The PsyCLE Center invites applications for a fully funded PhD position to work with Dr. Marianne Jover and Dr. Céline Scola on Move to Tell, a project dedicated to unraveling the role of motor activity in the early development of intentional communication and the impact of preterm birth on this process. The project involves an interdisciplinary team of four researchers, three engineers, a PhD student, and a postdoctoral researcher.
The PhD student will investigate the early development of dyadic interactions through a longitudinal follow-up of infants (from 1 to 6 months) and compare typically developing infants with premature infants. She.he will use multimodal recordings (motion capture, voice, video) and time-series data analysis techniques (e.g., windowed cross-correlation).
We are seeking scientifically curious and motivated candidates to work with infants and their parents in a research setting.
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the research team, the PhD student will be involved in:
- Preparing experiments (multimodal recording, ethical proposal submission, etc.).
- Data acquisition (participant recruitment, longitudinal recordings, etc.).
- Data analysis (advanced time-series analysis methods).
- Presentation of research results at international scientific meetings and publication of in peer-reviewed journal articles
- Supervision of master theses
Candidate Profile
Essential Qualifications:
- Master’s degree (or equivalent) in psychology, cognitive science, or neuroscience.
- Strong interest in developmental psychology, infancy research, and/or motor development.
- Proficiency in behavioral data collection and signal processing (e.g., MATLAB, R).
- Strong written and spoken communication skills in English.
Desirable Skills:
- Previous research experience in a Babylab (e.g., internships).
- Experience in motion analysis.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
- Basic programming experience (e.g., MATLAB, Python).
What We Offer
Research Environment
The Move To Tell project takes place at Aix-Marseille University, and involves researchers from PsyCLE Center (UR 3273), Speech and Language Laboratory (LPL, UMR 7309) and H2C2 Research Platform.
Infant research in Aix-Marseille University is supported by a dynamic scientific community, as well as the Institute for Language, Communication, and the Brain (ILCB), which brings together leading researchers in infant communicative development.
The successful candidate will be based at the Maison de la Recherche in Aix-en-Provence, working in an open space alongside other doctoral students at the PsyCLE Center (Website). They will have access to the H2C2 research platform, including the Babylab, a state-of-the-art facility designed for infant research and accredited for studies involving human participants (Babylab website).
Funding & Contract Details
- Funding: The PhD position is fully funded by the A*Midex Foundation of Aix-Marseille University.
- Salary: Approx. €2,200/month (€1,600 after taxes), based on the Collective Wage Agreement for the Civil Service.
- Duration: 3 years, starting September or October 2025.
- Working hours: 35 hours per week.
Supervision & Training
- Supervisors: Dr. Marianne Jover (Professor) & Dr. Céline Scola (Associate Professor).
- The PhD student will participate in:
- Lectures and thesis monitoring as part of the Aix-Marseille University PhD program.
- Seminars, workshops, and international conferences.
- Project meetings, workshops, and interdisciplinary events.
- Optional teaching opportunities in psychology (depending on expertise).
Application Process
Deadline: May 30th, 2025
Required Documents:
- CV (max. 3 pages).
- Motivation letter (max. 2 pages) describing research interests, qualifications, and motivation.
- Academic transcripts and copies of degrees/certificates.
- Master’s thesis (or equivalent research work).
- Names and contact details of two referees (who have agreed to be contacted).
- Relevant publications (if any).
Interview Process
- Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online or in-person interview with the two supervisors and the project’s scientific advisor, Prof. Daniela Corbetta.
- The selection process will be completed by the end of June 2025.
How to Apply
Send all required documents as a single PDF file (with your name as the file name) in the following order: CV, Motivation letter, Academic transcripts & degrees, Master’s thesis, Contact details of two referees, Publications (if applicable)
Submit your application to marianne.jover@univ-amu.fr with the subject line: PhD Application – Move To Tell.
Contact Information
For informal inquiries, please contact Dr. Marianne Jover (marianne.jover@univ-amu.fr).
