UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Speech and Language Technologies (SLT) and their Applications

The doctoral training centre, hosted within the Department of Computer Science, at the University of Sheffield, will be a world-leading hub for training scientists and engineers in speech and natural language processing (NLP / NLProc) – two core areas within artificial intelligence (AI) which are experiencing unprecedented growth and will continue to do so over the next decade.

Our training programme is unlike any other PhD programme. Our PhD with Integrated Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in SLT Leadership provides the necessary skills for academic and industrial leadership in the field, based on elements covering core SLT skills, ethics, innovation, entrepreneurship, management, and societal responsibility.

The SLT CDT offers our students the following benefits:

• Four-year fully-funded studentship covering all fees and an enhanced stipend of £19,000 per year.
• Generous personal allowance of £2,500 per year for research-related travel, conference attendance, specialist equipment, etc.
• Bespoke cohort-based training programme running over the entire four years incorporating 6 months of foundational SLT training prior to starting your research project.
• Every PhD project underpinned by a real-world application, many supported by industry partners.
• Supervision from over 20 internationally leading SLT researchers, covering all core areas of modern SLT research, and a broader pool of over 50 academics in cognate disciplines.
• Work and live in Sheffield - a cultural centre on the edge of the Peak District National Park which is in the top 10 most affordable and safest UK university cities.

Entry requirements

• Applicants should have, or be expecting to obtain, a high-quality (ideally first class) undergraduate or masters (ideally distinction) degree in a relevant discipline. Suitable backgrounds include (but not limited to) computer science, informatics, linguistics, speech and language processing, mathematics, cognitive science, AI, and physics.
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate mathematical aptitude (minimally to A-Level standard or equivalent) and good experience of programming.
• We particularly encourage applications from groups that are underrepresented in technology.

Core partners

Google, Amazon, VoiceBase, Microsoft, Nuance, MapR Technologies, ZOO Digital, Emotech, Scribetech, FACTMATA, Ieso Digital Health, ITSLanguage, 3M, Ontotext, RecordSure, SOLVAY, TechNation, TherapyBox, gweek, Signal A.I., Textio, NHS Digital, OCLC, TribePad, SoapBox Labs, Jam Creative Studios, Netcall Telecom.

Applying

By contacting sltcdt-enquiries@sheffield.ac.uk you consent to being contacted by the University of Sheffield. You are free to withdraw your permission in writing at any time.