Jobs

PhD Fellowship (FPI) – Multimodal Language Modeling

Daedalus Lab, University of Murcia (Spain)

Start date: January-February 2026
Contract: 4 years, full time (37,5 hours per week),
Status: Public employee of the University of Murcia with full associated benefits.
Compensation: 25,000€ per annum. Performance bonuses may apply based on successful funding acquisition.

Eligibility: Applicants must have Spanish nationality or be a national of a Member State of the European Union or a national of those States to which, by virtue of international treaties concluded by the European Union and ratified by Spain, the free movement of workers in Spain applies, the terms of which are defined in the Constitutive Treaty of the European Union. The spouse of people of Spanish nationality or who are natives of other Member States of the European Union may also participate, regardless of their nationality, as long as they are not separated by law, as well as their descendants and those of their spouse, as long as they are not separated by law, are under twenty-one years of age or dependents over that age. Likewise, foreigners may participate who, not being included in the previous paragraphs, are in Spain in a legal situation, being holders of the documents that enable them to reside and to access the labor market without limitations or who, not being in Spain, are in a position to obtain such documents. This requirement must be met at the time of application. 

The MULTIFLOW project (“Modeling the multimodal flow of communication: Gesture-speech signatures in the semantics of time and perception verbs in English and Spanish”) invites applications for a four-year fully funded PhD position (FPI fellowship) at the University of Murcia (Spain). The main goal of this position is to culminate in the award of a doctorate by the University of Murcia. 

In the MULTIFLOW project, a team from the Daedalus Lab of the University of Murcia investigate how gesture, speech, and language interact to form the multimodal basis of meaning. We model multimodal signatures — probabilistic patterns linking linguistic semantics to continuous variations in gesture and prosody. We combine computer vision, acoustic speech analysis, and natural language processing, applying advanced AI and statistical models to large-scale video corpora.

Profile

We are looking for a highly motivated researcher with a master’s degree in hand, an interest in the multimodal analysis of language and communication, and a strong quantitative background.

The preferable combinations of degrees and/or experience include:

·        a master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Computational Linguistics, Cognitive Science, or a related field involving a strong quantitative background

·        a BA including substantial training in one of those areas plus a master’s degree in an area relevant to language and communication

·        a BA and MA related to language or communication with proof of a solid quantitative background

The selected fellow will already possess some of the following skills, and will learn the rest as part of the doctoral training: data analysis programming (Python, R), statistical modeling, data visualization, basic machine learning, ability to work with large datasets, foundations in NLP/corpus methods, familiarity with Linux, computational analysis of speech, prosody, or gesture.

The fellow will be comfortable communicating in English in an academic environment. Other languages will be an asset.

Research Environment and Opportunities

The fellow will join the Daedalus Lab, the University of Murcia’s Center for Cognition, Communication, and Creativity, and will be supervised by its director Prof. Cristóbal Pagán Cánovas. Daedalus is an interdisciplinary research group connecting linguistics, computer science, and cognitive science. From day one, the fellow will be integrated into an international network offering multiple possibilities for research stays and international collaboration: the Red Hen Lab consortium, FAU Erlangen–Nürnberg, University of Cologne, Lund University, Case Western Reserve University, the MPI Psycholinguistics, the University of Bologna, and many more.

The position comes as part of a research project funded by a national grant, with funds for travel and equipment. The fellow will participate in international collaborations, research stays, and workshops, and will contribute to publications and datasets that are shaping the emerging field of multimodal data science. While no teaching duties are attached to the position, the fellow will have opportunities to participate in teaching, mentoring, and industry networking in MULTICOM, the new Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Multimodal Data Science, as well as in the development of online resources within MULTIDATA, the EU-funded platform for multimodal analysis of video data, as well as other national and international projects, all coordinated by Prof. Pagán Cánovas and his team.

The fellow will also be able to use and develop unprecedented onsite and online data-analysis resources, developed through international cooperation led by Daedalus, and including video collections of over 700,000 hours, capture nodes to ingest data from broadcasts and the internet, and a constantly updated multimodal processing pipeline integrating Automatic Speech Recognition, Key Body Pose Detection, Acoustic Analysis, Machine Learning pipelines in Python and R for gesture–speech modeling, and many other tools.

The fellow will receive comprehensive training in:

·        Theory of multimodal communication and cognition

·        Relevant areas of linguistics and cognitive science

·        Multimodal data processing and integration (speech, gesture, text)

·        Statistical modeling (GAMs, NAMs, and related non-linear methods)

·        Corpus building, annotation, and visualization of multimodal datasets

Career planning will start from day one. The professors, postdocs, and PhD candidates at the Daedalus Lab have a track record of around 7 million € in the last five years, in the most competitive grants and fellowships: Marie Curie PF, Ramón y Cajal, Alexander von Humboldt, Beatriz Galindo, Erasmus Mundus, Erasmus Plus KA220, FPI from Spain, Fundación Séneca PhD Fellowships from Murcia, among others. Upon completion of the PhD, our researchers have been offered tenure-track positions at Murcia, or won highly competitive positions or fellowships: e.g., CNRS Lyon, Universidad de Zaragoza (Juan de la Cierva).

