Brain and Language Research Institute, Aix-Marseille
University, France with Arnaud Rey, Thierry Legou and Joël Fagot Starting date:
October 2012 or later
A postdoctoral position is available at the Brain and
Language Research Institute (BLRI, a "Labex", Laboratoire
d'Excellence, created in 2012 under the auspices of the "Investissement
d'Avenir" French government programme :
http://blri.weebly.com/).
This multi-disciplinary research structure is hosted by Aix-Marseille
University, France.
The postdoc will work on a research project involving
experts in human language processing (Arnaud Rey), acoustic signal processing
(Thierry Legou) and animal cognition (Joël Fagot).
The long-term objective of this research project is
assess the primate origins of human language, as it pertains to the production
and control of vocalizations. This task will be implemented in the Primate
Cognition and Behavior Platform in Rousset (France) to take advantage of the
automatization of the test procedure and the very large number of data that can
be collected in this laboratory.
The postdoc will take part in developing new methods for
recording and processing the vocalizations of baboons produced in their social
context.
The main goal will be to collect a new ethogram and build
a new large-scale database on baboon’s vocalizations in order 1) to
characterize their vocal repertoire, 2) determine the acoustic features of
baboon vocalizations (e.g., time and frequency domains) and 3) to test the
descriptive adequacy of existing categorizations.
The candidate should preferably have a background in
ethology/primatology, animal (preferably vocal) communication.
Mastering the French (and baboon) language is not
necessary (but English is). The position is for one year.
The candidate should first contact Arnaud Rey (arnaud.rey@univ-amu.fr), Thierry Legou
(thierry.legou@univ-amu.fr)
or Joël Fagot (joel.fagot@univ-amu.fr).
Second, applications should be sent by email to philippe.blache@blri.fr and should include a CV, a brief statement of
research interests, the expected date of availability and the names of 3
references.
Applications should be sent before September 5th, 2012.