PhD student

at the BCBL
- Basque Center on Cognition Brain and Language (San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain) www.bcbl.eu The Basque Center on Cognition Brain and Language (BCBL) in San Sebastian (Basque Country, Spain) is looking for a PhD studentt to join its team. 1. INFORMATION ABOUT THE POSITION
- Position: PhD student
- Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1
- up to the point of PhD)
- Number of vacancies: 1
- Project: 3DTechSign
- Funding sources: Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and University
-

Location:
Spain > San Sebastian
- Research Field: Neuroscience > Cognition and Language
- Type of contract/Duration of Contract: Temporary, 4 years
- Job Status: Full-time
- Starting date: Flexible between 01/01/2027 and 30/04/2027 Information about the project: 3DTechSign applies advances in computer vision and artificial intelligence to the domain of sign languages, understudied and underdocumented languages that are typically overlooked as part of our linguistic and cultural heritage, and marginalized in terms of language technologies. Artificial intelligence, and, most visibly, large language models, are revolutionizing the way that people interact with technology and they are entering every aspect of life, from the workplace to education to entertainment. Yet not everyone is part of this revolution: deaf sign language users do not have these language technologies at their disposal, limiting their access to the benefits of these tools. The project combines technical innovation, linguistic theory, and community engagement to advance responsible, research-driven applications of AI in sign language studies. The specific problem that this project addresses is the digital gap that separates signed languages from spoken languages. The project aims to narrow that gap by using AI technologies with sign language data. This will generate tools that can be leveraged to improve the scientific study of sign languages, while critically addressing their technical limitations and ethical implications. The project has two core parts and two transversal factors. The two core components examine, on the one hand, analysing sign language data (using pose estimation algorithms) and, on the other, sign language synthesis (using motion capture and avatar technology). The transversal factors explore the use of AI techniques to analyse complex sign language datasets, and the ethical considerations that arise in the use and application of AI technologies. Additionally, the project includes three proof of concept studies that exploit the resources and tools for actual research studies to examine different aspects of sign language structure and cognition: the categorical perception of phonological units; the relationship between form and linguistic function; and the role of different phonological features during lexical access. The successful candidate will join the Sign Language group at the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL) and conduct a PhD within the 3DTechSign project, investigating the application of technologies to sign language data, and creating tools for research into the neurocognition of sign language. The researcher will contribute to all aspects of the project, with a focus on comparing existing pose estimation tools and evaluating their use with sign language data (including the creation of a benchmark motion capture data set). The validated pose estimation tools will be adapted to specific sign language research needs; the PhD student will work with other team members on such topics as categorical perception in sign language, (semi-)automatic transcription of individual signs and continuous signing, and creating synthetic sign stimuli that manipulate the temporal and spatial information in the signal. The PhD student will enroll in the Cognitive Neuroscience program at the University of the Basque Country (EHU), and will work under the direct supervision of Dr Costello. In addition to the excellent doctoral training opportunities at the BCBL (programming, neuroimaging techniques, scientific communication), the student will receive specialized training in collecting and managing sign language data, data management, analysis and visualization, applying computer vision tools to sign language data, machine learning techniques and sign language proficiency. The student will attend a summer school and/or courses to learn machine learning techniques that can be applied to sign language data. The student will carry out at least one 3-month research stay with international collaborators. The position also involves participation in group and center-wide scientific meetings, presentation of findings at international conferences and preparation of peer-reviewed publications. PI and research group: Dr. Brendan Costello is an Ikerbasque Research Fellow and leader of the Sign Language research group at the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL). His research combines behavioral and neu