Research Assistant in the ERC Project DivCon

Gothenburg University meets societal challenges with versatile knowledge. 58,000 students and 6,800 employees make the university a large and inspiring workplace. Strong research and attractive education attract researchers and students from all over the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, Gothenburg University contributes to a better future.

We offer Gothenburg University is a government authority, which means good employment benefits such as wellness during working hours, reimbursement for medical visits, basic vacation of 28 days, and occupational pension. You can read more about our employment benefits here (https://www.gu.se).

At the Department of Philosophy, Linguistics, and Theory of Science (FLoV) at the Faculty of Humanities, we have about 120 employees and a teaching volume that includes approximately 350 full-year students. A number of large international and interdisciplinary research projects are underway in areas such as theoretical and practical philosophy, logic, linguistics, data linguistics, language technology, and theory of science.

Project Description

You will be employed at FLoV as a research assistant in the ERC project: DivCon: Divergence and convergence in dialogue: The dynamic management of mismatches, which started in May 2023 and is led by Christine Howes.

As more and more of our interactions take place through digital channels, it has become increasingly important to understand how we communicate and interact with others through computers and digital devices. In this context, the DivCon project, funded by the European Research Council, aims to change our understanding of human interaction, particularly within computer-mediated communication. The project will create a new experimental platform for live multimodal interactions using avatars and virtual reality, as well as develop a precise theory of divergence and convergence in interaction that unites verbal and non-verbal dialogue phenomena. Ultimately, the project's results will pave the way for more adaptive conversation-based AI systems that can better simulate human-like communication.

Language interaction is the overarching theme of research in data linguistics at FLoV. This includes an interest in formal models of language concerning the social methods and psychological mechanisms through which language is used - not merely systems of conventions that build up language.

Job Responsibilities

The person employed as a research assistant is expected to assist project participants with tasks that include, but are not limited to, recruiting participants for experimental studies, conducting experiments for data collection on-site and remotely using various forms of computer-mediated communication (text, video, and social robots), as well as analyzing collected data.

The research assistant is also expected to participate in the project's activities, such as meetings, workshops, and possibly seminars. The majority of the work will be performed on-site at Gothenburg University. The research group's common working language is English.

Qualifications

We are looking for someone with a relevant master's degree in a subject area pertinent to the tasks or a foreign degree assessed to be equivalent to a master's degree in data linguistics, cognitive science, or linguistics. Documented experience in research, research projects, and research administration within higher education institutions in Sweden is strongly meritorious.

We seek someone who has the ability to work independently but also appreciates collaborating in a team. You have good organizational skills and need to be a meticulous, structured, and creative person who is flexible in performing your tasks.

We will make a holistic assessment of competence and skill to hire the applicant deemed to have the best conditions to perform the tasks. We place great emphasis on personal suitability.

Good knowledge of English and Swedish, both spoken and written, is a requirement.

Employment

Employment form: Fixed-term employment, SÄVA
Scope: 50%
Placement: Department of Philosophy, Linguistics, and Theory of Science, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg
Start date: 2026-03-02 to 2026-07-02, with the possibility of extension

The university applies individual salary setting.

Appointment Procedure and Application

For information on the appointment procedure and how to apply, see the full advertisement at www.gu.se (https://www.gu.se).

The university actively works for a work environment with equal conditions and values the qualities diversity brings to the operations.

According to the National Archives' regulations, the university is obliged to store application documents for two years after the appointment decision. If you, as an applicant for a position, specifically request the return of your documents, they will be sent back after the two years have passed; otherwise, they will be disposed of.

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