Yixuan Zhu is a Doctoral Candidate within the HUM.AI.N-ACCENT network, hosted by the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL). She holds a European Master’s in Clinical Linguistics (EMCL+) and a Bachelor’s in Applied Linguistics from the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. Her research sits at the intersection of bilingualism and neuroscience.

In her doctoral project, Yixuan applies neuroimaging techniques (e.g., EEG/MEG) and computational modelling to study variation in accentedness across individual speakers, and how it influences speech perception in both humans and automated speech recognition systems. By bridging speech science, neuroscience, and technology, she aims to develop practical, personalized training tools to enhance speech production and perception — supporting clearer communication between speakers and listeners of diverse accents in an increasingly globalized world.