POSTDOCTORAL POSITION – ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANT PROJECT - BIBALANCE

at the BCBL- Basque Center on Cognition Brain and Language (San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain) www.bcbl.eu

INFORMATION ABOUT THE POSITION

Position: Postdoctoral researcher
Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2 - PhD holders or equivalent who are not yet fully independent)
Number of vacancies: 1
Project: ERC Consolidator Grant - BIBALANCE: Early bilingualism boosts the brain’s resilience to dyslexia.
Location: Spain > Donostia-San Sebastián
Research Field: Neuroscience > Cognitive Computational Neuroscience and Neuroimaging
Type of contract/Duration of Contract: Temporary: 3 years.
Job Status: Full-time
Hours per week: 35
Starting date: September 2025 (flexible)
Ending date: 30^th of June 2025

Information about the project:

The Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL) is offering a PhD position within the BIBALANCE project, recently funded by the European Research Council (ERC). The project aims to investigate the impact of early bilingualism on the brain’s resilience to dyslexia, through increased interhemispheric connectivity. Specifically, we will examine whether bilingual experience and its effects on the brain’s architecture and connectivity can help mitigate genetic susceptibility to dyslexia. To achieve this objective, we will test bilingual children with and without a family history of dyslexia, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, using behavioural and neuroimaging techniques, including MEG and MRI.

Job description:

Designing and implementing longitudinal studies in children with or without (family risk of) dyslexia using neuroimaging (MEG and MRI) and behavioural methods
Analysing MEG recordings and MRI data
Writing research papers under the supervision of the PI, aiming to publish at top-tier journals
Dissemination of results at international scientific conferences
Assisting in the supervision of predoctoral students and research assistants
Candidates selected for this role may also be appointed to teach within the BCBL Master in cognitive neuroscience of language (https://www.bcbl.eu/en/study-with-us/masters-cognitive-neuroscience-language), subject to further evaluation and approval by the department.

PI and research group:

Marie Lallier, Ikerbasque Research Professor and leader of the Educational Neuroscience and Developmental Disorders group, will supervise the researcher’s work and tasks. The successful candidate will join a dynamic and vibrant research team composed of predoctoral, postdoctoral, and senior researchers collaborating on the BIBALANCE project. The group has extensive experience in clinical and educational neurocognitive science research and employs a wide range of behavioural and neuroimaging techniques (e.g., EEG, MEG), as well as diverse experimental designs (e.g., longitudinal, training-based, and single-case studies) involving young populations with or without developmental language disorders. The team is also strongly committed to the societal impact of science, actively engaging in the transfer of scientific knowledge to society by working closely with clinicians and educators and fostering dialogue between scientists and the broader community.

The project will be carried out in close collaboration with researchers from the Brain Rhythms and Cognition group and the Neurobiology of Language Research Group at the BCBL.

CANDIDATE PROFILE AND SELECTION CRITERIA

Required skills:

Background in cognitive neuroscience, linguistics, experimental psychology, or related fields.
Proven ability to conduct independent research, including leadership and supervision of junior researchers.
Excellent communication skills in English.
Excellent programming skills (e.g., MATLAB, Python)
Extensive experience and methodological expertise in MEG
Robust statistical analysis skills

Desirable skills:

Technical skills related to the manipulation of auditory stimuli (e.g., Praat)
Good communication skills and ability to collaborate in interdisciplinary environments
Experience with research projects young children with developmental disorders
Knowledge of Spanish

WORKING CONDITIONS

Salary: 30,000-32,000€/year gross depending on career stage

Entitlements and other benefits: https://www.bcbl.eu/en/join-us/what-is-like-to-work-bcbl

Training opportunities and Career development plan:

Researchers at any stage of their career, regardless of their contractual situation, are given an opportunity for professional development and for improving their employability through access to a Personal Career Development Plan which includes

(1) Training through individually personalized research projects under senior supervision

(2) Exchanging knowledge with the scientific community and the general public

(3) Network-wide training in theory and methods

(4) Complementary training courses

(5) Involvement in proposal writing, task coordination

(6) Development of skills for the organization of training and scientific events

BCBL seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support contact us.

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

Language policy

The corporative language at the Center is English
The center provides initial level Spanish and Basque lessons to all the international staff members
The interview will be conducted entirely in English

APPLICATION PROCESS

Submission of the application and documentation:

To submit your application, please follow this link: applying for “Postdoctoral Researcher Position - ERC Consolidator Grant - BIBALANCE” and attach the following documentation: