PhD position in Sociolinguistics (1.0 FTE)

Department

Faculty of Arts

Organisation

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, University of Groningen, V25.0213

Job description

Applications are invited for a fully funded four-year PhD position in the field of Sociolinguistics. The planned project is anticipated to focus on the role of exposure to fictional narratives in willingness to adopt gender-inclusive language.

The PhD Project
Linguistic strategies for integrating gender-inclusive language vary across languages. In Dutch, this process is in its early stages, particularly regarding pronominal change. While they have been taken up by the LGBTQ+ community and have gained some institutional recognition, the non-binary pronouns “die” and “hen” remain contested in general usage. Resistance to these pronouns is shaped by multiple factors, including cognitive load, familiarity, and speaker attitudes. For example, the pronoun “die” may be more easily integrated in usage due to its existing grammatical function as a demonstrative. Uptake is further influenced by group identity and individual beliefs. To date, sociolinguistic research has largely focused on pronoun selection, comprehension, and attitudes. However, little is known about the factors that drive attitude change and intended future usage. This PhD project aims to address that gap by investigating whether narrative exposure—specifically, encountering gender-inclusive pronouns in stories featuring gender non-conforming characters—can promote greater acceptance and usage of these forms. The project offers the opportunity to contribute to current debates in sociolinguistics and to engage with timely questions concerning language change, identity, and inclusion. It allows for methodological flexibility, and candidates will be encouraged to develop their own approach within the broader research framework. This project would suit candidates with an interest in sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and, more generally, language and identity studies.

Under the joint supervision of Dr Morana Lukač and Dr Suzanne Manizza Roszak, with Prof Remco Knooihuizen as the professor of record, the successful candidate will develop their own specific project within these parameters, depending on the candidate’s interests and experience. This PhD project offers a unique opportunity to acquire valuable research experience in this field while working in an international environment.

You will be asked to:
- Conduct research independently
- Present your research at academic conferences
- Publish a series of articles stemming from your research
- Complete the PhD in the specified timeframe (4 years)
- Potentially teach within the department of European Languages and Cultures and/or within the Minor in Gender and Diversity in Science, Society and Culture

Organisation

Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has established an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative university offering high-quality teaching and research. Its 27,000 students are encouraged to develop their own individual talents through challenging study- and career paths. The University of Groningen is an international centre of knowledge: It belongs to the best research universities in Europe and is allied with prestigious partner universities and networks worldwide.

The Faculty of Arts is a large, dynamic faculty in the heart of the city of Groningen. It has more than 5000 students and 700 staff members, who are working at the frontiers of knowledge every day. The Faculty offers a wide range of degree programmes: 15 Bachelor's programmes and over 35 Master's specialisations. Our research, which is internationally widely acclaimed, covers Archaeology, Cultural Studies, History, International Relations, Language and Literary Studies, Linguistics and Media and Journalism Studies.

Requirements

- A Research Master’s or Master’s degree in any area related to the project
- Excellent academic writing skills in English
- Knowledge of Dutch will be an advantage
- Experience with experimental methods will be an advantage

Conditions of employment

Contract length: 48 months.

In accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, the University of Groningen offers you:
- A salary of € 2,901 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,707 gross per month in the final year, based on a full-time position
- A holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income
- An 8.3% end-of-the-year allowance
- A temporary 1.0 FTE appointment for a specified period of four years (The candidate will first be appointed for twelve months. After six months, an assessment will take place of the candidate’s results and the progress of the PhD project, in order to decide whether employment will be continued.)
- A total of 0.4 FTE teaching spread over the second, third and fourth year of their appointment
- Excellent work-life balance
- Willingness to move and reside in the Netherlands

The appointment will commence on 1 October 2025 at the very latest. We allow 3 months from selection in case of VISA applications.

Job Application

Applications should be made in English and contain the following materials: - A cover letter (c. 1000 words) explaining your motivation for applying, including your own relevant research interests and ideas regarding the details and execution of the project - A curriculum vitae - Copies of BA and MA diplomas and transcripts - Copy of MA thesis or other scholarly writing sample, such as an academic article, book chapter, or other academic text that represents your work well - Contact details for two academic referees (no letters of recommendation are needed for the application process) Please send in your application as two PDF files (one for the MA thesis or writing sample and one for all other documents). You may apply for this position until 30 April 23:59PM / before 1 May Dutch local time (CEST) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website). Interviews with selected candidates will be held on the 19th of May 2025. The University of Groningen strives to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality is a joint responsibility, and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also our diversity policy webpage: https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/policy-and-strategy/diversity-and-inclusion/ Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/sollicitatiecode/ and the European Commission's European Code of Conduct for the recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code We provide career services for partners of new faculty members moving to Groningen. Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

Additional information

For additional information, please contact:

Dr. Morana Lukač (for information about the project)
[email protected]

Dr. Suzanne Manizza Roszak (for information about the project)
[email protected]

Maarten Schmaal (for questions regarding the submission procedure)
[email protected]

In your application, please always include the job opening ID V25.0213

Digital application form