Opportunity for entry in the 2027-28 academic year

Opportunity

The UCL Deafness, Cognition and Language Research Centre invites expressions of interest from highly motivated students who wish to undertake a PhD project through one of its associated degree programmes. DCAL brings together linguists, psychologists and neuroscientists studying language, cognition and the brain from the perspectives of deafness and deaf ways of communicating.

Funding and Science Communication Officer role

The funding package is expected to cover a stipend and tuition fees for four years, subject to final confirmation by UCL. It includes 180 hours of work each year as DCAL Science Communication Officer, equivalent to roughly half a day each week. In return, their student fees will be paid at Home rate and they will receive a stipend at the standard UCL rate.
The principal duties of the Science Communication Officer include:

• Creating short, accessible summaries of DCAL research in English and British Sign Language
• Contributing to DCAL annual newsletters and other research communications
• Maintaining and developing content on the DCAL website
• Leading on DCAL public engagement events

Requirements

Applicants should demonstrate:

• High level of familiarity and involvement with the deaf and/or deafblind community
  Strong communication skills with deaf and hearing people
• Knowledge of British Sign Language to at least Level 2 or an equivalent standar
• Confidence in the use of computer systems and software applications; web-editing and video-production skills are desirable
• Previous research experience
• First or upper-second class Bachelor’s degree from a UK university in a relevant subject, or a recognised taught Master’s degree. Overseas qualifications of an equivalent standard from a recognised higher education institution are also accepted.

Applicants must also meet the UCL entry requirements for doctoral study and the eligibility requirements that apply to this funding scheme.

Possible PhD topics

Possible areas include:

• Linguistics and sociolinguistics of visual, tactile and multimodal languages
• Exploring language change and processing of tactile sign languages
• 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 bases of signed- and spoken-language processing
• Music and rhythm through vision and touch in deaf and hearing people
• Sign-language technologies and human-centred artificial intelligence

How to express interest

Interested students should contact a potential supervisor by 30th November 2026 and provide:

• A current CV
• A one-page statement describing their research interests and why they wish to study at DCAL
• An explanation of how they meet the requirements of the Science Communication Officer role

Contact details of potential supervisors:

Professor Kearsy Cormier  ([email protected])

Professor Mairéad MacSweeney  ([email protected])

Dr Kate Rowley  ([email protected])

Dr Velia Cardin  ([email protected])

Dr Fiona Kyle  ([email protected])

Inclusive recruitment

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

We also welcome enquiries from students who meet UCL doctoral entry requirements but may not be eligible for the Science Communication Officer-linked funding. Where appropriate, prospective supervisors can discuss other UCL funding routes with them.