PhD position - 3DTechSign (B.C.) Sign Language Research Group

BCBL BASQUE CENTER ON COGNITION BRAIN AND LANGUAGE

España

On-site

EUR 26,000 - 34,000

Full time

10 days ago

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Job summary

The successful candidate will join the Sign Language group at the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL) and pursue 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

Qualifications

Academic background in cognitive neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, computational linguistics, biomedical engineering, data science, or related field.
Experience with sign language data acquisition, preprocessing, or analysis.
Programming skills, preferably in Python, and familiarity with statistical or computational data analysis.
Knowledge of Spanish Sign Language or another sign language.
Experience with 3D technologies including pose estimation and motion capture.
Ability to work in an international, collaborative research environment.
Strong written and spoken English with clear scientific communication.

Responsibilities

Join the Sign Language group and conduct a PhD within the 3DTechSign project.
Compare existing pose estimation tools and evaluate their use with sign language data.
Create a benchmark motion capture data set and adapt tools to sign language research needs.
Collaborate with team members on topics such as transcription of signs and synthetic sign stimuli.

Skills

Python programming

Pose estimation tools knowledge

Data analysis

English proficiency

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in cognitive neuroscience or related field

300 ECTS including 60 at master's level

Tools

MediaPipe

OpenPose

Job description

BCBL BASQUE CENTER ON COGNITION BRAIN AND LANGUAGE

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 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

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.

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

Academic background in cognitive neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, computational linguistics, biomedical engineering, data science, or a related field.
Experience with sign language data acquisition, preprocessing, or analysis.
Programming skills, preferably in Python, and familiarity with statistical or computational data analysis.
Knowledge of Spanish Sign Language or another sign language.
Experience working with a deaf signing community.
Experience with 3D technologies including pose estimation (e.g. MediaPipe, Openpose) and motion capture.
Familiarity with reproducible research practices and Open Science.
Ability to work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary research team while progressively developing scientific independence.
Strong written and spoken English and the ability to communicate research clearly.
Experience acquired through non-formal training, international mobility, or professional mobility that demonstrates effective communication and adaptability in an international research environment.

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, 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.

We welcome applications from deaf candidates.

Selection process