Learning Spanish and other languages, training in soft and skills, and a great variety of sport, cultural, and social activities are available to the fellow through various programs at the University of Murcia.

The position offers a unique opportunity to develop a research career at the intersection of AI, linguistics, and cognitive science, in one of the most internationally connected teams in Europe in this field.

How to apply

1.  As soon as possible, from now until 13 November, 2025. Send the following to Professor Cristóbal Pagán Cánovas at cpcanovas@um.es. Please use the subject line: Application – PhD Fellow FPI:

·        an academic CV

·        a one-page motivation letter OR a short video presentation (90 seconds max.) explaining why you are the right person for the job

2.  Until 13 November, 2025. Register at the University of Murcia hiring platform through this link:

https://convocum.um.es/convocum2/paginas/comun/estadoSeguimiento.seam?tipo=PIN&plaza=13019&cid=2081

The University of Murcia and the Daedalus Lab are committed to equal opportunity and to fostering an inclusive, supportive environment for all staff and collaborators.

Project Manager – Erasmus Mundus & EU Projects

Daedalus Lab, University of Murcia (Spain)

Start date: January 2026
Contract: One year, full-time (37,5 hours), renewable (with potential for permanence).
Status: Public employee of the University of Murcia with full associated benefits.
Compensation: 35,000€–40,000€ per annum, commensurate with qualifications and experience. Performance bonuses may apply based on successful funding acquisition.

Are you ready to coordinate large-scale international projects that connect language, cognition, technology, and AI? We’re looking for a driven, strategic, and hands-on Project Manager who can turn ideas into action — leading operations, partnerships, and communication across Europe and beyond.

You will take the lead in managing MULTICOM, the new Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Multimodal Data Science, and other highly innovative EU projects run by the Daedalus Lab, the University of Murcia’s Center for Cognition, Communication, and Creativity. This is a rare opportunity to build an international ecosystem at the crossroads of research, innovation, and education.

About Daedalus

The Daedalus Lab at the University of Murcia leads the MULTICOM consortium, working with Lund University (Sweden) and FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany). Together, we are training a global community of top students and researchers in multimodal communication, the fast-growing field studying the interplay of voice and body in human thought and interaction. Beyond MULTICOM, Daedalus drives several international initiatives such as MULTIDATA and the Red Hen Lab, which develop online resources and communities. Our ecosystem is constantly growing through the attraction of funding and talent.

You will work closely with Prof. Cristóbal Pagán Cánovas, Daedalus Lab Director and MULTICOM Coordinator, from our downtown campus at La Merced in Murcia. Hybrid work is possible. You will be supported by an expert administrative team and collaborate closely with colleagues in Murcia, Lund, Erlangen, and around the world. Some international travel will be involved.

What you will lead

• Project operations. Oversee all key aspects of the Erasmus Mundus and other research and innovation projects — from timelines and deliverables to people and processes.

• Partnerships and networking. Develop and strengthen relations with companies, administrations, NGOs, universities, institutes, and scientific organizations to build partnerships, develop our students and staff, and bring our research to market.

• Visibility and communication. Lead website and social media strategy, manage outreach campaigns, and drive the public image of the projects.

• Admissions and mobility. Supervise admissions, coordinate between universities, and ensure smooth transitions for students.

• Events and Meetings. Plan and deliver international meetings, workshops, and public events that bring our global community together.

• Consortium coordination. Keep partners aligned and informed, ensuring efficient communication and documentation.

• Strategic development. Identify new opportunities, monitor European research and education policy, and help position Daedalus as a leader in its field.

• Grant proposal support. Assist in the conception, writing, and submission of new funding applications.

What You Bring

• Languages. Excellent English (C2). Intermediate Spanish (B1) or the demonstrable potential to learn it fast. Other European or major world languages are a plus.

• Experience. Bachelor’s degree (or higher) and significant experience in project and team management, ideally in EU-funded consortia or in industry. Experience in business development is a plus.

• Digital fluency. Confident using online collaboration tools, project management platforms, and social media. Comfortable learning new tools quickly.

• Core strengths:

  • Strategic thinker with strong execution skills.

  • Clear communicator, skilled at connecting people and ideas.

  • Agile and creative under pressure and across cultural contexts.

  • Able to manage complexity while keeping an eye on impact.

Why join us

• Make an impact. You will be the operational and strategic backbone of an international ecosystem that’s redefining how we study, teach, and engineer language and communication.

• Build your network. Collaborate with researchers, institutions, and companies across Europe.

• Grow with us. Expand your leadership, management, and grant-writing skills as the Daedalus ecosystem grows.

• Enjoy stability and benefits. Join a major public university with full employee benefits, top training opportunities, and a strong international orientation.

How to apply

Send:

1.  a short CV (max. 2 pages)

2.  a short video (max. 90 seconds) explaining what you will bring to the role

to Professor Cristóbal Pagán Cánovas at cpcanovas@um.es. Please use the subject line: Application – Project Manager.

Further instructions about the institutional application will be provided.

The University of Murcia and the Daedalus Lab are committed to equal opportunity and to fostering an inclusive, supportive environment for all staff and collaborators.