PhD Research Position (FPI) - Project: ‘MultiLearn’ (Language Learning & Multimodality) at GRECIL Research Group (4 years)

17 Dec 2025
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Fundació per a la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya

Research Field

Language sciences
Medical sciences

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions

PhD Positions

Country

Spain

Application Deadline

31 Jan 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

38,5

Offer Starting Date

1 Feb 2026

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Other EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

We are seeking a PhD student to develop the project ‘MultiLearn: A multimodal approach to language learning: a window into the linguistic skills of children with neurodevelopmental disorders‘. The project is led by researchers Alfonso Igualada and Núria Esteve-Gibert, members of the GRECIL research group, affiliated with the eHealth Centre (Centre for Human and Planetary Health Research) at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC).

Summary of the project:
The “MultiLearn” project aims to investigate whether multimodal strategies facilitate language learning in children with neurodevelopmental disorders affecting language and communication, in comparison with children with typical language development. Furthermore, the project intends to design innovative, implementable language assessment resources that account for the multimodal and dynamic nature of language.

Responsibilities:
Driving the project’s innovation and research activities.
Developing and completing a doctoral thesis within the framework of the project.
A four-year, full-time pre-doctoral contract will be offered, with a scheduled start date is 1 March 2026. The contract is governed by the provisions of Article 21 of Law 14/2011, of 1 June, on Science, Technology and Innovation.
Contracts for applicants recruited under the terms of a pre-doctoral contract prior to the start of the grant must comply with the maximum term permitted by Law 14/2011 of 1 June. (Shortlisted candidates must provide their employment history or a sworn declaration).

The gross annual salary for the doctoral contract is as follows:

• Years 1, 2 and 3: €23,156.65 per annum.
• Year 4: €24,468.15 per annum.
   

For work on site, the principal location will be the UOC Campus, at Rambla del Poblenou 154-156, Barcelona. At the UOC, we work with an open working model that combines remote working with work on-site, according to organizational needs and the nature of the tasks involved.

Where to apply

Website

https://selection.uoc.edu/web/offersjob/offerdetails.aspx?offerID=534BF999052FF…

Requirements

Research Field

Communication sciences

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Psychological sciences » Cognitive science

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Language sciences » Languages

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Psychological sciences » Other

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Language sciences » Linguistics

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Psychological sciences » Other

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Specific Requirements

Candidate Profile:

• Hold a Spanish pre-EHEA degree (llicenciatura, enginyeria or arquitectura) or a bachelor's degree with at least 300 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits, a university master's degree, or equivalent qualification.
• Must not have previously completed a doctoral degree.
• Meet the entry requirements for admission to a doctoral programme.
• When the contract starts, they must be admitted to or enrolled in the doctoral programme. Their staff grade will be trainee pre-doctoral researcher.
• Master’s in Cognitive Science, Linguistics, Applied Languages, Educational Psychology, Psychopedagogy, Language and Communication Disorders, or a related discipline.
• Previous professional and/or research experience in these fields is highly desirable.
• To demonstrate a high level of interest in language development, learning, and communication during childhood.
• Interest in the qualitative and quantitative analysis of empirical data (including previous knowledge in software such as R, SPSS and Atlas.ti).
• Proficiency in spoken and written Catalan and/or Spanish.
• To accredit a level of English from B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
• Residency in Spain for the duration of the contract.
• Availability to work in an open modality, alternating between on-site and remote work according to operational and organisational needs.

Also of interest:

• Results-oriented, with the capacity to deliver value through professional activity while striving for continuous progress and excellence.
• The ability to work effectively within a team, coordinating and cooperating with others in a collaborative manner.
• A proactive approach, demonstrating a high level of initiative and the capacity to thrive in innovative research environments.

