[AUDITORY] reading and rhythm: NSF-funded postdoc, PhD and staff positions

Reading and Rhythm: NSF-funded postdoc, PhD, and staff positions

The Brain and Language Lab (PI: Cyrille Magne) at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and the Music Cognition Lab (PI: Reyna Gordon) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have several open positions to work on a collaborative NSF-funded project investigating the neurobiological and genetic basis of speech rhythm sensitivity and its relationship with reading abilities:

Vanderbilt-based position:

Post-doctoral Fellowship. The Vanderbilt Music Cognition Lab announces a new postdoctoral fellow position to develop and carry out studies using behavioral and cognitive neuroscience methods to study the relationship between prosody, rhythm, and reading skills. The Lab is a highly interdisciplinary environment that engages trainees from a wide range of Vanderbilt degree programs and maintains collaborations with a vast network of researchers; this particular position will also involve collaborative work and training at the MTSU site. You can read more about our related genetics-focused projects in the lab here: https://www.vumc.org/music-cognition-lab/new-genetics-projects and about the postdoc training resources here: https://www.vumc.org/music-cognition-lab/new-several-open-postdoctoral-positions. This position requires prior experience working with high-dimensional data, and excellent organizational skills. Initial appointments will be made for one year, with potential to renew for up to 3 years.

Postdoc candidates should send a CV, cover letter, names of 3 references, and publication reprints to Dr. Reyna Gordon reyna.gordon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Please indicate your last name + “postdoc application NSF rhythm-reading project” in the email subject line. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until filled, with a preference to finalize hiring by February 2020.

MTSU-based positions:

Lab Manager. The Brain and Language Laboratory seeks a part-time lab manager to coordinate the MTSU component of the NSF project. Primary responsibilities include: recruitment of study participants, coordination of other research personnel, data collection, maintenance of databases, lab equipment and supply inventories, as well as other duties as needed (such as planning research projects, data acquisition and analysis). The position will also offer opportunities for conference attendance and co-authorship on manuscripts. Start date as early as January 2020. More information about the lab is available at www.brainandlanguagelab.com

PhD Assistantship. The Brain and Language Laboratory also has a Ph.D. assistantship available for up to 3 years beginning in Fall 2020 in the interdisciplinary Literacy Studies Ph.D. program (https://www.mtsu.edu/programs/literacy-studies-phd/index.php). The assistantship requires the successful candidate to collaborate with the lab staff and Dr. Cyrille Magne to assist with the implementation and data analysis of several ongoing studies on rhythm and language skills in adults using various methods (behavioral, EEG, and eye-tracking). The full-time assistantship provides full tuition plus a stipend of $20,000 per year.

Applicants for the Lab Manager and PhD student positions need to have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, education, communication disorders or a closely related field. Due to the nature of the project, preference will be given to applicants who have prior experience with language/reading research (including administration of standardized assessments).

Interested applicants should email a written personal statement describing their research interests and qualification for the assistantship and a CV to Dr. Cyrille Magne (Cyrille.Magne@xxxxxxxx). Prospective PhD students must also go through the application procedure of the Literacy Ph.D. program (https://www.mtsu.edu/programs/literacy-studies-phd/requirements). General application for fall admission must be submitted by June 1 (February 1 is the deadline for priority consideration).

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