Applications are invited for a funded PhD position that will investigate the use of music to facilitate sleep. The project is a collaboration between the Department of Music and Department of Automatic Controls and Systems Engineering of The University of Sheffield, and the Sheffield based company Braintrain2020. Findings from the PhD project will contribute to the development of SleepCogni, hardware and software to assist sleep. You can apply using the provided link. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit a full CV, letter of motivation, and project proposal before the interview date.
Project abstract:
Whilst music is often used as a self-medication to promote sleep, little is known about how music promotes sleep and how its effectiveness can be increased. In this project, we investigate how music can be employed to facilitate physiological and attentional changes required to make the transition from an awake state to sleep. This is done by first investigating adjustments of musical characteristics to match physiological and attentional characteristics. Subsequently, this matching process is used to set up a bio-feedback loop that provides cues and direction for the sleep induction process. These processes will first be trialled with healthy volunteers and secondly with a group of insomniacs.
Further information:
Project supervisors are Dr Renee Timmers, Dr George Panoutsos, and Dr Maan van de Werken. Deadline for applications is Thursday 27 June 2019, and planned interview date is Thursday 11 July 2019. Funding is provided for 4 years, from 1 October 2019.
See: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/music/phd/musical-biofeedback-loop/facilitate-sleep