Talent+ 3-month Internships

About the program

Talent+ is a multifaceted training program providing cutting-edge research experience and training skills to talented people from under-represented backgrounds. It is specifically and carefully tailored to make them competitive for a career in Cognitive Science. Examples of under-represented groups include: people from the global south, people from historically ethnically or economically disadvantaged backgrounds, first generation college educated people, first generation immigrants, and people with disabilities.

The Max Planck Society recognizes the positive value of diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, color, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. We explicitly encourage women to apply. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration if their suitability, qualifications and professional performance are otherwise essentially equal. Furthermore, with this program we also explicitly encourage applications from students living in low- and middle-income countries which are currently underrepresented in science. For more information about the Talent+ program and our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy, please visit our website.

Eligibility

The Talent+ Internship is for motivated people who are constrained by personal, financial, regional, or societal issues that negatively affect their future education and/or work opportunities.

Internships are open for applicants who:

• have a BA/BSc degree
• have a background in a field relevant to the research conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics (e.g., biology, genetics, linguistics, languages, psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, or any other related field)
• have a good command of the English language
• can express their motivation in terms of general motivation for research, specific motivation for the research conducted at the MPI, and academic initiative, among others. Please use the provided motivation letter template.
• have strong reasons why their access to highly funded institutions is constrained. In particular, we prioritize candidates who:

1. are unlikely to have accessed similar opportunities already
2. will benefit their future career in research based on the training we offer

• are available for the entire duration of 3 months starting from September 1st 2024 (note: due to visa regulations you cannot extend your stay in the country beyond 90 days)
• are undertaking a voluntary internship (note: we cannot provide course credits as part of course requirements)

 

Applications

Applications will be submitted via our application portal. You will need to fill out personal information as well as submit the following documents (please consult our guidelines before completing these documents):

• CV (max. 2 pages). (see template)
• Motivational letter (see template) that includes:

1. General motivation to pursue a career in science and to participate in this internship
2. Description of previous experience
3. Specification of which one of the departments or research groups that the Max Planck Institute for Psycholingustics has you would like to conduct your internship in. See available departments and research groups further below.
4. Statement on factors that may constrain the applicant’s access to internationally renowned institutions, e.g., financial, regional, or personal circumstances

• Names and contact information of 2 or 3 referees that we could contact for reference letters.
• Transcripts from all your university studies (if no official English translation is available from your university, please provide one yourself in the first instance), and degree certificates (if available)

 

Departments and research groups at the MPI

Visit our website for more information about the departments and research groups:

Language Development Department
Psychology of Language Department
Language and Genetics Department
LEADS Research Group
LaCNS Research Group
Imaging Genomics
The Communicative Brain

Selection process

The selection process consists of three main stages:

Pre-selection
All applications are pre-screened by the Talent+ Committee before they are made available to potential supervisors who will evaluate candidates‘ applications and suitability for projects.

Interviews
Shortlisted candidates are invited to complete a virtual interview. These interviews include personal as well as technical questions.

Acceptance
If you are selected following the interview, you will receive an e-mail with your official Talent+ offer letter.

Timeline

1. April 17th: Applications open
2. May 15th: Applications close
3. Week of 10-14 June: Interviews
4. June 21st: Notification of acceptance
5. Beginning of September: Start of internship

 

Visa

Please be aware that the process of obtaining a visa can vary substantially in time and that it is outside our control. We will support accepted students who require a visa in the process as best as we can. We require that the visa process be started (e.g., by requesting an appointment with the corresponding consulate or embassy) within 10 business days of acceptance. However, we cannot guarantee that visas will be granted in time for the internship. In cases of delays in the visa application process, we will try to seek solutions on an individual case basis (such as deferral of the internship position by a year).

 

Funding 

Interns will receive a monthly stipend of € 1650,- net  to cover living expenses, housing and health insurance. Interns also receive compensation for their travel costs both locally and internationally.

Miscellaneous

Please note that in the event of any unexpected developments (e.g., a global pandemic) and possible travel restrictions, we reserve our right to make changes to the program including the deferral of the program by one year.

The Employer

The Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Psycholinguistics is entirely devoted to psycholinguistics—the study of how we produce and understand language, and how we acquire these skills as first or second language learners. Our goal is to understand how our minds and brains process language, how language interacts with other aspects of mind and with other agents, how multiple modalities (as in speech, gesture and sign) shape language and its use in diverse languages, and how we can learn languages of quite different types. We are situated on the campus of the Radboud University and have close collaborative links with the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and the Centre for Language Studies at Radboud University.  We also work closely with other child development researchers as part of the Baby and Child Research Centre.

