Subject: PhD Position, cochlear implant research, University of Groningen (NL) From: Etienne Gaudrain <e.p.c.gaudrain@xxxxxxxx> Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 17:09:32 +0100 List-Archive:<http://lists.mcgill.ca/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=AUDITORY>--001a11c2c102c3c59904f47f2d57 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Dear Auditory List members, The PhD position below might be of interest to you or your students. *PhD Position: Enhancing speech perception in cochlear implants* *University of Groningen / University Medical Center Groningen, ENT Department, Groningen, NL* *Advanced Bionics GmbH, European Research Center, Hanover, DE* *Project description* In crowded situations, normal-hearing listeners take advantage of the fact that different speakers can be discriminated by their voice in order to selectively listen to a specific talker. Current cochlear implants do not allow users to appropriately hear voice differences, which partially explains the difficulties in speech comprehension they experience in crowded environments. The purpose of the project is to study and develop methods to optimize, at the individual level, the transmission of voice and speech information through the implant. The research in our group is motivated towards identifying problems that hearing-impaired listeners encounter in daily life, with the ultimate goal of proposing solutions to these problems (see http://www.dbaskent.org). Our approach is multidisciplinary, and involves behavioral and cognitive sciences, as well as engineering. We work closely with patients, the medical staff of the Cochlear Implants North Netherlands ( http://www.ci.umcg.nl), manufacturers of hearing devices, and local and international collaborators. The project is jointly funded by the University of Groningen and Advanced Bionics and will be a close collaboration between these two institutions. The University of Groningen is ranked amongst the top 100 universities in the world. For more details on the project, the prospective candidates can contact Dr. Etienne Gaudrain <e.p.c.gaudrain@xxxxxxxx> or Prof. Deniz Ba=C5=9Fkent < d.baskent@xxxxxxxx>. *Requirements* Candidates must have a Master degree in biomedical engineering, physics, signal processing, audiology, psychology, neuroscience or a related field. Programming experience, especially with Matlab, is expected. Interest in working in an international environment and interacting with patients are recommended. Proficiency or willingness to learn Dutch is preferable. *Details of the position* The advertised position is for 4 years, starting on 1st June 2014 or as soon as possible thereafter, before 1st September 2014. The UMCG is committed to offer equal opportunities. Applicants with disabilities will be preferentially considered in case of equal qualifications. *To apply* Send a copy of your CV including the names and contact information of two references (one of them preferably your advisor from Master=E2=80=99s or an= other research project) and a short motivation letter to Dr Etienne Gaudrain < e.p.c.gaudrain@xxxxxxxx> *before the 15/04/2014*. Interviews will be held on the *25/04/2014*. --001a11c2c102c3c59904f47f2d57 Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr">Dear Auditory List members,<div><br></div><div>The PhD pos= ition below might be of interest to you or your students.<b><i><font size= =3D"4"><div><b><i><font size=3D"4"><br></font></i></b></div>PhD Position: E= nhancing speech perception in cochlear implants</font></i></b><br> <div><br></div><div><div><i>University of Groningen / University Medical Ce= nter Groningen, ENT Department, Groningen, NL</i></div><div><i>Advanced Bio= nics GmbH, European Research Center, Hanover, DE</i></div><div><br></div> <div><b>Project description</b></div><div>In crowded situations, normal-hea= ring listeners take advantage of the fact that different speakers can be di= scriminated by their voice in order to selectively listen to a specific tal= ker. Current cochlear implants do not allow users to appropriately hear voi= ce differences, which partially explains the difficulties in speech compreh= ension they experience in crowded environments. The purpose of the project = is to study and develop methods to optimize, at the individual level, the t= ransmission of voice and speech information through the implant.</div> <div><br></div><div>The research in our group is motivated towards identify= ing problems that hearing-impaired listeners encounter in daily life, with = the ultimate goal of proposing solutions to these problems (see <a href=3D"= http://www.dbaskent.org">http://www.dbaskent.org</a>). Our approach is mult= idisciplinary, and involves behavioral and cognitive sciences, as well as e= ngineering. We work closely with patients, the medical staff of the Cochlea= r Implants North Netherlands (<a href=3D"http://www.ci.umcg.nl">http://www.= ci.umcg.nl</a>), manufacturers of hearing devices, and local and internatio= nal collaborators.</div> <div><br></div><div>The project is jointly funded by the University of Gron= ingen and Advanced Bionics and will be a close collaboration between these = two institutions. The University of Groningen is ranked amongst the top 100= universities in the world.</div> <div><br></div><div>For more details on the project, the prospective candid= ates can contact Dr. Etienne Gaudrain <<a href=3D"mailto:e.p.c.gaudrain@xxxxxxxx= umcg.nl">e.p.c.gaudrain@xxxxxxxx</a>> or Prof. Deniz Ba=C5=9Fkent <<a = href=3D"mailto:d.baskent@xxxxxxxx">d.baskent@xxxxxxxx</a>>.</div> <div><br></div><div><b>Requirements</b></div><div>Candidates must have a Ma= ster degree in biomedical engineering, physics, signal processing, audiolog= y, psychology, neuroscience or a related field. Programming experience, esp= ecially with Matlab, is expected. Interest in working in an international e= nvironment and interacting with patients are recommended. Proficiency or wi= llingness to learn Dutch is preferable.</div> <div><br></div><div><b>Details of the position</b></div><div>The advertised= position is for 4 years, starting on 1st June 2014 or as soon as possible = thereafter, before 1st September 2014.</div><div>The UMCG is committed to o= ffer equal opportunities. Applicants with disabilities will be preferential= ly considered in case of equal qualifications.</div> <div><br></div><div><b>To apply</b></div><div>Send a copy of your CV includ= ing the names and contact information of two references (one of them prefer= ably your advisor from Master=E2=80=99s or another research project) and a = short motivation letter to Dr Etienne Gaudrain <<a href=3D"mailto:e.p.c.= gaudrain@xxxxxxxx">e.p.c.gaudrain@xxxxxxxx</a>> <b>before the 15/04/2014</= b>. Interviews will be held on the <b>25/04/2014</b>.</div> </div><div><br></div></div></div> --001a11c2c102c3c59904f47f2d57--