PhD candidate (Anthropological Linguistics, Descriptive Linguistics)

Vacancy number:  16732

Job type:  PhD positions

Contract hours min:  38

Contract hours max:  38

Location:  Leiden

Applying is possible up to and including:  15 september 2026

Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University Centre for Linguistics has a vacancy for a

PhD candidate (Anthropological Linguistics, Descriptive Linguistics) 

Vacancy number: 16732

Deadline: September 15th , 2026 

Description:

Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL) invites applications for a fully funded PhD position within the NWO Vidi project “Grammars of Space and Time: Language, Culture and Cognition in Ethiopia’s Omo Valley” [https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/research/research-projects/humanities/space-and-time-in-ethiopias-omo-valley]. The project investigates how language, culture, and environment shape the conceptualization of space and time across diverse communities in southwestern Ethiopia. The project addresses these themes through a comparative investigation of languages spoken in Ethiopia’s Omo Valley. It combines linguistic description, ethnographic fieldwork, and cognitive methods to examine spatial reference systems, deixis, frames of reference, and space–time mappings.

The PhD project focuses on Aari, an Omotic language spoken in southwestern Ethiopia. Particular attention will be paid to the expression of space and time in both rural and urban communities, exploring how language use may vary across ecological and sociocultural settings. The PhD candidate will produce a grammatical analysis of Aari with particular focus on spatial and temporal expressions based on immersive fieldwork.  

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Collecting audio-visual linguistic and cultural data through ethnographic fieldwork;  
• Transcribing, annotating and analysing naturalistic data; 
• Creating stimuli for the investigation of spatial and temporal domains.   
• Presenting research results at international conferences and workshops; 
• Publishing research results and write a PhD-thesis within the period of appointment; 
• Contributing to the development of the Omo Valley Space-Time Database and other collaborative outputs. 
• Teaching or assisting in teaching activities at bachelor or master level.  

Selection criteria:

• A completed Master’s degree in linguistics or adjacent disciplines such as  anthropology of language. 
• Demonstrated interest in language documentation, field linguistics, semantics, linguistic anthropology, or cognitive linguistics 
• Excellent research and fieldwork skills demonstrated by your Master’s thesis;  
• Good command of English;  
• Working knowledge of Amharic or other Ethiopian languages is an advantage;  
• A strong cooperative attitude and willingness to engage in collaborative research.

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. Current theoretical insights are combined with modern experimental methods in its research profile area ‘Language Diversity in the World’. Researchers from our six umbrella research groups are experts in their respective fields but equally find innovative ways of collaborating with 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. 

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 (first a contract of 12 months with an extension of 36 months after positive evaluation of capabilities and compatibility), starting 1st January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter. You are expected to work in Leiden and the appointment must lead to the completion of a PhD thesis.  

Salary range from € 3,059 gross per month in the first year for a fulltime appointment – € 3,881 in the fourth year (pay scale for PhDs, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities), with substantial additional holiday and end-of-year bonuses. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. 

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. 

Information

For further information on this project please contact dr. Sara Petrollino: [email protected]. 
For practical questions, please contact the Institute Manager, Maarit van Gammeren: [email protected].  

Applications

Applications should be submitted no later than September 15th , 2026 via the blue button in our application system. 

Applicants should submit online: 

• A motivation letter; 
• A detailed curriculum vitae; 
• A (link to a) pdf of your MA thesis and a pdf of an article or a term paper that you wrote; 
• A list of all Master-level modules you have taken, with an official transcript of grades; 
• Names, positions and contact information of two referees (no reference letters). 

Interviews are planned at the end of October  

Enquiries from agencies are not appreciated.