[CogSci] PhD Positions at the University of Arizona

Tue Oct 14 15:15:23 PDT 2025

Several PhD positions in the area of experimental approaches to language are available at the University of Arizona:

1. A PhD position is available in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language Laboratory (https://sites.arizona.edu/neurolanglab/) directed by Dr. Vicky Lai within the Department of Psychology. Our current research focuses on emotional language, figurative language, language and thought, across the life span, using behavioral, ERP, and fMRI methods. Other methods such as computational approaches are available through collaborations with other faculty members here. Interested applicants should contact Dr. Lai at tzuyinlai at arizona.edu<mailto:tzuyinlai at arizona.edu> or/and apply here https://psychology.arizona.edu/academics/apply-graduate-program by December 1, 2025.

2. A PhD position is available in the Child Cognition Lab (https://www.childcognitionlab.arizona.edu<https://www.childcognitionlab.arizona.edu/>) directed by Dr. Rebecca Gomez within the Department of Psychology. Our current research focuses on infant and child language acquisition at the interface of language and cognitive processes. I am particularly interested in how language acquisition changes as children acquire knowledge of language and as memory abilities develop. Specific areas of interest are statistical learning and word learning. See our publications here https://psychology.arizona.edu/users/rebecca-gomez. Interested applicants should contact Dr. Gomez at [[http://rgomez@%20arizona.edu/%5drgomez@]http://rgomez@%20arizona.edu/]rgomez@ arizona.edu and apply here https://psychology.arizona.edu/academics/apply-graduate-program by December 1, 2025.

3. PhD positions are available in the Linguistics Department. Faculty members in the area of Psycholinguistics or experimental approaches to language include Sarah Phillips, Adam Ussishkin, Tom Bever, Andy Wedel, and Natasha Warner.  Lab information for various linguistics labs is at https://linguistics.arizona.edu/linguistics-labs Interested applicants should apply through the UA Grad College website by December 15, 2025.

4. Ph.D. positions are available in the Hispanic Linguistics Program at the University of Arizona (https://spanish.arizona.edu/graduate/degrees-concentrations/doctorate-phd-spanish-hispanic-linguistics/research) with Dr. Tania Leal; collaboration across affiliated labs in the department is possible depending on interests. Research in the Arizona Applied Psycholinguistics Lab (https://uavip.arizona.edu/arizona-applied-psycholinguistics-lab) examines how bilinguals and heritage speakers process and acquire language, with a focus on morphosyntax and information structure. Projects use behavioral, self-paced reading, pupillometry, and priming methods to study how linguistic knowledge is represented and accessed during comprehension and production. Interested applicants should contact Dr. Leal at tanialeal at arizona.edu<mailto:tanialeal at arizona.edu> and apply through the UA Graduate College by December 15, 2025.

5. A PhD position is available in the Lifespan Language Lab, directed by Dr. Nell Maltman, in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Our current research focuses on links between language, cognition, and genetics in autism and fragile X-associated conditions across the lifespan. We are particularly interested in building and maintaining community partnerships to support safety and accessibility across populations (e.g., collaborations with law enforcement, sports camps, etc.). Learn more about our ongoing work here: https://sites.google.com/view/lifespanlanguagelab/home. Interested applicants should contact Dr. Maltman at nmaltman at arizona.edu<mailto:nmaltman at arizona.edu> and apply here: https://slhs.arizona.edu/apply-phd-program by February 1st, 2026.

6. A PhD position is available at the Language and Neuroimaging Research Laboratory directed by Dr. Aneta Kielar (website: https://sites.arizona.edu/anetakielar/) within the Department of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences. The focus of the laboratory is neural basis of language and neurogenic language disorders. We conduct multidisciplinary research that spans several areas including cognitive neuroscience, linguistics and cognitive science. Successful candidates will have an opportunity to conduct research using high density EEG system, fMRI and tDCS. Interested applicants should contact Dr. Kielar at akielar at email.arizona.edu<mailto:akielar at email.arizona.edu> and apply here:  https://apply.grad.arizona.edu/users/login. More information about PhD Program can be found here: https://slhs.arizona.edu/students/phd-program. The application deadlines are February 1st, 2026 for the Fall semester and September 1st 2026 for the Spring Semester.

Vicky Tzuyin Lai
Associate Professor of Department of Psychology<https://psychology.arizona.edu/>
Interim Director of Cognitive Science<https://science.arizona.edu/cogsci> Program
PI of Cognitive Neuroscience of Language Laboratory<https://sites.arizona.edu/neurolanglab/>
University of Arizona

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