PhD in the Acoustics and Medical physics group

About us

The School VI of Medicine and Health Sciences comprises the fields of human medicine, medical physics and acoustics, neurosciences, psychology and health services research. Together with the four regional hospitals, School VI forms the University Medicine Oldenburg. Furthermore, the university cooperates closely with the University Medicine of the University of Groningen.

The project is funded by the DFG project “The role of global acoustic cues in spatial perception and navigation”, which aims to extend the knowledge of hearing-related cognitive performance, navigation and auditory perception in real-life scenes and to enable the creation of “perceptually validated” (real-time) acoustic virtual reality technology.

Your tasks

The overarching project conducts research in virtual acoustics and auditory perception in complex acoustic environments. The goal is to develop and improve immersive realistic virtual acoustic and audio-visual environments as well as novel techniques for auditory experiments in such environments. The here developed techniques should provide a tool for ecologically valid evaluation of auditory perception and navigation in acoustic environments. The applicant will: 1) extent and improve an existing real-time acoustic simulation and rendering method in C++, based on our own prior implementations and techniques in Matlab and C++, 2) design and perform acoustic measurements in real spaces and psychoacoustic evaluation experiments, 3) write documentation, improve usability of the software, publish in English-language scientific journals, and present at international conferences.

Your profile

Required qualifications:

Applicants for the position must hold an academic university degree (master or equivalent) in computer science, physics, electrical or audio engineering, hearing technology & audiology, or a related discipline.

Solid knowledge and experience in the programming language C++ in the context of real-time audio applications for the Windows operating system is mandatory.

Applicants should further have solid knowledge in at least two of the following fields:

• Audio software design and architecture
• Virtual acoustics
• Acoustics and audio technology

A strong interest in interdisciplinary application-oriented work, familiarity with other programming languages such as MATLAB, Python, and C, VST plugins, audio frameworks such as JUCE, and ideally computer game engines, e.g., Unreal Engine, as well as good spoken and written English language skills are expected. For communication with other members of the group and documentation in German, candidates should have at least basic German language skills.

We offer

• Payment in accordance with collective bargaining law (special annual payment, public service pension scheme, asset-related benefits) incl. 30 days annual leave
• Support and guidance during your onboarding phase
• A family-friendly environment with flexible working hours (flexitime) and the possibility of pro-rata mobile work
• Benefits from the university's health promotion programme
• An extensive and free further education programme as well as programmes geared toward the promotion of early career researchers (Promotion of early career researchers // University of Oldenburg)

Our standards

The University of Oldenburg is dedicated to increase the percentage of female employees in the field of science. Therefore, female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. In accordance to § 21 Section 3 NHG, female candidates with equal qualifications will be preferentially considered. Applicants with disabilities will be given preference in case of equal qualification.

Further information

There is the possibility of personal scientific qualification in form of a doctorate thesis.

The Department of Medical Physics and Acoustics offers an international scientific environment as well as access to world-class research facilities. For more information about the group and the department see https://uole.de/en/mediphysics-acoustics/acoustics, https://uole.de/en/mediphysics-acoustics/mediphysics, and https://www.uni-oldenburg.de/en/mediphysics-acoustics/.

Contact

For further information, please contact Stephan Ewert, [email protected], Tel. (+49) 441 798 3900