Subject: PhD position: Temporal aspects of auditory intensity processing From: Daniel Oberfeld <oberfeld@xxxxxxxx> Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:50:13 +0200 List-Archive:<http://lists.mcgill.ca/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=AUDITORY>Dear list, a PhD position in psychoacoustics / experimental psychology is available in the lab of Dr. Daniel Oberfeld (Dept. of Psychology, University of Mainz, Germany), in the project "Temporal aspects of auditory intensity processing" funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. The position (“wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter”, TV-L 13 50%, part time 20 hours/week) is available for 2 years. Earliest starting date is Aug. 1, 2009. In the project, auditory intensity discrimination under non-simultaneous masking will be studied. Maskers presented in temporal proximity to the target stimulus can cause strong impairment in intensity resolution. Previous studies indicated that these effects can not be fully explained by mechanisms in the auditory periphery but suggested a role of more centrally located processes. The project will combine different methods in order to gain a better understanding of the underlying processes, with a focus on auditory attention. In one series of experiments, the hypothesis will be tested that auditory object perception provides a framework for understanding the psychoacoustic effects. In other experiments, the decision process in an intensity discrimination task will be studied by means of "molecular" analyses of the behavioral data. Mathematical and physiological models will be considered in the data analysis. Duties and responsibilities: * Planning and realization of the experiments * Data collection * Statistical analyses and interpretation of the data * Modeling of the results (where applicable) * Communication of the results at conferences and in scientific papers Requirements: * Strong interest in human auditory perception * University Diploma or Master in psychoacoustics, experimental psychology, computer science, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, biology, or cognitive neuroscience * Previous experience and skills in at least one of the following fields: psychoacoustics, psychophysics, programming (e.g., Matlab), experimental psychology, modeling * Good statistical and methodological skills * Excellent speaking and writing skills in English Besides access to a well-equipped psychoacoustics lab, interested candidates will have the opportunity to use the Department's EEG lab. It is also possible to conduct fMRI experiments in cooperation with the University Hospital. Informal enquiries should be addressed to Dr. Daniel Oberfeld, oberfeld@xxxxxxxx Please send applications (including CV, certificates, documentation of skills relevant to the project, and a short description of your research interests) by Aug. 10, 2009 per email (PDF preferred) to oberfeld@xxxxxxxx The University of Mainz is an equal opportunity employer. Women are encouraged to apply. Disabled applicants will receive priority in case they have equal qualifications. Best, Daniel -- Dr. Daniel Oberfeld-Twistel Johannes Gutenberg - Universitaet Mainz Department of Psychology Experimental Psychology *Please note the change in address & phone number!!* Wallstrasse 3 55122 Mainz Germany Phone ++49 (0) 6131 39 39274 Fax ++49 (0) 6131 39 39268 http://www.staff.uni-mainz.de/oberfeld/