at the BCBL- Basque Center on Cognition Brain and Language (San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain) www.bcbl.eu
- INFORMATION ABOUT THE POSITION
- Position: PhD student
- Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1- up to the point of PhD)
- Number of vacancies: 1
- Project: "BRAINVOICE: Using automated speech and language analysis to predict postoperative outcomes and disease progression in patients with brain tumors” / FPI – Plan Nacional"
- Location: Spain > Donostia-San Sebastián
- Research Field: Cognitive Neuroscience, Natural Language Processing (NLP), AI
- Type of contract/Duration of Contract: Temporary: 4 years
- Job Status: Full-time
- Hours per week: 35
- Starting date: Subject to the call’s allowance, the contract shall start on the 1st of December 2025; if not, it shall start on the 1st of January 2026.
- Application deadline: 1st of November 2025
Information about the project:
Europe is projected to face a marked rise in brain cancer incidence and mortality by 2030, with gliomas among the most common and lethal primary tumors. Awake surgery remains the gold-standard treatment to maximize resection while preserving cognition, yet prognosis is poor and recurrence rates high. Scalable, non-invasive markers for short-term prognosis after surgery are urgently needed. BRAINVOICE addresses this gap by applying Artificial Intelligence methods—Automated Speech and Language Analysis (ASLA) and machine learning (ML). ASLA extracts acoustic (e.g., speech rate) and linguistic (e.g., semantic variability) features from natural discourse, which ML can analyze to uncover complex, non-linear patterns overlooked by conventional tools. Using a longitudinal design, BRAINVOICE will follow glioma patients before surgery and up to one year postoperatively to test whether ASLA features can (i) distinguish patients from healthy individuals; (ii) discriminate patients with low- vs. high-grade gliomas; (iii) predict cognitive outcomes and disease trajectory after surgery; and (iv) identify neural correlates of key ASLA features via MEG and fMRI. By evaluating the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic utility of speech-derived markers, this project aims to optimize early detection and improve outcomes for glioma patients.
Job description:
The successful candidate will receive interdisciplinary training in theoretical language models, clinical approaches, AI methods (e.g., NLP), and neuroimaging, with opportunities to participate in network-wide events and international training activities. The position includes implementing a longitudinal study in glioma patients to identify natural speech markers predictive of postoperative prognosis, analyzing functional and structural brain data, and preparing research papers under the supervision of the PI, with the aim of publishing in top-tier journals. The candidate will also present results at international scientific conferences. The BCBL provides a vibrant research environment with access to a wide range of neuroimaging techniques (EEG, MEG, fMRI). More information about the BCBL can be found at: https://www.bcbl.eu/en.
PI and research group:
Lucía Amoruso, Ikerbasque Associate Professor, leads the research line “Brain Damage and Neuroplasticity of Language.”
Dr. Amoruso’s group investigates the mechanisms underlying neuroplastic adaptations triggered by second language acquisition and by brain damage in brain tumor patients. To achieve these goals, the group combines cutting-edge methods and techniques, including M/EEG, fMRI, and AI-based computational models grounded in machine learning and natural language processing.
- CANDIDATE PROFILE AND SELECTION CRITERIA
Required skills:
- Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Computational Neuroscience, or other relevant areas.
- Experience with brain signal analysis.
- Strong background in programming and statistical analysis.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
Desirable skills:
- Experience in research projects, including data collection and analysis.
- Experience with M/EEG or f/MRI data analysis.
- Knowledge of Spanish (or willingness to learn) is a plus
- WORKING CONDITIONS
Salary: 24.348,77€ annual gross + A €7,000 grant to cover expenses arising from research stays at R&D centers and from tuition fees for doctoral studies
Entitlements and other benefits: https://www.bcbl.eu/en/join-us/what-is-like-to-work-bcbl
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, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support contact us.
- OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION
Language policy
- The corporative language at the Center is English but the national language will be an asset for this particular position
- The center provides initial level Spanish and Basque lessons to all the international staff members
- The interview will be conducted entirely in English
- APPLICATION PROCESS
Submission of the application and documentation:
To submit your application, please follow this link: applying for “ PhD position Brainvoice” and attach the following documentation:
- A curriculum vitae
- A statement outlining research interests and motivation to apply for the position
- Transcript of records for the master and bachelor degrees
- Two letters of recommendation (submitted by the referees no later than the application deadline)
Learn more about the BCBL’s OTM-R policy
Application process timeline:
- Deadline for application: 1st of November 2025
- Evaluation by committee: 12th of November 2025
- Interviews: from 13th of November to 21st of November 2025
- Final decision: 24th of November 2025
- Feedback to all applicants: 25th of November 2025
- Work contract start date: subject to the call’s allowance, the contract shall start on the 1st of December 2025; if not, it shall start on the 1st of January 2026.
Contact details for enquiries:
For technical problems with the calls platform please contact: hr@bcbl.eu
For inquiries or questions related to the content of the position and/or information about the project and the research group please contact: l.amoruso@bcbl.eu
