PhD Studentship: Examining Variability in Young Children’s Vocabulary Development

Primary supervisor - Prof Larissa Samuelson

We invite applications to an exciting opportunity for a fully-funded PhD studentship examining the basis of variability in young children’s early vocabulary development. The position is part of a project funded by the Leverhulme Foundation testing a neural process theory of vocabulary development. The successful candidate will work with Prof. Larissa Samuelson and her team on a longitudinal study examining children’s performance on multiple word learning tasks at 18-, 24- and 36-months-of age, as well as their vocabulary growth. There will be opportunities to learn about the ethics of this research, implementation of the tasks, data processing, analysis and interpretation, and to present findings and disseminate results. In addition, there will be a chance to learn about computational modelling of development. 

We encourage applications from highly motivated candidates with a strong academic background in psychology, cognitive science, speech and hearing science, or a related discipline, and a keen interest in developmental research. Prior experience with experimental design, data analysis (preferably in R), eye-tracking, or developmental populations is highly desirable but not essential. The successful candidate will join a vibrant and supportive research team and will have access to excellent facilities and opportunities for professional development.  

Key Features of the Project: 

• Involvement in cutting-edge developmental and cognitive science research as part of UEA’s world leading Developmental Science Research Group and Developmental Dynamics Laboratory 
• Work with leading researchers in a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment 
• Opportunities to develop your own specific research questions within the scope of the data collection and grant focus.  
• Comprehensive training and support throughout your PhD 

If you’re ready to take on a challenging and rewarding project that will advance our understanding of early vocabulary development and language learning, we would be very pleased to hear from you.  

Entry requirements

Bachelors 2:1 in Psychology or a cognate subject is the minimum academic requirement; Masters degrees are optional. 

Start date: 1 October 2026

Additional Funding Information

This 3-year PhD project is fully funded by the Leverhulme Trust and open to UK and international applicants. The successful candidate will receive home tuition fees and an annual tax-free maintenance stipend set at the UKRI rates (£20,780 for 2025/26). Note however, that visa expenses, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), or other costs incurred by moving to the UK will not be covered. 

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