Staff and students at the MPI have access to state-of-the art research and training facilities (including audio-visual equipment, EEG, fMRI, eye tracking, virtual reality labs, molecular biology labs and a child-friendly child development lab).

The Institute is part of the Max Planck Society, an independent non-governmental association of German-funded research institutes dedicated to fundamental research in the natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and the humanities.

The MPI for Psycholinguistics recognizes the positive value of diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We are committed to redressing systemic problems with diversity in science, and therefore welcome applications from individuals from minority groups and from groups that are otherwise under-represented.

 

Contact

Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics
Wundtlaan 1
6525 XD Nijmegen
The Netherlands
+31 (0)24-3521911

If you have any questions, please contact us at talent [at] mpi.nl (talent[at]mpi[dot]nl)
Please first check if your question is among the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below:

FAQs about eligibility | Last Updated: 06 May 2024

01. Can I apply for a Talent+ internship when I have a PhD degree or am currently enrolled in a PhD program?

You can, but we will prioritize people without a PhD and who have had no access to institutions in the Global North.

02. Can I apply for the 3-month internship program if I already have a Master’s degree?

Yes, you can definitely apply to both internships, especially if you're unsure where your profile fits best. Your CV will surely be the same for both, but you should individually motivate your choice for your 3-month and the 6-month internship specifically in each motivation letter.

03. Can I apply for the 3-month internship if I am enrolled in Bachelor’s program but haven’t graduated yet?

If you expect to graduate before the start date of the internship, you can apply. We will prioritize people with a Bachelor’s degree.

04. Can I apply for both the 3-month and the 6-month program?

Yes. If you are not sure which one is a better fit, you could apply to both. It will be the same committee reviewing it.

05. Can I apply if I am already in the Netherlands?

Yes. In fact, we encourage people from underrepresented groups in the Netherlands (such as refugees, first/second/third generation immigrants, first generation college educated people) to apply.

06. Do I need prior research experience?

The short answer is no. We are looking for candidates who have not had extensive research experience or access to highly funded institutions but are interested in going into research or pursuing a PhD.

07. Can I apply to more than one department / research group?

The reason why we ask you to declare a department is that we want to know specifically what research/techniques/researchers you're interested in working with. That being said, if you have 2 departments that you are interested in and can justify why you want to join each of them, that's fine. What we ask is that you motivate your choices and clarify how and why you chose that department.

08. Should I apply to a department whose research topics that I have more experience in or to one that I am interested in but have no experience in?

The purpose of this program is looking forward. Although your experience and knowledge so far matter and will be taken into account, we want to know what your future goals and your interests are and hopefully help you move in that direction.

09. Do I have to stick to the department I initially chose?

When we reach the interview stage, you will have been assigned to a specific department and ideally to a specific supervisor. At that point, you will not be able to change departments.

10. If I am not eligible for the Talent+ program, is there another way to apply for an internship or PhD at the MPI?

Yes, there is. Check out our other vacancies here.

FAQs about the program | Last Updated: 06 May 2024

01. Are the Talent+ internships full-time or part-time?

Both the 3-month and 6-month internships are full-time. If there are specific reasons why you need to work part-time (such as care responsibilities, health issues), please let us know in the motivation letter and we will do our best to accommodate.

02. Can I work part-time next to the internship?

If you are here on a visa, you will not be able to work or study outside of this internship. This internship is by default full-time (although we can discuss this on a case by case basis if there are specific reasons why you would need to work part-time) and we would like for you to take full advantage of the internship, which means you will not be able to work extra. That being said, if there are economic constraints that would make it difficult for you to subsist on the stipend we are providing, we are willing to discuss this on a case-by-case basis.

03. Can this internship turn into a PhD at the MPI?

No, if you want to pursue a PhD at the MPI, you have to apply independently.

04. Can I take courses during the internship?

For legal reasons, if you're on a visa you may not enroll in a degree granting program using the same visa as your internship. You also may not use this internship for course credit. You will also not be enrolled at the university through this program so you will not be able to take university courses as part of this internship. Given that we suggest and strongly prefer that the internship be full-time we do not recommend that you take courses.

05. How much spare time will I have? Do I have to be at the MPI everyday?

The default assumption is that you will work approximately 40 hours a week. If you have special circumstances that preclude you from doing that, we are open to discussing other options. The specific dates and times that you will be required to attend the institute will be established on a case-by-case basis with your supervisor.

06. Is there a tuition fee? Will I be enrolled at the university? Will I receive a diploma or degree upon completion of the internship?

No, there is no tuition fee as you will not be enrolled in a diploma or degree granting program at a university. You will be an intern at the institute, working directly with a supervisor rather than taking courses for credit.

