[CogSci] Post doc/research scientist position: Why does early vocabulary influence so many cognitive outcomes?

[Smith, Linda B.]

Research Scientist for Indiana University Cognitive Development Lab

 The Cognitive Development Lab at Indiana University-Bloomington (PI: Linda Smith) invites applications for a Research Scientist to assist in the creation and analysis of a shareable data set (of already collected data) from nearly 10,000 children ages 15 to 36 months.  There is both a scientific premise and a methodological premise underlying the project.

The scientific premise is that the size and composition of vocabularies influences plays a role in many cognitive domains.  This premise is based on the many experiments and predictive studies already published.  But we know little in detail about the specific nature of these developmental paths, the inflection points, when intervention might be relevant.  This project focuses on the interplay between early vocabulary and developmental changes in visual object recognition.   The literature indicates multiple causal factors and inflection points that can disrupt this early stage of vocabulary growth — limitations in audition, or vision, in phonological representations, in visual attention, in the composition of early vocabularies, and in the quality and composition of language input --- and as a downstream consequence higher order visual cognition.

The methodological premise concerns how to leverage all the extant data that has been already collected on these issues; experiments with many of the same overlapping measures but designed with specific hypotheses in mind and relatively small data sets. The methodological premise for this project is that given some overlapping measures in the individual data sets and through the use of advanced analytic tools including machine learning and graph theoretics, one can discover multiple developmental pathways in aggregated datasets that implicate causal pathways.  These inferred pathways can then be tested in aggregated longitudinal datasets.

 Strong applicants will have quantitative and computational training as well as experience in behavioral science, ideally in development, language, or visual cognition.


 The successful applicant will have:

  *   • Excellent research track record.
  *   • Excellent programming skills.
  *   • Experience in computational and statistical methods and analyses including either graph theoretic of machine learning approaches (or both).
  *   • A track record of initiative, ability to lead a team (of undergraduates/masters students) and effective teamwork.
  *   • Fit of this project with their own career trajectory/goals

The salary range is between $70,000 and $75,000.

How to Apply: Interested candidates should apply by submitting a cover letter describing your interests and prior experiences, CV, and contact information for three references here:  https://indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings/26344.


Applications will be accepted and reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

 Questions regarding the position or application process can be directed to: Dr. Linda Smith (smith4 at iu.edu<mailto:smith4 at iu.edu>

Indiana University is an equal employment and affirmative action employer and a provider of ADA services. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on individual qualifications. Indiana University prohibits discrimination based on age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.



!!PLEASE CHANGE MY CONTACT EMAIL TO smith4 at iu.edu<mailto:smith4 at iu.edu>!!

Linda Smith
Chancellor's Professor
Distinguished Professor
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
1101 East 10th Street
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405
cogdev.lab.Indiana.edu<http://cogdev.lab.Indiana.edu>





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