, it is expected that the postdoctoral fellow will collaborate with other participants in the project and participate actively in network activities the research group DEPICT is connected to. There will be some travel in connection with data collection/field work.

The criteria for employment in teaching and research positions: Forskrift om ansettelse og opprykk i undervisnings- og forskerstillinger (https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2006-02-09-129)   

A doctoral degree in a relevant field should be obtained by the application deadline (e.g., language, communication, linguistics, cognitive psychology, etc.). Applicants with a doctoral degree from other subjects who can document good knowledge of the topics in the announcement evidenced in their doctoral thesis, for example, will be considered qualified.

In the assessment, the main emphasis will be on the applicant's qualifications for the topic of the DEPICT project in general and specifically work package 1, as well as on the quality of previous research and submitted scientific work. In the assessment of the applicants, we will emphasize the applicant's motivation, potential for research, independence, ability to collaborate and whether the applicant is personally suitable for the position. Experience from publications/dissemination and administrative work will also be valued.

The following qualifications will be given special emphasis:

• Professional qualifications within the advertised area, with emphasis on quality in the doctoral thesis and other scientific work.
• Linguistic competence to be able to identify and analyze in sign language.
• Fluency/Native in one or more signed languages.

Preferred qualifications:

• In depth knowledge of sign language and communication between different countries and sign languages.
• Experiences of other project management.
• Linguistic competence to be able to identify and analyze images in sign language.
• Knowledge in using R or other statistical analysis programs.
• Advanced/native Norwegian sign language fluency.
• Advanced written English fluency.

Personal characteristics:

• Good ability to work independently and systematically.
• Good collaboration skills.
• Ability to take initiative.
• High ethical awareness when working with research participants.

Applications will be evaluated by an international expert panel consisting of three members. Applicants are asked to submit their application and CV online. Please use the link ?Apply for this job" (?Søk stillingen").

The following documentation must be uploaded as an attachment to the online application:

• Copies of selected academic publications (no more than 5)
• A CV with a complete list of academic publications and teaching activities
• Diplomas and certificates
• Documents related to other achievements relevant to the position
• The names of two contacts who are willing to act as reference

Applications cannot be sent by e-mail or to individuals at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international?academic environment.

An open and?inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues.

Favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

Employee benefits.

The position as Postdoctoal Fellow is paid according to the Government's salary regulation, in position code 1354 - Postdoctor.

There is a compulsory 2 % deduction to the pension fund (see http://www.spk.no/en for more information). The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at any time.

The appointment will be made in accordance with the regulations for State employees Law in Norway ("Lov om statens ansatte)". Organizational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities associated with the position must be expected.

State employment shall reflect the multiplicity of the population at large to the highest possible degree. Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Bergen has therefore adopted a personnel policy objective to ensure that we achieve a balanced age and gender composition and the recruitment of persons of various ethnic backgrounds.

Information about the applicant may be made public even though the applicant has requested not to be named in the list of applicants. The applicant will be notified if his/her request is not respected. Applicants may be called in for an interview.

 1) Associate professor Gro Hege Saltnes Urdal, tlf. +47 55 58 59 61, e-mail: Gro.Hege.Saltnes.Urdal@hvl.no

2) Associate professor Benjamin Anible, e-mail: benjamin.d.anible@ntnu.no 

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences shall be a university with a clear professional and working life-oriented profile.

Through education, research and development we create new knowledge and expertise, anchored internationally and with solutions that work
locally.

Read more (https://www.hvl.no/en)

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_NjRp_Zoyo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_NjRp_Zoyo)

 

Video: https://youtu.be/z-Py_In-Eyg (https://youtu.be/z-Py_In-Eyg)