FAQs about the application procedure | Last Updated: 06 May 2024

01. What documents do I need to include in addition to my CV and motivation letter?

In addition to your CV and motivation letter, please only include your university diploma and transcript. If you have a certificate of an English exam, you can also include it, though this is not obligatory.

02. Do I have to answer all the questions in the motivation letter template?

We want to make sure that you address all of the topics in the motivation letter as well as the questions in bold. The other questions are simply suggestions to give you a sense of the kind of information we are looking for in that section.

03. Can I submit provisional documents if I am still waiting for my official diploma?

Yes, absolutely.

04. Do I need to submit reference letters?

We require that you provide the names of 2 to 3 references. They may be asked to answer some questions about their experience working with you, but you will not need to present the reference letters with your initial application.

05. Who is a suitable reference? Can it be my friend?

We require that at least 1 but preferably 2 of your references be people that have supervised you (professor, internship supervisor, university mentor, etc) but you may provide an additional reference who has not supervised you if you believe they can provide a relevant characterization of how you work and perform in a work environment.

06. Is 1 reference enough if I don't have 2?

We strongly recommend that you provide at least 2 names of possible references.

FAQs about visa and logistics | Last Updated: 06 May 2024

01. What type of visa should I apply for?

If you are accepted for the 3-month internship, you should apply for a short-stay business visa. If you are accepted for the 6-month internship, you should apply for an apprentice visa.

02. When should I start my visa application?

As soon as possible, and no more than 10 working days after acceptance. Please notify us as soon as you apply for a visa and keep us updated of the process.

03. Will you help me get a visa?

We will provide guidance from our HR department and we will assist with any questions, providing as much information as we can. We will not be able to provide you with a lawyer or do any of the processing ourselves in your stead.

04. Can I extend my visa for holiday purposes?

No, you would have to apply for a separate visa for that.

05. Can I extend my stay in the Netherlands/ at the MPI?

No, not on the same visa. The contract will end after 3 months or 6 months depending on your internship.

06. Can I bring my family with me?

The short-stay business visa and apprentice visa usually do not allow for family members of the applicant to come to the Netherlands. If you need to bring family members along, let us know in the motivation letter and we will try to accommodate you.

07. Will the MPI pay for my visa?

We have a limited budget to cover visa costs. If you have been accepted for the internship, please consult with us about the specifics of your situation.

08. Will the MPI pay for my flight?

Yes. We will reimburse your travel costs to Nijmegen on arrival and from Nijmegen on departure. You will have to book your own ticket and get reimbursed after arrival. If this presents an obstacle, please contact us.

09. Will the MPI provide assistance in finding housing in Nijmegen?

Yes, we will provide assistance. We will be in touch with you about housing and other logistical issues after you’ve been accepted for the internship program.

General FAQs | Last Updated: 06 May 2024

01. Are there going to be info sessions in which I can ask my questions live?

There were Q&A Sessions on zoom on May 2nd at the following times:
 
 09:00-10:00 CEST for Asia and Australia
 10:00-11:00 CEST for the Middle East
 11:00-12:00 CEST for Africa
 15:00-16:00 CEST for Europe
 16:00-17:00 CEST for the American continent

(note: these are approximate geographic regions. You may attend a different session if you can’t make the time assigned to your region).

You can use https://time.is/CEST to convert to your local time zone.

You can join the sessions using the following zoom link:
https://mpi-nl.zoom-x.de/j/65050647823
Meeting ID: 650 5064 782

02. What is Nijmegen like? What is the cost of living?

Generally speaking, the cost of living in Nijmegen is quite high, but the stipend should cover them well enough. Nijmegen is a midsize (~170 thousand enhabitants) university city. It is the oldest city in the Netherlands. There is not a wide variety of food/restaurants available but there is a city center with several restaurants and there are several cities close by for weekend trips (~30 min to 2 hour train rides; 1.5 hours from Amsterdam). There is a lot of nature and hiking opportunities nearby.

03. What can I do to increase my chances?

First and foremost, we value honesty. The purpose of the application process is for us to understand what your goals are and how they fit with what the program and our institute can provide. Nevertheless, there are some common pitfalls which can be easily avoided. (1) Proofread. Typos and formatting issues give a negative impression that makes it difficult to evaluate a candidate objectively. Please make sure to avoid those. (2) Read carefully. We have carefully compiled instructions and templates for you. Please use them and follow their instructions as well as addressing what is expressed in the call. (3) Be specific. We want to know that you have clear goals for your time here and for how you will take advantage of the opportunity. We want to know what kind of work you would like to do, what skills you want to acquire, and what kind of research you're interested in.