Job Information
- Organisation/Company: BCBL Basque Center on Cognition Brain and Language
- Research Field: Neurosciences
- Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
- Positions: PhD Positions
- Application Deadline: 8 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid)
- Country: Spain
- Type of Contract: Temporary
- Job Status: Full-time
- Hours Per Week: 35
- Offer Starting Date: 1 Jan 2027
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?: Not funded by a EU programme
Offer Description
The successful candidate will join the Speech & Bilingualism research group at the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language and carry out a PhD within the FLLAPP project. Within this project, the successful candidate will
- develop research questions and experimental designs within one or both FLLAPP work packages
- design and implement studies with adult and/or child foreign-language learners
- collect and analyse behavioural, acoustic-phonetic, listener-rating, and/or EEG/ERP data, depending on the thesis focus
- use transparent and reproducible workflows for data management, analysis, and open-science outputs
- prepare research articles with the PI and present findings at international conferences and public-engagement events
- contribute to the collaborative research life of the Speech and Bilingualism group and the BCBL
The successful candidate will enrol in the UPV/EHU Doctoral Programme in Cognitive Neuroscience (https://www.ehu.eus/en/web/doktoregoa/doctorate-cognitive-neuroscience) and receive close training in experimental design, acoustic-phonetic and/or electrophysiological methods, advanced statistical analysis, and reproducible research practices. Depending on the focus of the thesis, the candidate will have opportunities to become a certified EEG user and receive training in an additional neuroimaging technique. Participation in international conferences, summer schools, and research visits will form an important part of the candidate’s doctoral development.
Where to apply
Website: https://calls.bcbl.eu
Requirements
- Research Field: Neurosciences
- Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
- To be eligible for admission to a PhD programme, candidates must have completed at least 300 ECTS credits through their official university studies, including at least 60 ECTS credits at master's level
- Carry out research under supervision
- Have the ambition to develop knowledge of research methodologies and discipline
- Have demonstrated a good understanding of a field of study
- Have demonstrated the ability to produce data under supervision
- Be capable of critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas
- Be able to explain the outcome of research and value thereof to research colleagues
Specific Requirements
Desirable skills:
Because the doctoral project can follow different methodological directions, applicants are not expected to meet all the criteria listed below. We particularly welcome candidates with a strong profile or interest in either acoustic phonetics and behavioural research, EEG/cognitive neuroscience, or a combination of these areas.
- An academic background in (psycho-)linguistics, phonetics, psychology, cognitive neuroscience, speech and language sciences, or another relevant field
- A strong interest in phonetics, EEG/cognitive neuroscience, speech perception and production, foreign-language learning, bilingualism, or auditory processing
- Experience conducting experimental research and analysing quantitative data
- Experience programming or adapting behavioural experiments and using research software such as R, Python, MATLAB, PsychoPy, or comparable tools
- Experience with acoustic-phonetic analysis, particularly in Praat, and/or with EEG/ERP methods
- Experience with training, longitudinal, or online study designs and/or with testing child participants
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, with strong organisational skills and careful attention to research quality
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Knowledge of Spanish, or a willingness to learn; Spanish would be particularly useful for participant-facing work
Languages: ENGLISH
Level: Excellent
Additional Information
Benefits
Salary: 21.000€ gross annual salary
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:
- Training through individually personalized research projects under senior supervision
- Exchanging knowledge with the scientific community and the general public
- Network-wide training in theory and methods
- Complementary training courses
- Involvement in proposal writing, task coordination
- 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, sex, sexual orientation, age, sociocultural background, nationality or impairments. We are proud to have in place both an LGTBIQ+ Plan and a Gender Equality Plan to actively promote inclusion and equal opportunities. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us.
Selection process
Submission of the application and documentation:
To submit your application, please follow this link: applying for “AUDITORY PROCESSING L2” and attach the following documentation:
- A curriculum vitae
- A statement outlining research interests, relevant experience, and motivation to apply for the position (maximum two pages)
- Transcript of records for the master and bachelor degrees
- Two letters of recommendation (submitted by the referees no later than the application deadline)
Learn more about the BCBL’s OTM-R policy
Additional comments
Application process timetable:
- Deadline for application: 08/11/2026
- Evaluation by committee: 09/11/2026 - 24/11/2026
- Interviews: 25/11/2026 – 04/12/2026
- Final decision: 09/12/2026
- Feedback to all applicants: 09/12/2026 - 11/12/2026
- Work contract start date: Flexible between 01/01/2027 and 30/04/2027
Contact details for enquiries:
For technical problems with the calls platform please contact: hr@bcbl.eu
For inquiries or questions related to the content of the position and/or information about the project and the research group please contact Antje Stoehr: a.stoehr@bcbl.eu
Website for additional job details: https://www.bcbl.eu/en/join-us/job-offers/phd-position-auditory-processing-l2
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available: 1
- Company/Institute: BCBL, Basque Center on Cognition, Brain & Language
- Country: Spain
- State/Province: Gipuzkoa
- City: Donostia-San Sebastián
- Postal Code: 20009
- Street: Paseo Mikeletegi 69
Contact
- State/Province: Guipuzcoa
- City: Donostia
- Website: https://www.bcbl.eu
- Street: Paseo Mikeletegi 69
- Postal Code: 20009
- E-Mail: hr@bcbl.eu