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DCAL PhD Funding

An exciting opportunity to apply for PhD funding at DCAL (2023-24)

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Summary of role

UCL Deafness, Cognition and Language Research (DCAL) Centre invites expressions of interest from highly motivated students seeking to undertake a PhD project under its associated degree-programmes. DCAL consists of a multidisciplinary team of linguists, psychologists and neuroscientists that study language, cognition and the brain from the unique perspective of deafness and deaf communication. Applications are invited from students interested in any of these areas.

Requirements for funding

This PhD student funding (stipend and tuition fees) is for 4 years and includes 180 hours (roughly half a day/week) as DCAL Science Communication Officer.

Principal duties as Science Communication Officer include creating short lay summaries of DCAL research and annual newsletters and maintaining content on the DCAL website, in English and British Sign Language (BSL).

Requirements for Science Communication Officer role include computer experience (with web editor and video skills desirable), excellent communication skills with deaf and hearing people, and fluency in British Sign Language to at least level 2 or equivalent. You must also meet UCL entry requirements for PhD and must be eligible for status as a UK student.

 Possible PhD Topics

  • Linguistics/sociolinguistics of sign languages
  • Linguistics of visual/multimodal language
  • Cognitive functions in deaf and hearing children and adults
  • Language and literacy development in deaf children
  • Language learning in deaf adults
  • Literacy and language interventions in deaf and hearing children
  • Crossmodal plasticity and multisensory integration
  • Neural basis of signed language and spoken language processing
  • Music and rhythm through vision and touch in deaf and hearing individuals

 

Apply now by sending the required information (see below) to one of the DCAL Core Team members 

Interested students should get in touch with potential supervisors (see DCAL core team members) with a copy of their CV and a one-page statement of their research interests, why they are interested in studying at DCAL, and how they fit the requirements for the Science Communication Officer.

Deadline for expressions of interest submitted to potential supervisors: 17 April 2023 for 2023-24 start. 

Panel meets: mid-May

Decisions: by 31 May 2023

 

We particularly encourage applications from deaf and hard of hearing students, disabled students, and/or students from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds who are currently under-represented at UCL and DCAL.

We also welcome expressions of interest from students eligible for a PhD at UCL but who may not be eligible for the Science Communication Officer role (e.g. students outside the UK). In this case, you would be supported to apply for funding through different UCL funding schemes.