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FUNDED PhD CANDIDATE POSITION – ACCENTED SPEECH PROCESSING

Job Summary

Position: PhD student
Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1- up to the point of PhD)
Number of vacancies: 1
Project: Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON) Doctoral Networks, ‘Bridging Communication Gaps in Human and Human-AI Interactions: The Role of Accented Speech on Neurocognitive mechanisms and Social Dynamics’ (HUM.AI.N-ACCENT)
Location: Spain > Donostia-San Sebastián
Research Field: Neuroscience > Cognition and Language
Type of contract/Duration of Contract: Temporary > 3 years.
Job Status: Full-time
Hours per week: 35
Starting date: Between 01/01/2026 and 01/05/2026
Application deadline: 10/10/2025

Job Description

A PhD position is available in the Speech & Bilingualism research group at the BCBL, San Sebastian, Spain. The successful candidate will perform research on foreign-accented speech processing. Research methods include acoustic and behavioral measures, optionally EEG/MEG and eye-tracking.

The Doctoral Candidate (DC) will be part of an international network of 13 research labs located throughout Europe who work on the EU funded HUM.AI.N-ACCENT project. The full consortium count with a total of 24 academic and non-academic partners in Europe, Canada and the USA. As part of the training, the DC will attend regular events across Europe and will realise short stays (secondments) to at least two Beneficiary/Partner Organizations.

HUM.AI.N-ACCENT is an interdisciplinary research project that explores the neurocognitive and social impacts of foreign-accented speech in human-human and human-AI interactions. With millions of new arrivals to the European Union each year, there is an urgent need to understand how foreign accents influence communication, decision-making, and social dynamics. Research has shown that foreign-accented speech can generate biases and increase cognitive load, yet the origins and consequences of these effects are still poorly understood. The HUM.AI.N-ACCENT project aims to fill this gap by combining insights from cognitive psychology, neuroscience, AI engineering, human-computer interaction, and social science, with lifespan perspectives. Using advanced methodologies like neuroimaging, eye-tracking, virtual reality, and neural tracking, the project will investigate how foreign-accented speech affects neural responses, attention allocation, and social judgments. By studying both human-human and human-AI interactions, the project will provide critical insights into how accents shape communication and behaviour in diverse contexts.

Job description:

The successful candidate will receive interdisciplinary training in theories and methods for the study of language and cognition, more specifically native- and foreign-accented speech perception and production. This includes many network-wide events and other (international) training opportunities.

Benefits

Salary: 38.000€ Gross per year (without family allowance); 40.000€ Gross per year (with family allowance)

Entitlements and other benefits: https://www.bcbl.eu/en/join-us/what-is-like-to-work-bcbl

Training opportunities and Career development plan:

Researchers at any stage of their career, regardless of their contractual situation, are given an opportunity for professional development and for improving their employability through access to a Personal Career Development Plan which includes

(1) Training through individually personalized research projects under senior supervision

(2) Exchanging knowledge with the scientific community and the general public

(3) Network-wide training in theory and methods

(4) Complementary training courses

(5) Involvement in proposal writing, task coordination

(6) Development of skills for the organization of training and scientific events

BCBL seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support contact us.



OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

Comment/web site for additional job details

https://www.bcbl.eu/en/join-us/job-offers/funded-phd-candidate-position-accented-speech-processing