Thanks to the award of an Alexander-von-Humboldt-Professorship to Ingrid Piller we are hiring a dream team of doctoral and postdoctoral fellows to conduct research related to “Linguistic Diversity and Social Participation across the Lifespan” in the Faculty of Education at the University of Hamburg.
University of Hamburg, main building (Image credit: UHH/Denstorf)
The Faculty of Education at the University of Hamburg is a leader in conducting innovative and future-oriented research related to the educational and social consequences of diversity resulting from migration and globalization. This strength is now further expanded through the Humboldt Professorship devoted to “Linguistic Diversity and Social Participation across the Lifespan” as part of the “Literacy in Diversity Settings (LiDS) Research Center” and closely aligned with the Language on the Move platform.
The research focus will be on migrant language socialization, language learning, and settlement across the lifespan and outside of institutions of formal education. This includes digital spaces as well as language brokering and other forms of informal language assistance that often undergird institutional communications in linguistically diverse societies.
This is a unique opportunity to become part of an education-focused research center that aims to make major contributions to social cohesion in linguistically diverse societies. Together, we will pursue a 5-pronged work strategy of:
- Original research through a series of interconnected sociolinguistic ethnographies
- Methodological innovation in multilingual qualitative data-sharing
- Capacity building in open digital research related to linguistic diversity, language development, and language learning in social life
- Industry transfer through the co-design and delivery of professional development programs that make institutions more accessible to linguistically diverse populations
- Knowledge dissemination to contribute positively to public debates and policy discourses about linguistic diversity, multilingualism, and language learning
Job description
Successful candidates will – individually and as part of the team – undertake the following tasks under the leadership of the Humboldt Professor:
- Co-design and conduct an independent yet linked sociolinguistic-ethnographic project related to linguistic diversity and social participation across the lifespan
- Bring together methods, theories, and case studies, and contribute to data-sharing, supplementary data collection and re-analysis as part of an overarching collaborative research design
- Contribute to overall team data management
- Publish research findings through a variety of traditional and non-traditional outputs, individually and with co-authors
- Contribute to supervising PhD students on the team
- Contribute to teaching in the Faculty of Education and to creating professional development resources for partner institutions
- Contribute to the organization of workshops and other academic events, both internal and outward-facing
- Develop a national and international profile as an emerging research leader in area of specialization
Essential qualifications
- PhD in applied sociolinguistics or related discipline (applicants whose PhD is under examination may be considered)
- Experience in conducting sociolinguistic ethnographic research or related qualitative approaches
- A solid background in social approaches to intercultural communication, linguistic diversity, multilingualism, and language learning
- Research interest in linguistic diversity as it relates to one or more of the following: technology, workplace, family
- Experience working in a team and strong commitment to working collaboratively on a joint project
- Incipient publications track record
- Strong communication skills in spoken and written English
Desired qualifications
- Proficiency in German (successful applicants without German language proficiency will be expected to reach CEFR level B1 within 12 months)
- Proficiency in one or more additional languages, preferably migrant languages
Job description
Successful candidates will – individually and as part of the team – undertake the following tasks under the leadership of the Humboldt Professor:
- Undertake a PhD project based on an independent yet linked sociolinguistic-ethnographic project related to linguistic diversity and social participation across the lifespan
- Bring together methods, theories, and case studies, and contribute to data-sharing, supplementary data collection and re-analysis as part of an overarching collaborative research design
- Contribute to overall team data management
- Publish research findings through a variety of traditional and non-traditional outputs, individually and with co-authors
- Contribute to teaching in the Faculty of Education and to creating professional development resources for partner institutions
- Contribute to the organization of workshops and other academic events, both internal and outward-facing
Essential qualifications
- Outstanding graduate degree in applied sociolinguistics or related discipline
- Sound knowledge of sociolinguistic ethnographic research approaches and related qualitative methods
- A solid background in social approaches to intercultural communication, linguistic diversity, multilingualism, and language learning
- Research interest in linguistic diversity as it relates to one or more of the following: technology, workplace, family
- Experience working in a team and strong commitment to working collaboratively on a joint project
- Strong communication skills in spoken and written English
Desired qualifications
- Proficiency in German (successful applicants without German language proficiency will be expected to reach CEFR level B1 within 12 months)
- Proficiency in one or more additional languages, preferably migrant languages
How to apply
For further information and to submit your application head over to the University of Hamburg job portal:
How not to apply
Don’t send an AI-generated inquiry, application or follow-up message. If you are using a machine to produce your texts, you are not the team member we are looking for.
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