Post-Doctoral Researcher Computational Linguistics / Cognitive Science
Application deadline : 06.03.2026
The following position is available at the Department of Linguistics of the Faculty of Humanities beginning May 1st 2026 or shortly after.
The position will be filled for a fixed term of three years. Payment is at 100% of pay scale E13.
The position is associated with the nation-wide research priority area “LaSTing: Robust Assessment & Safe Applicability of Language Modeling: Foundations for a New Field of Language Science & Technology,” which is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The priority area contributes to a better understanding of language technology (in particular, large language models, LLMs) and its applicability in the sciences, with a focus on linguistics and cognitive science. It unites ca. 20 research projects from different German universities, plus international collaborators, from diverse academic disciplines.
The position is part of the research project “Unreal engines — Understanding language models through resource-optimal analysis: Implicit Bayesian pragmatic reasoning & emergent causal world models”. The project uses general approaches from cognitive science (resource-rational analysis) to investigate in how far LLMs may acquire “causal world models”. The focus of the project is on the latent representations in LLMs that enable pragmatically adequate context-dependent language use. The project uses causal intervention methods and draws on theoretical insights from research on causation in statistics, logic and philosophy.
Requirements for employment are a completed PhD degree in a relevant field (computational linguistics, computer science, cognitive science, or similar), near native-level of spoken and written English, and robust conceptual and analytical skills, as documented through prior research publications. Practical experience with LLMs (e.g., training, fine-tuning, mechanistic interpretability methods) is required. Strong candidates will also have some familiarity with the far-reaching literature on causation. The ability to work in a diverse team, with members from different backgrounds and different experience levels is required as well.
The project offers a cohesive and diverse research environment at the University of Tübingen and is embedded in dedicated interdisciplinary project team in the Cognitive Science & Pragmatics lab. The project’s embedding in a wider nation-wide and internationally visible research priority area offers excellent networking, educational and career opportunities.
The University of Tübingen seeks to raise the number of women in research and teaching and therefore urges qualified female academics to apply for these positions. Equally qualified applicants with disabilities will be given preference in the hiring process. The University of Tübingen is committed to equal opportunities and diversity. It therefore takes individual situations into account and asks for relevant information. The employment will be handled by the central administration of the University of Tübingen.
Please send your application together with the required documents (motivation letter summarizing your research experience and interests, extensive CV, list of publications, contact details of three potential referees) by March 6th, 2026 to Prof. Dr. Michael Franke, Keplerstr. 2, 72074 Tübingen, e-mail: sekretariat.pragmatik@semsprach.uni-tuebingen.de . Enquiries may also be sent to this address.
General information on hiring processes and the German academic system can be found here.
