Summary
The Bridging AI and Neuroscience (BrAIN) group at the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems (MPI-SWS) in Saarbrücken, Germany, is seeking an outstanding Postdoctoral Researcher. This role is part of the newly funded ERC Starting Grant project BrainAlign, which aims to develop a new generation of language models aligned with the human brain, focusing on long-range language understanding and novel behavioral evaluation methods.
Designation
Postdoctoral Researcher
Research Area
- Natural Language Processing (NLP)
- Behavioral Evaluation
- Long-Range Language Understanding
- Machine Learning
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Computer Science and Mathematics
Location
Saarbrücken, Germany
Job Description
The successful candidate will lead the human behavioral evaluation and long-range language understanding component of the BrainAlign project. Key responsibilities include:
- Designing and developing behavioral tasks for long-range language understanding based on complete natural-language narratives and books.
- Developing a gamified online platform for collecting large-scale behavioral data from readers.
- Analyzing human behavioral data.
- Developing and applying evaluation methods for assessing the linguistic capabilities of brain-aligned language models (BALMs).
- Collaborating closely with other BrainAlign researchers on underlying brain-aligned models and contributing to joint publications.
- Publishing research in leading venues in machine learning, natural language processing, and computational/cognitive neuroscience.
This position offers a unique opportunity to develop new scientific paradigms for evaluating language understanding beyond existing benchmarks, addressing fundamental questions about AI systems’ comprehension over human-like timescales.
Eligibility/Qualification
We are looking for candidates with a strong background in natural language processing, machine learning, cognitive science, psycholinguistics, or behavioral research. Required qualifications include:
- A PhD (or expected PhD completion before the start date) in natural language processing, computer science, cognitive science, psychology, psycholinguistics, or a related discipline.
- Strong experience with NLP and/or evaluation of language models.
- Strong quantitative and programming skills, preferably in Python.
- A strong publication record relative to career stage.
- Ability to work independently and across disciplinary boundaries.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
Highly desirable skills and experience:
- Experience designing and analyzing human behavioral experiments.
- Experience with experimental design, statistical analysis, or crowdsourcing/online behavioral data collection.
- Experience with large language models, long-context language understanding, psycholinguistics, narrative comprehension, human-centered AI, or online experimentation.
How to Apply
Applicants are required to upload the following documents:
- CV (including a publication list)
- A summary of previous research
- A statement of interest
Additionally, applicants should provide the names and contact information of up to 3 possible referees, who will be contacted after shortlisting.
For any problems with the application tool, please contact postdocprogram@gv.mpg.de.
Last Date for Apply
Until position filled
Please refer to the application platform for specific deadlines related to the September 2026 application round.
Apply Link
Please refer to the original source URL for the application portal: https://postdocprogram.mpg.de/node/58481
