Descripción de la oferta
Job Offer Postdoctoral Researcher - Bilingual Lens - Infant Language and Cognition Research Group (M.K.) at the BCBL- Basque Center on Cognition Brain and Language (San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain) The Basque Center on Cognition Brain and Language (BCBL) in San Sebastian (Basque Country, Spain) is looking for a POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER to join its team. INFORMATION ABOUT THE POSITION Position: Postdoctoral researcher Researcher profile: Recognised Researcher (R2 - PhD holders or equivalent who are not yet fully independent) Number of vacancies: 1 Founding source: ERC Bilingual LENS Research field: Neuroscience > Cognition and Language Type of contract/Duration of Contract: Temporary, 3 years. Job Status: Full-time Starting date: 1 June 2026 (an earlier start date may also be considered) Information about the project The Infant Language and Cognition group at the BCBL welcomes applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position funded by the European Research Council Consolidator Project Bilingual LENS. The goal is to determine the quantity, quality, and timing of early bilingual exposure that accurately predict bilingual infants’ individual language outcomes. For this purpose, the project will conduct large‑scale longitudinal studies, combining neuroimaging, behavioural, and observational measures, to assess bilingual infants’ dual language development during the first two years of life. The studies will target three core components: (1) neural maturation, (2) stimulation through language exposure, and (3) the maturation‑exposure interaction. Specifically, the focus will be on the development of the maturation‑exposure interaction over time, and its role in the continuous fine‑tuning of infants’ perceptual sensitivities to their native languages and developing dual‑language competence. The postdoctoral researcher will join the multidisciplinary team of the Bilingual LENS project and will work closely with the Principal Investigator (Dr. Marina Kalashnikova) and members of the Infant Language and Cognition group. The successful candidate will have a strong interest in developmental neuroscience, language acquisition, and bilingualism. The primary responsibility for this position is to develop and lead fNIRS studies on early language processing. In addition, the postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for processing and analysing complex fNIRS data, as well as related behavioural and observational data, and developing methods to model longitudinal trajectories of bilingual infants’ language processing skills and language exposure. This position offers an engaging collaborative environment and opportunities to contribute to cutting‑edge research on bilingual language development in infancy. In addition to core longitudinal work, the researcher will have opportunities to design complementary cross‑sectional studies within the Bilingual LENS framework. Postdoctoral researchers at the BCBL can acquire mentoring skills by co‑supervising Master’s and PhD students and have the opportunity to gain teaching experience on the BCBL’s Master’s program in cognitive neuroscience of language. PI and research group The Infant Language and Cognition (ILC) group at the BCBL investigates early language acquisition in monolingual and bilingual infants and the interactions between early language abilities and general perceptual and cognitive development. The team combines linguistics, psychology, and neuroscience, with unrestricted access to the BCBL’s BabyLab, which hosts specialised methods including fNIRS, EEG, eye‑tracking, and LENA. The ILC group is led by Dr. Marina Kalashnikova ( an Ikerbasque Research Associate Professor and Principal Investigator on the Bilingual LENS project. Dr. Kalashnikova investigates language acquisition, focusing on the qualities of infants’ early linguistic environment and its role in shaping developmental trajectories. CANDIDATE PROFILE AND SELECTION CRITERIA Required skills: A PhD (or nearly completed) in a field related to developmental cognitive neuroscience or developmental psychology. Experience with neurophysiological or neuroimaging methods. Solid skills in relevant statistical analyses. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Experience with fNIRS data collection and analysis. Strong interest in developmental neuroscience, language acquisition, and bilingualism. Experience in research with infant populations. Salary: €30 000–32 000 gross annual, depending on time elapsed since PhD defence. Entitlements and other benefits: Training opportunities and Career development plan: Researchers at any stage receive professional development opportunities through a Personal Career Development Plan, including: (1) Training via personalized research projects under senior supervision (2) Sharing knowledge with the scientific community and the public (3) Network‑wide training in theory and methods (4) Complementary training courses (5) Involvement in proposal writing and task coordination (6) Skill development for training and scientific event organisation. BCBL fosters an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, sex, sexual orientation, age, sociocultural background, nationality, or impairments. We have an LGTBIQ+ Plan and a Gender Equality Plan to promote inclusion and equal opportunities. If you have questions about accessibility or support, please contact us. For inquiries about the position and research group, please email: #J-18808-Ljbffr
