Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University Centre for Linguistics

Postdoctoral researcher, Computational linguistics, morphology and constructicography of Dutch
Starting date: January 2027 (a later starting date can be negotiated)

Deadline: November 1, 2026

Description

Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL) invites applications for a Postdoc position within the NWO project ‘The Morphicon: A new gateway to morphological knowledge’.

The postdoctoral researcher will work in a small team to build a morphological constructicon for Dutch, and to use it to advance our understanding of productivity in word-formation.

Constructicons are digital networks of grammatical constructions in a language. Such resources are being built for a variety of major languages, but not yet for Dutch. Moreover, existing constructicons all focus on syntactic constructions, neglecting morphology. The aim of this project is to develop the first morphological constructicon or “Morphicon” with Dutch as the target language. The resource will be developed by a team of three researchers—the PI, the Postdoc and a PhD—in collaboration with the Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal.

The postdoctoral researcher will participate in the team effort, but will also have their own research project.

The team will work together on transforming existing lexicographic and grammatical resources into a digital network. The network will consist of lexical constructions (simple and complex words) and grammatical constructions (word-formation patterns), linked to one another by the properties they share. An important part of the work will be to find, test and develop digital tools to assist in classification, annotation and network building. The Postdoc, the computational expert in the team, will play a key role in this process.

The Morphicon provides essential empirical data relevant for the investigation of linguistic productivity, including word-formation patterns of varying generality, information on semantic and formal hubs and outliers, competing affixes and frequency distributions. The postdoctoral researchers will use the Morphicon to further our understanding of what makes morphology productive or not.

This Postdoc position is part of an NWO-funded Open Competition Large project involving PI dr. Jenny Audring (Leiden University) and external partner prof. dr. Sjef Barbiers (Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal).

Tasks and responsibilities

• Finding, evaluating and developing digital tools, including LLMs, to assist in the morphological classification of complex words, the annotation of words and word-formation schemas, and network building;
• Investigating Dutch morphological constructions quantitatively and qualitatively;
• Presenting (joint) research results at workshops and conferences;
• Publishing (joint) research results;
• Participating in (the organisation of) knowledge dissemination activities;
• Participating in meetings and training sessions of the project research group.

Selection criteria:

• A PhD in linguistics, completed before the start date;
• Demonstrable expertise in computational modelling of grammatical patterns; affinity with the framework of Construction Grammar;
• Native or near-native proficiency of Dutch and excellent command of academic English;
• Excellent research and analytical skills.

Terms and conditions

Appointment will be according to the terms of the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO Nederlandse Universiteiten). The employment will be for a period of four years (0,75 fte) or three years (full time). You are expected to work in Leiden.

The first contract will be for 12 months with an extension for the following 36 months (0,75 fte) or 24 months (full time) contingent on performance and compatibility

The starting salary is € 4.925.- gross per month (pay scale 11, step 0), based on full time employment, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities and commensurate with qualifications and experience. Depending on qualifications, you may start at the appropriate step in scale 10 until you fully meet the requirements for scale 11 as specified by the Faculty of Humanities, particularly with regard to the number of years of relevant work experience. 

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. For international spouses we have set up a dual career programme. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. More at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions.

Starting date: after January 2027; exact date to be determined by mutual agreement.

Research at our faculty/institute

Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL) is one of seven Institutes that falls under the Faculty of Humanities. With over 120 linguists working at the Institute, it is a rich research environment that prides itself on fostering scientific excellence. At LUCL we offer extensive research support to our researchers.

LUCL has a longstanding tradition in the study of the world’s languages and features unique linguistic expertise. Researchers from our six umbrella research groups are experts in their respective fields while finding innovative ways of collaborating with colleagues in other fields and disciplines. 

The Faculty of Humanities at Leiden University is a unique international centre for the advanced study of languages, cultures, arts, and societies worldwide, in their historical contexts from prehistory to the present.  Our faculty is home to more than 6,000 students and 800 staff members. For more information see: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/humanities.

Diversity

Fostering an inclusive community is a central element of the values and vision of Leiden University. Leiden University is committed to becoming an inclusive community which enables all students and staff to feel valued and respected and to develop their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High quality teaching and research is inclusive.

Questions?

For further information on the research project and the Postdoc position please contact the PI, Jenny Audring, j.audring@hum.leidenuniv.nl

For practical questions, please contact the Institute Manager, Maarit van Gammeren: m.s.k.van.gammeren@hum.leidenuniv.nl.

Applications

Applications should be submitted no later than 1 November, 2026 via the blue button in our application system. Your application should include the following information:

• Curriculum Vitae and a list of publications.
• A cover letter explaining your motivation, background and qualifications for the position (max. 2 pages).
• Names, positions, and email addresses of two referees (no reference letters at this point).
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The vacancy closes on 1 November 2026. Interviews will take place in the second half of November 2026.

Enquiries from agencies are not appreciated.