Languages

CATALAN

Level

Excellent

Languages

SPANISH

Level

Excellent

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Research Field

Psychological sciences » Cognitive scienceCommunication sciencesPsychological sciences » OtherLanguage sciences » LanguagesLanguage sciences » Linguistics

Years of Research Experience

1 - 4

Additional Information
Benefits

• You'll be joining an organization with an open working model that combines teleworking with working on site.
• You'll be working in an environment where everyone has equal opportunities and equal access to resources and people, regardless of their location or teleworking choices.
• You'll be provided with the computer equipment and ergonomic material you need to work both from home and on site at the UOC.
• You'll have training possibilities to continue your professional development.
• You'll finish work early on Fridays.
• You'll have 24 days of vacation, 9 personal leave days and 4 UOC holidays.
• You'll be able to work reduced summer hours (35 hours a week), subject to organizational requirements.
• You'll have well-being benefits such as activities to look after your health, a medical service, a physiotherapy service and, if required, assessment and adaptation of your workplace.

Eligibility criteria

Candidate selection criteria:

Criterion 1. The candidate's academic and/or scientific-technical background (up to 50 points).

Subcriterion 1. a): Scientific and technical contributions (up to 45 points). The candidate's academic record and other merits of their curriculum vitae will be taken into account, as well as their suitability for the tasks to be carried out based on their training and professional experience.

Sub-criterion 1. b): Mobility and internationalization (up to 5 points). The relevance and impact on their research career of the candidate's time spent at Spanish and international centres and/or in the industrial sector will be taken into account, considering the reputation of the institution where the time was spent, and the work undertaken there.

Criterion 2. The candidate's suitability for the research activities to be carried out (up to 50 points). The candidate's suitability for the research programme, project or activities to be carried out will be assessed based on their previous training and experience. To that end, the added value that undertaking the project will represent for their research career will be considered, as well as the value contributed to the centre and the team they are joining.

The beneficiary institution must prepare a report which describes the assessment and selection process and justifies the suitability of the person selected, according to the aforementioned criteria and subcriteria. This report will remain in the possession of the beneficiary institution as the depositor thereof, and it may be requested at any time during the grant execution or reporting period, without prejudice to the information that must be provided in the intermediate monitoring report on the associated project. Beneficiary institutions must take into account the provisions of Section 5 of Article 4 (b) of Law 14/2011 of 1 June in the assessment and selection process. 

In addition to the above, the person selected must meet the requirements set out in Article 21.a) of Law 14/2011 of June 1 in order to sign a pre-doctoral contract or, failing that, be able to meet those requirements when the contract is signed. People who are already in possession of a doctoral degree from any Spanish or foreign university may not be recruited under any circumstances.

Selection process

To take part in the selection process, you must register as a candidate in the Join our team section of our website (www.uoc.edu ). Once you have registered, complete your profile in the candidate section in order to submit your application.

Documents to be uploaded to the candidate area to submit the application:

A letter of motivation/presentation providing a brief outline of your career and your specific reasons for applying, a description of your research interests, a short and specific research proposal, and details of the links to the research group.

Academic certificates and transcripts for studies prior to the doctoral degree (bachelor's and master's degrees), stating the courses taken, and the grade obtained, the type of course, the number of credits, and the average grade. Applicants holding qualifications awarded in other countries must obtain equivalence for the average grade for their university studies according to the website https://universidades.sede.gob.es/pagina/index/directorio/Equivalencia_notas_medias/language/en .

Certification accrediting your level of English language proficiency.

CV listing achievements, taking the selection criteria into account. This should include the master's degree and postgraduate programmes and courses you have studied that are linked to the research interests mentioned in your letter of motivation, and where applicable, any previous scientific output.

Additional comments

The contract is part of grant PID2023-147380NB-I00, funded by MCIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the ESF+.

 

Website for additional job details

https://www.uoc.edu/portal/en/uneix-equip/ofertes/index.html

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Universitat Oberta de Catalunya

Country

Spain

State/Province

Barcelona

City

Barcelona

Postal Code

08018

Street

Rambla del Poblenou, 156

Geofield

Contact

State/Province

Barcelona

City

Barcelona

Website

https://selection.uoc.edu/web/profile/login.aspx

Street

Rambla Poble Nou, 154-156

Postal Code

08018

E-Mail

hrstrategy@uoc.edu

STATUS: EXPIRED

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