About the Fellowship / Position
Lancaster University’s School of Social Sciences is seeking a Senior Research Associate to contribute to the CELIA (Common European Language Indication and Analysis) project, an EU-funded initiative that improves language analysis procedures used by EU+ migration authorities. The Lancaster-led subproject focuses on Arabic language variants, integrating linguistics, speech science, and speech technology to develop transparent and reliable automatic and semi-automatic language indication methods. This full-time role offers the opportunity to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team, analyse large speech datasets, test new methods, and produce high-quality research outputs. The position promotes skill development in data-driven linguistics, programming (e.g., Python), and speech technology, while contributing to impactful research in migration, identity, and language analysis.
Fellowship / Details
- Position Title: Senior Research Associate – Linguistics and English Language
- Host Institution: Lancaster University
- Location: Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK
- Research Field(s): Linguistics, Speech Science, Speech Technology, Data Science, Arabic Language Analysis
- Fellowship Type: Full-time Research Position
- Level: Senior-level / Early-mid career
- Fellowship Duration: 24 months, fixed term
- Expected Start Date: 1 December 2025 (or as soon as possible)
- Working Hours: Full-time, flexible/agile working possible
- Funding/Compensation: £39,906 – £48,882 per year
- Required Degree/Diploma: PhD in Speech Science, Linguistics, Data Science, Computer Science, or related discipline
Supported Research Fields / Areas
Main Subjects:
- Linguistics
- Speech Science
- Arabic Language Analysis
- Data Science
Interdisciplinary Fields / Specialisations Eligible:
- Speech Technology
- Computational Linguistics
- Machine Learning
- Applied Linguistics
Eligibility & Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
- PhD in Speech Science, Linguistics, Data Science, Computer Science, or related field
- Experience handling large datasets of speech or language data
- Familiarity with programming languages such as Python or similar
- Demonstrated ability to learn and test new methods, meet deadlines, and report results clearly
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in automatic accent/dialect classification systems
- Collaborative research experience and interdisciplinary project work
- Strong academic writing and presentation skills
Not Eligible:
- Candidates without a PhD or relevant research experience
Fellowship / Job Benefits
- Competitive salary: £39,906 – £48,882 per year
- Agile working options
- Access to Lancaster University’s research facilities and resources
- Opportunity to collaborate on EU-funded, high-impact research projects
Key Responsibilities
- Adapt and test automatic accent/dialect classification technology
- Analyse and visualise system performance
- Collaborate with Lancaster and University of York project teams
- Contribute to project reports, publications, and presentations
- Ensure transparent, reliable, and explainable research outputs
Application Process
How to Apply:
Submit your application online via Lancaster University Jobs Portal. Attach the required documents and ensure submission before the deadline.
Required Documents:
- CV / Resume
- Cover Letter
- Academic / Research References
- Supporting documents demonstrating research experience
Important Dates
- Application Deadline: 20 October 2025
- Interview Date: 05 November 2025
- Expected Start Date: 1 December 2025
Where to Apply
- Institution Website: Lancaster University
- Official Notifications: Click here
- Apply Online Here: Lancaster University Jobs
- Contact for Queries: jobs@lancaster.ac.uk
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