Graduate - Ph.D. Programs

Graduate | Ph.D. Programs

PH.D. FELLOWSHIPS AT OHIO UNIVERSITY

The School of Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences offers world-class Ph.D. programs in hearing science and in speech-language science. We are a diverse, energetic, dedicated, and productive faculty who work closely with students in a positive and encouraging environment. We offer students the opportunity to develop an individualized academic plan of study, access to state-of-the art facilities and equipment, an exciting range of mentored research experiences, and a variety of mentored teaching opportunities. Fellows receive a minimum of three years of year-round full-time tuition expenses, plus an attractive living stipend (assuming satisfactory performance). Additional funds may be available to support continued studies beyond three years.

Ph.D. studies in Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences at Ohio University provide numerous distinctive opportunities, including:

Involvement in research projects funded by prestigious agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
A choice of Ph.D. focal areas in hearing science, speech science, language science, audiology, and speech-language pathology.
Hands-on guidance in vital areas of scholarly development, including publication and grant writing.
Enriching collaborative experiences in medicine, psychology, neuroscience, cognition, psycholinguistics, linguistics, health sciences, physical therapy, education, engineering, biological sciences, statistics, and more.
Rich University-wide interdisciplinary opportunities, including: Initiative on Health and Wellness in Underserved Populations, Appalachian Rural Health Institute and Diabetes Research Initiative, Initiative on Interactive Virtual Environments, NanoBioTechnology Initiative, and Gerontology Certificate Program, providing rich additional interdisciplinary research and student funding possibilities.
Participation in the Institute for the Empirical Study of Language, facilitating research collaboration across many disciplines.
Engagement with multicultural, multinational, and multilingual students and faculty.
Access to vital clinical populations to support cutting-edge research programs.
Participation in a university and local community that offers a safe, culturally vibrant and picturesque environment.

QUALIFICATIONS

Qualified applicants will have a strong interest in becoming increasingly independent scholars, and excellent written and interpersonal communication skills in American English. For the Ph.D. program in hearing science, applicants must have a minimum of an undergraduate degree in an academically related area (e.g., communication sciences and disorders, psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, biomedical engineering, etc.). For the Ph.D. program in speech-language science, applicants must have a minimum of a master’s degree in an academically related area. Fellowships are competitively awarded. US and International applicants are welcome. Applicants from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

FACULTY RESEARCH FOCI

Hearing Science

Hearing aid signal processing
Speech perception
Cochlear implants
Psychophysics
Neuroanatomy and neurophysiology
Auditory working memory
Physiological assessment of the auditory system
Speech enhancement and noise reduction strategies in digital hearing aids
Auditory Electrophysiology
Multi-channel recordings and neuroimages

Speech-Language Science

Metasemantic development
Speech perception
Organization of mental lexicon
Cognitive and linguistic sciences
Lexical tone in spoken word recognition
Videostroboscopic examination of voice
Syntactic priming and complex syntactic development
Aphasia, dementia, and traumatic brain injury
Changing attitudes towards individuals who use AAC devices
Swallowing physiology of normal populations
Aural rehabilitation in cochlear implanted children
Improving access to technology to meet social/academic need of children and adolescents
Social function of children’s language and cognition
Working memory/speed of processing underlying complex grammar processing in typically developing children
Information processing (attention, memory, processing speed) and specific language impairment
Applying creative arts with individuals with physical and communication disabilities
The role of family interaction on language and cognitive development
Biomechanical measurements of swallowing in neurogenic patients with dysphagia
Use of eye movement measures to index linguistic comprehension and cognitive activity
Clinical practice issues involving ethics, fiscal stability of service - providing agencies, and managed care