PhD Project on Modeling Audiovisual Speech Perception at the
Technical University of Denmark
DTU compute would like to invite applications for a 3-year
PhD position starting September 1, 2016. The starting date
is flexible for the right candidate. The project is financed
by the Oticon Centre of Excellence for Hearing and Speech
Sciences.
Project Description
Face-to-face conversation is the most important
mode of communication between humans. Speech perception in
face-to-face communication differs from auditory-only speech
perception because the perceptual system integrates phonetic
information from sound and sight in a process of
multisensory integration. Under normal circumstances this
facilitates speech perception (Sumby and Pollack, 1954) but
when a phonetically incongruent voice is dubbed onto a video
of a talking face it can lead to the McGurk illusion (McGurk
and MacDonald, 1976) of hearing a phoneme not mediated by
either face or voice. The current project seeks to develop
and test models of the information processing underlying
these phenomena (Andersen, T. S., 2015, JASA, 137(5),
2884–2891). The work will include the design of audiovisual
speech stimuli, execution of psychophysical experiments as
well as model development and evaluation.
Requirements
Candidates must have a master degree or equivalent
academic qualifications in applied mathematics, psychology,
cognitive science, neuroscience, acoustics, computer
science, engineering or a closely related field. Skills and
experience in psychophysical methods, signal processing,
mathematical modeling and machine learning methods are
definite advantages. Furthermore, good command of the
English language is essential.
Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to
academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in the
DTU Compute PhD School. For information about the general
requirements for enrolment and the general planning of the
scholarship studies, please see the DTU PhD Guide.
Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by
Associate Professor Tobias Andersen.
Salary and appointment terms
The salary and appointment terms are consistent
with the current Danish rules for PhD degree students.
Further Information
Further information concerning the project can be
obtained from Associate Professor Tobias Andersen, toban@xxxxxx.
Further information concerning the application is available
at the DTU Compute PhD homepage or by contacting
PhD coordinator Lene Matthisson, +45 4525 3377.
Application
Applications must be submitted in English as one
single PDF, and we must have your online
application by June 17, 2016. Please open
the link in the red bar in the top of the page: "apply
online" (“ansøg online”).
Applications must include:
- application
(letter of motivation)
- CV
- documentation
of a relevant completed M.Sc. or M.Eng.-degree
- course
and grade list of bachelor and master degrees
- excel
sheet with translation of grades to the Danish grading
system (see guidelines and excel spreadsheet here)
- Contact
information of two referees
Candidates may apply prior to obtaining their master's
degree, but cannot begin before having received it.
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race,
disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to
apply.
DTU
Compute conducts research and provides teaching in the
fields of mathematics, modeling and computer science. The
expanding mass of information and the increasingly complex
use of advanced technology in society demand development
of advanced computer based mathematical models and
calculations. The unique skills of the department are in
high demand in IT innovation and production.
DTU is a technical university providing internationally
leading research, education, innovation and public
service. Our staff of 5,800 advance science and technology
to create innovative solutions that meet the demands of
society; and our 10,300 students are being educated to
address the technological challenges of the future. DTU is
an independent academic university collaborating globally
with business, industry, government, and public agencies.