The Psycholinguistics, Information and Computation Lab (PICoL) https://picol-georgetown.github.io/ in the Department of Linguistics https://linguistics.georgetown.edu/ at Georgetown University is recruiting candidates for a PhD in Computational Linguistics to start in Fall 2026. The deadline for applying is December 1, 2025. The lab is directed by Ethan Gotlieb Wilcox https://wilcoxeg.github.io/.
Please see this link for more details: https://linguistics.georgetown.edu/programs/apply/
In PICoL (pronounced “pickle”) we seek to understand how language is learned and processed in the mind using an interdisciplinary toolbox of methods, including computational simulations, formal mathematical models, and psycholinguistic experiments. In addition, we use insights from linguistics and cognitive science to characterize and improve AI and NLP technologies. Some of our current research projects include:
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Building mathematical models of real-time language comprehension -
Testing theories of language acquisition using large language models -
Characterizing language model pretraining dynamics -
Developing new experimental methods for psycholinguistics
Applicants with a background in experimental methods are particularly encouraged to apply this cycle.
Students in the Computational Linguistics program benefit from a range of courses in NLP and computational modeling techniques, as well as foundational courses in linguistics. Georgetown has a lively computational linguistics community https://gucl.georgetown.edu/ on campus. Applicants must hold at least a bachelor’s degree by Fall 2026. PhD students in the Department (domestic as well as international students) benefit from a 5-year guaranteed funding package including a stipend, tuition scholarship, and health insurance. For questions, please email ethan.wilcox@georgetown.edu
Applicants will be most competitive for the PhD in Computational Linguistics if they have a background in Computer Science, Linguistics, Cognitive Science, or a related field. Successful applicants have previous experience in computer programming and can articulate a clear area of desired research specialization. Georgetown also offers a 2-year M.S. in computational linguistics for students who wish to obtain a foundation in this field.