Research Training in SLP
UofT Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) faculty are members of the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute (RSI) — the academic home for graduate research training across all rehabilitation disciplines at U of T. If you're considering a research-based MSc or PhD, RSI offers a supportive, multi-disciplinary environment where SLP researchers train alongside peers across the rehabilitation sciences. Visit the RSI website to explore the programs and see Why Choose RSI for more on the student experience.
Why consider research training?
Research training is a valuable and viable pathway toward a career in Speech-Language Pathology. Engaging in research builds critical thinking skills, deepens your understanding of communication disorders, and lets you contribute directly to the advancement of clinical practice.
Dreaming about a clinical Master's in SLP?
A research-based Master of Science (MSc) can be a strong stepping stone toward a clinical Master's degree, especially if you're applying to highly competitive programs. Completing an MSc can help your application stand out and strengthen your profile during admissions review.
Interested in a research career?
If you're drawn to a research or research-adjacent career in SLP, both MSc and PhD may be the right path. Faculty in the U of T SLP program conduct research across a wide range of areas, including aphasia, stuttering, dysphagia, neurological speech disorders and speech motor control, bilingualism, and child language disorders. Many faculty members actively seek MSc and PhD students, as well as postdoctoral fellows, to supervise and mentor. Explore individual faculty pages to learn about their research programs and reach out directly — supervisors are often the best source of information about their labs and openings.
Ready to take the next step?
Visit the RSI website to learn more about MSc and PhD admission requirements, funding, and how to apply.
SLP Research Training Opportunities
Explore additional opportunities and supervisors on the RSI Faculty pages.
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 N. 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.