Fully Funded 4-Year PhD Position in Argument Structure and Interface Phenomena
Institution: Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Tarragona, Spain
Department: English and German Studies
Research group: ROLLING – Research Group on Language and Linguistics
Project: AURI – Argument Structure of Unergative Predicates and Related Interface Phenomena (PID2025-171173NB-I00)
Principal Investigator / PhD Supervisor: Prof. Isabel Oltra-Massuet
Position reference: 2026PIPF-PREP-10
Application deadline: October 23, 2026 (23:59 CEST)
Applications are invited for a fully funded four-year predoctoral research position at Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Tarragona, Spain), associated with the research project AURI – Argument Structure of Unergative Predicates and Related Interface Phenomena, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
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. Research project
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 primarily focuses on Catalan, Spanish, and English, comparative evidence from other languages is also encouraged. Candidate profile.
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 crosslinguistic 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 required.
The precise dissertation topic will be developed jointly with the successful candidate, taking into account both the aims of AURI and the candidate's research interests and expertise.
Eligibility and conditions
Applicants must meet the academic requirements for admission to doctoral studies established in the official call by the application deadline.
Degrees obtained outside Spain may be accepted subject to the relevant equivalence and eligibility requirements.
An excellent academic record and strong preparation in theoretical linguistics are particularly desirable.
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 offers a full-time predoctoral employment contract for up to four years, with an annual gross salary of up to €25,456.20, subject to the conditions of the official call.
Application procedure
Applications must be submitted through the official Universitat Rovira i Virgili recruitment procedure, indicating position reference 2026PIPF-PREP-10.
Deadline: October 23, 2026 (23:59 CEST)
Full call, eligibility requirements, and application instructions:
For academic inquiries about the research project, please contact Prof. Isabel Oltra-Massuet isabel.oltra@urv.cat at Universitat Rovira i Virgili.