PhD Student Position in Multimodal Sign Language Technology

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join a groundbreaking three-year research project developing Iceland's first computational framework integrating speech and sign language. This position offers the unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in extremely low-resource language technology while directly supporting the Icelandic deaf community.

About the Project

The Sign and Talk project tackles fundamental challenges in multimodal representation learning by developing novel approaches to align distinct embedding spaces from speech and sign language modalities. Sign languages encode information through parallel channels—manual signs, spatial grammar, facial expressions—operating simultaneously in 3D space, presenting unique computational challenges for cross-modal alignment. The project will pioneer mathematical frameworks for multimodal integration, advance video transformer architectures for temporal-spatial dynamics, and develop few-shot learning methodologies for ultra-low-resource scenarios with only 200-300 primary users.

Working Environment at CADIA

You will join the Center for Analysis and Design of Intelligent Agents (CADIA) at Reykjavik University, one of Iceland's leading AI research centers. CADIA provides a collaborative environment where researchers tackle challenging problems in AI, machine learning, and human-computer interaction. The center offers regular seminars, visiting researcher opportunities, access to modern GPU clusters for deep learning research, and strong academic-industry connections. CADIA's commitment to open science aligns perfectly with this project's goals of creating accessible, community-driven technology solutions.

Research Focus

The successful candidate will work on developing novel methodologies for:

• Cross-modal embedding relationships between speech and sign language representation spaces
• Video transformer architectures for sign language feature extraction
• Joint representation learning preserving modality-specific characteristics
• Domain adaptation techniques for varied communication contexts

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement computer vision approaches for sign language recognition
• Create capabilities that look beyond hand gestures (e.g. facial expressions, eye gaze, body posture)
• Build and train baseline sign recognition systems
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team including linguists and sign language experts
• Engage with the Icelandic deaf community for user-centered evaluation
• Publish research findings in top-tier conferences and journals

Qualifications

Essential:

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Machine Learning, or related field
• Strong programming skills (Python, deep learning frameworks)
• Experience with computer vision and/or machine learning
• Excellent English communication skills (written and spoken)

Desirable:

• Experience with video processing and transformer architectures
• Knowledge of multimodal learning approaches
• Interest in accessibility technologies
• Interest in learning new spoken and signed languages
• Interest in working with underrepresented communities

What We Offer

• Fully funded PhD position for 3 years
• Access to state-of-the-art computing resources
• Opportunity to work with leading researchers in computer vision and language technology
• Direct impact on accessibility and inclusion for the Icelandic deaf community
• Participation in international conferences and research networks
• Mentorship from experienced faculty including Torfi Thorhallsson, Jon Gudnason, and Hannes Hogni Vilhjalmsson

Application Requirements

• CV including education, research experience, and publications
• Transcripts from previous degrees
• Research statement (max 2 pages) describing your interest in the project
• Contact information for two academic references
• Portfolio of relevant projects or code samples (optional but encouraged)

Application Deadline: The position will be until filled. Applications will be reviewed starting September 15, 2025.

Duration: 3 years

Contact for Inquiries: Prof. Torfi Thorhallsson, torfith@ru.is

The positions is a part of the Sign and Talk project, funded by the Icelandic Language Technology Fund (Markáætlun í máltækni). The project is conducted in collaboration with the University of Iceland, Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, RÚV Iceland Broadcasting, and the Communication Centre for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

About Reykjavik University (RU)

Reykjavík University has around 4.300 students and 300 faculty and employees in addition to numerous adjunct faculty in two schools: Technology and Social Sciences. We offer a welcoming and stimulating environment in which to work and live. The University is centrally located in Reykjavík, the capital city of Iceland. The role of Reykjavik University is to create and disseminate knowledge to enhance the competitiveness and quality of life for individuals and society, guided by good ethics, sustainability, and responsibility. Education and research at RU are based on strong ties with industry and society. We emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration, international relations, and entrepreneurship.

About Iceland

Iceland is well known for its breathtaking natural beauty, with volcanoes, hot springs, lava fields and glaciers offering a dramatic landscape. It consistently ranks as one of the best places in the world to live. It offers a high quality of life and is one of the safest places in the world, with high gender equality and strong healthcare and social support systems. Reykjavik is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city that provides an ideal environment for combining cultural and family activities with an active lifestyle.