Two PhD Candidates in Descriptive and Documentary Linguistics
Join an NWO-funded project at Leiden University to document endangered languages in eastern Indonesia using automated AI tools.
Best for:Best for linguistics graduates with fieldwork interest and a strong background in language documentation.
Overview
Leiden University Centre for Linguistics invites applications for two fully funded PhD positions focused on the documentation and description of endangered languages in eastern Indonesia. One position centers on Usku, a critically endangered Papuan language, while the second focuses on Banda, an Austronesian language spoken in Maluku. The selected candidates will conduct fieldwork, compile naturalistic text collections, build lexicons, and perform grammatical analyses. Additionally, they will evaluate and test emerging AI tools designed to automate transcription, translation, and morphological segmentation for low-resource languages.
What you'll do
- Collect audio-visual linguistic and cultural data through fieldwork in Indonesia.
- Transcribe, annotate, analyse, and archive naturalistic language data.
- Test and evaluate tools for automated linguistic data annotation and analysis.
- Present research results at workshops and academic conferences.
- Publish research findings and complete a PhD thesis within the four-year appointment period.
- Assist in bachelor-level teaching activities and knowledge dissemination events.
- Participate in regular meetings and training sessions with the project research group.
Requirements
Degree required: Master's degree in linguistics
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English; excellent academic English skills. Working knowledge of Indonesian is preferred or must be acquired.
Instruction: English
- Completed Master's degree in linguistics before the start date
- Demonstrated interest in language documentation, field linguistics, or descriptive linguistics
- Excellent research and academic English language skills
- Strong cooperative attitude and willingness to engage in collaborative research
- Preference will be given to candidates from Indonesia in cases of equal suitability
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-10-25
Submit your application online through the university's recruitment system by clicking the application button. Ensure your submission includes a cover letter specifying your preferred project, a CV, grade transcripts, writing samples, and reference contact details.
- Cover letter
- CV
- BSc + MSc transcripts
- Writing sample
- 2 reference contacts
Contact
Marian Klamer· Principal Investigator
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