Interested in joining our lab? We are always looking for talented students and researchers at all levels with an interest in the speech motor system.
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Masters, capstone, and undergraduate students
Students are involved in a range of lab activities, including data collection, data analysis, participant recruitment, and experiment design. Students typically participate in the lab for course credit, though depending on lab needs, as well as the student’s status and prior research experience, some hourly positions may be available. We are accepting applications for student positions for Fall 2025. Students interested in working in the lab should fill out this survey. Be prepared to submit a letter of interest as well as a resume. You will need to be logged in to Google with your UW–Madison NetID to access the form.
Ph.D. students
New graduate students interested in joining the lab should apply through the Ph.D. program in the Communication Sciences and Disorders department or through the Neuroscience Training Program. Students in other labs or programs the University of Wisconsin–Madison are also able to have an affiliation with the lab if interested. Interested students should email the lab director, Ben Parrell (bparrell@wisc.edu), for more details.
Postdoctoral researchers
The Speech Motor Neuroscience Group at the University of Wisconsin–Madison invites applications for an NIH-funded postdoctoral research position in the field of speech motor control and speech motor neuroscience. The Speech Motor Neuroscience group consists of two research labs, the Brain Language and Acoustic Behavior lab (directed by Carrie Niziolek) and the Speech Motor Action + Control lab (directed by Ben Parrell). Both labs are funded through grants from the NIH. The postdoctoral scholars will additionally have opportunities to interact with vibrant research communities at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, including the Waisman Center (which houses both labs) and the Neuroscience Training Program.
This research involves behavioral and neuroimaging experiments with neurobiologically healthy individuals as well as individuals with cerebellar ataxia and Parkinson’s disease. The postdoc will be expected to take a leading role in the design and execution of these experiments, including the analysis of existing neuroimaging data. The position could additionally entail research in other areas of focus for the lab, including predictive coding of self-produced vocalizations, feedback-driven speech learning, and dynamics of native and non-native speech production, multisensory integration, motor learning, and comparisons of speech and nonspeech motor control systems. The initial appointment for this position will be for one year, with potential extensions for additional years.
For consideration, please email both bparrell@wisc.edu and cniziolek@wisc.edu with “Postdoc Job (YOUR FULL NAME)” in the subject line to submit (1) a current CV, (2) a one-page cover letter describing qualifications, interest, career goals, and research alignment with this position, and (3) a list of and the names and contact information for three potential references.
Required qualifications:
- PhD or equivalent in psychology, cognitive neuroscience, linguistics, communication sciences and disorders, or a closely related field
- A documented history of research productivity
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Leadership and organizational skills
Useful qualifications:
- Experience with M/EEG data
- Experience collecting and analyzing human behavioral data, particularly speech data
- Computational skills, including MATLAB