About Us
The Lancaster Language Learning Lab (4L) is an interdisciplinary research group at Lancaster University, co-directed by Padraic Monaghan and Patrick Rebuschat. It is a cross-departmental initiative linking the Department of Linguistics and English Language with the Department of Psychology.
Our lab is dedicated to understanding how people acquire and process language across the lifespan. Drawing on linguistics, psychology, and cognitive science, we investigate how language is learned in childhood and adulthood, and how individual differences, sleep, and instruction shape language development.
We are committed to maintaining a collaborative, inclusive, and intellectually curious research culture. We support early-career researchers through hands-on training and mentoring, and we promote Open Science principles, including transparency, pre-registration, and data sharing. Our lab values intellectual generosity, rigorous inquiry, and research that contributes meaningfully to both science and society.
We welcome prospective students and academic visitors. If you’re interested in doctoral study or a short-term visit, feel free to contact us at language-learning@lancaster.ac.uk.