Research Training in SLP
Research training is a valuable and viable pathway toward a career in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP). Engaging in research allows students to develop critical thinking skills, gain a deeper understanding of communication disorders, and contribute to the advancement of clinical practice.
A Master of Science (MSc) degree can serve as a strong stepping stone toward a clinical Master’s degree in SLP, particularly if you are applying to highly competitive programs. Completing a research-based Master’s degree can help your application stand out and may strengthen your profile during the admissions review process.
If you are interested in a research and research-adjacent career in SLP, you may be interested in a PhD. Faculty members in the University of Toronto SLP program conduct research in a wide range of areas, including aphasia, stuttering, dysphagia, neurological speech disorders and speech motor control, bilingualism, and child language disorders. Many of the faculty members actively seek MSc and PhD research students, as well as postdoctoral fellows to supervise and mentor. We encourage you to explore their individual faculty pages to learn more about their research programs and reach out to them directly for additional information.
SLP research faculty are members of the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute (RSI), which is the academic home for graduate research training across all rehabilitation disciplines at UofT. If you are interested in pursuing a research-based MSc or PhD degree, please visit the RSI website to learn more about these programs: http://www.rsi.utoronto.ca/
Research Openings
Discover faculty-led research labs currently accepting graduate students. These opportunities provide advanced training, mentorship, and the chance to contribute to impactful research in communication and swallowing sciences.
For more information, contact the faculty member directly or visit the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute.
Dr. Rosemary Martino
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Our research focuses on understanding swallowing impairment (dysphagia) and its associated impacts. We conduct research that will assist clinicians in providing the best possible care to their patients and that will ultimately help reduce the burden of dysphagia for patients, their caregivers and the community.
Through this research, we are developing resources for health professionals, patients and their families.
Dr. Yana Yunusova
- The Speech Production Lab (SPL) is dedicated to the study of normal and disordered aspects of speech motor control and to innovation in the assessment and rehabilitation of individuals with neurologic and neurodegenerative disorders affecting speech and orofacial motor control. SPL is currently looking for students to study bulbar dysfunction in ALS and to develop novel assessments using innovative computer vision techniques.
- SPL is also seeking applications for a postdoctoral fellowship. This position focuses on the development and validation of innovative clinical assessments for motor speech disorders associated with neurodegenerative diseases. The role involves working as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes neurologists, engineers, and other specialists, fostering collaborative and innovative research within technology development space.
Dr. Karla Washington
PedLLS Outcomes Lab
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The PedLLS Lab studies speech and language development in monolingual and multilingual preschoolers, focusing on both typical and disordered contexts. Our research explores how contextual factors, such as environmental and personal, as defined by the WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health, influence outcomes.
Working with experts in communication disorders, linguistics, education, physics, and engineering, we use diverse methodologies (e.g., acoustic analysis, fMRI) to document language learning and impairment across linguistic contexts. Our studies include randomized controlled trials, as well as cross-sectional and longitudinal designs, to better understand development and intervention.
Current projects examine multilingualism by documenting Jamaican Creole and English-speaking preschoolers’ speech and language use, including functional communication and token-to-token variability. We also study monolingual English-speaking preschoolers, comparing those with and without developmental language disorder.