An exciting full-time PhD fellowship is available at the Language and Communication Institute (UCLouvain, Belgium). This interdisciplinary role sits at the intersection of corpus linguistics, second language acquisition, and translation studies, forming a key part of the research programme “How Generative AI is shaping human language: insights from post-AI language use, learning and critical literacy”.
PhD Position: GenAI and Academic Editing – Post-AI Language, UCLouvain, Belgium
Key Information At a Glance
| Category | Details |
| Designation | PhD Fellow (Full-time, 100%) |
| Research Area | Generative AI (GenAI), Corpus Linguistics, and Academic Language Editing |
| Location | UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium |
| Fellowship Grant | Starting at approx. EUR 2,515 net per month |
| Duration | Initially 2 years, renewable up to a total of 4 years |
| Start Date | October 2026 |
| Application Deadline | 7 August 2026 |
Research Area: The impact of Generative AI on academic language editing, analyzing human vs. AI-generated edits and researcher engagement.
Eligibility & Qualifications
Required Profile:
- Education: Master’s degree in (Applied) Linguistics or Translation Studies with an excellent academic record at both BA and MA levels.
- Language Skills: Excellent oral and written English (minimum C1 level). Knowledge of French is considered an asset.
- Technical Skills: Core knowledge of corpus linguistic techniques. Familiarity with statistics, R, surveys, and interview research is a strong plus.
- Core Attributes: Strong analytical skills, scientific rigor, intellectual curiosity, autonomy, and excellent teamwork skills.
- Residency: Willingness to reside in Belgium for the duration of the mandate and travel abroad for international academic conferences. (Non-EU applicants are responsible for obtaining visas, with assistance from UCLouvain).
Job Description
The successful doctoral researcher will investigate the impact of generative AI on academic editing. The project addresses two main gaps:
- Analyzing the linguistic differences between professional human edits and AI-generated edits in scholarly publications.
- Evaluating how academic writers (from PhD students to senior researchers) engage with, evaluate, and learn from AI-assisted language editing.
Key Responsibilities:
- Contribute to corpus annotation, data collection, and linguistic analysis.
- Assist in developing a university-wide survey examining researchers’ use and perceptions of GenAI in academic writing.
- Collaborate within an interdisciplinary consortium consisting of two other PhD students, a post-doctoral researcher, and five academic supervisors.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted as a single PDF file sent via email to both supervisors: Magali Paquot (magali.paquot@uclouvain.be) and Marie-Aude Lefer (marie-aude.lefer@uclouvain.be).
Use the subject line: “SP2 PhD application — [Your name]”.
Your application PDF must include:
- A one-page cover letter in English (explaining your interest and how you meet the requirements).
- A Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English.
- A one-page academic statement in English detailing your graduate study expectations and career goals.
- Copies of your BA and MA diplomas/degrees.
- A copy of (or working links to) your Master’s thesis and any academic publications.
- Names and full contact details of two academic referees.
Note: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews (either in person at Louvain-la-Neuve or via videoconference) during the second half of August 2026.
For more details, you can visit the official Post-AI Language Position Page.
