Head of Department: Professor Shelagh Brumfitt  Senate Award Fellow PhD, M.Phil, Dip CST, Cert MRCSLT (Hons)

The Department of Human Communication Sciences has established a reputation for high quality research and teaching in the field of human communication and its disorders. The results of the 2008 Research Assessment  Exercise (RAE)  confirm the Department’s status as a world class centre for the study of Human Communication Sciences, with 60% of its research graded in the top 4* (world leading) and 3* (internationally excellent) categories.

We are seeking two graduates (1^st or upper 2^nd class) preferably with a Masters degree qualification in Speech and Language therapy, Linguistics, or a related subject, who would pursue research into an area of human communication sciences for which supervision is available. The department has strong research interests in clinical linguistics; speech, language and literacy development and disorders; and cognitive neuroscience of speech and language. For details of staff research interests, please see the departmental web page:  http://www.shef.ac.uk/hcs which also has a link to further details of the portfolio of programmes we currently deliver.

The successful candidates will register for a PhD. In addition, they will undertake tutorial duties up to 6 hours per week during term time, with associated preparation and marking.  This will involve backing up lectures on various degree courses offered in the department (ie the BMedSci Speech; and MMedSci in Clinical Communication Studies, leading towards qualification as a speech and language therapist; the non-clinical BSc in Speech Sciences; and a wide-ranging portfolio of non-clinical postgraduate programmes). In the case of a qualified and experienced speech and language therapist, this may include clinical tutoring.  An ability to support teaching in at least one of the following areas is required: Linguistics; Phonetics; Developmental topics in speech and language pathology. Training is provided.

The term of studentship and fee waiver will be three years in the first instance, subject to an annual progress review, with the possibility of extension exceptionally, for a fourth year.  You will receive a Stipend, (which does not attract UK income tax) of £14,000 per year plus a fee waiver at the rate of Home/EU current fee (NB: Stipend will apply for the fourth year, but extension fees for a fourth year of PhD registration will be the student’s own liability).  You will also have the opportunity to bid for funds to support conference attendance and associated travel relevant to the area of research. 

Applicants should in the first instance submit a CV including details of relevant courses taken in previous degrees; an abstract of any research project(s) already undertaken; details of any relevant teaching experience; contact details for two referees, at least one of whom should be an academic referee; and a description of your potential PhD research topic (up to 1 side of A4 for this).

Applications should be sent either electronically via the ‘Apply’ button below, or by post to Mrs Jayne Barker, Departmental Manager, Department of Human Communication Sciences, University of Sheffield, 31 Claremont Crescent Sheffield S10 2TA to arrive by Friday 3 May 2013. Interviews are expected to be held on Tuesday 14 May 2013.