We are very pleased to announce an upcoming four-year fully funded predoctoral research training (FPI) contract to undertake a PhD within the research project AURI – Argument Structure of Unergative Predicates and Related Interface Phenomena (PID2025-171173NB-I00), funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
The project is based at Rovira i Virgili University (URV) and is led by Isabel Oltra-Massuet (PI). The successful candidate will join the Research Group on Language and Linguistics (ROLLING) and pursue their PhD within the interuniversity Doctoral Programme in Cognitive Science and Language. AURI investigates argument structure and event structure at the lexicon–syntax interface, with unergativity as a central testing ground for broader theories of argument realization. The project examines how unergative configurations relate to transitive, unaccusative, causative, resultative and light verb structures, and how argument realization interacts with the syntactic and semantic properties of roots. The project adopts a neoconstructionist approach to argument structure, and pays particular attention to the internal heterogeneity of unergative predicates, including their interaction with internal arguments, prepositional complements, cognate objects and light verb constructions, as well as to properties of external arguments such as causation, agentivity and animacy. While the research is primarily concerned with Catalan, Spanish and English, it also encourages the comparative evidence from other languages.
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a strong background in theoretical linguistics, particularly syntax and morphology, who is interested in developing research on argument structure, event structure and the lexicon-syntax interface. Potential dissertation topics may address unergativity, cognate objects, light verb constructions, or closely related questions and interface phenomena in argument and event structure. Candidates interested in cross-linguistic and/or experimental approaches are particularly welcome. Previous experience with artificial language learning, experimental linguistics or the psycholinguistics of argument structure will be considered an advantage, but is not a requirement. The precise dissertation topic will be developed jointly with the successful candidate, taking into account both the aims of AURI and the candidate's own research interests and expertise.
Applicants should hold a Master's degree in Linguistics, Philology, or a closely related field, have an excellent academic record at both undergraduate and Master's level, and demonstrate a strong interest in morphosyntax, argument structure and interface phenomena. Knowledge of Catalan is not required at the time of application. However, as Catalan is the main institutional language of the university, the successful candidate will be expected to acquire a working knowledge of Catalan within the first two years of the PhD.
The position will be based in the Department of English and German Studies at Rovira i Virgili University, Tarragona, Spain.
The official call has not yet been published but is expected to open shortly. Prospective candidates are therefore strongly encouraged to get in touch as soon as possible. If you are interested, please contact Isabel Oltra-Massuet at isabel.oltra@urv.cat, including:
an up-to-date CV; a brief statement of motivation and research interests; the names and email addresses of two academic referees.
Expressions of interest at this stage are informal and do not replace the application to the official call once it opens.