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Dear list, A PhD-position is available in my group at the University of Oldenburg, Germany, with the topic of speech intelligibility modeling in spatial scenarios for cochlear implant users and hearing aid users. Application deadline is Nov, 30, 2016.
Please find the full advertisement below and please forward to anyone who may be interested in applying. Thank you and best regards, Tim Jürgens ------------------------------------------ https://www.uni-oldenburg.de/stellen/?stelle=65131
PhD position at the Carl von Ossietzky Oldenburg University, Medical Physics Section, Models for hearing devices group & Cluster of Excellence “Hearing4all”, Germany The “Models for hearing devices” group at Oldenburg University, Germany, seeks – depending on approvement of funds – a motivated PhD student (50% of full time TV-L E13 position, until 31st January 2020) Modelling the “cocktail-party effect” for cochlear implant and hearing aid users. Cochlear implants stimulate the auditory nerve electrically and provide profound hearing-impaired or even completely deaf listeners with good abilities to understand speech. Listeners with two implants (bilateral patients) or with a contralateral
hearing aid (bimodal patients) can also benefit from basic aspects of spatial hearing, such as left-right discrimination of an acoustic source. However, their speech intelligibility is still much poorer than that of normal-hearing listeners, especially in
social situations, such as in restaurants and bars, where normal-hearing listeners show excellent abilities to separate speech from background noise (the “cocktail-party effect”). This project aims to (1) better understand why bimodal and bilateral patients
perform poorer in a cocktail-party-like scenario, and (2) evaluate novel sound coding strategies with both synchronized and non-synchronized hearing devices to improve their performance in these challenging acoustic situations. A novel computer model-approach
will be used by the candidate to predict speech intelligibility of bimodal and bilateral cochlear implant users in different spatial scenarios with and without additional algorithms. Detailed models of the auditory nerve response to acoustic and electric stimulation
will be used, as well as simpler models for speech intelligibility predictions. Comparisons to clinical data will evaluate the approach. A close collaboration with excellent algorithm developers for speech enhancement within the project and collaborations
with the recently established university clinics for otorhinolaryngology in Oldenburg and with the biggest implantation center of Europe in Hannover (MHH) ensure high standards in procedures as well as a unique work environment. The “Models for hearing devices” group (head: Prof. Dr. Tim Jürgens) is part of the Medical Physics Section (heads: Prof. Dr. Dr. B. Kollmeier, Prof. Dr. V. Hohmann) and offers an international scientific environment as well as access to
world-class research facilities. For more information about the group see
http://www.uni-oldenburg.de/en/mediphysics-acoustics/mediphysics/research-groups/digital-hearing-devices/modeling-for-hearing-devices/ . Prerequisite experience of the candidate: - academic university degree (Master or equivalent) in Physics, engineering, hearing technology & audiology, or a related field - solid background in audio signal processing and hearing acoustics - experience in digital signal processing and programming with Matlab The Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg is dedicated to increasing the percentage of women in science. Equally qualified female candidates will be given preference according to § 21 Abs. 3 NHG. Applicants with disabilities will be preferentially considered in case of equal qualification. Applications including a CV, a motivation letter, copies of the academic university degrees/transcripts and the name and contact details of at least one person who is willing to give a reference should be sent preferentially by email until
30th November 2016 to tim.juergens@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx with a cc to
imke.brumund@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx . Prof. Dr. Tim Jürgens Medizinische Physik and Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all Universität Oldenburg D - 26111 Oldenburg Tel. (+49) 441 798 3091 For further information please contact Prof. Dr. Tim Jürgens. |