PhD Position "Sound propagation in bone conduction hearing"

University Hospital Zurich
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
PhD Position "Sound propagation in bone conduction hearing"
100 %
The Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Zurich, Switzerland is offering a PhD position in the research group “Otology and Biomechanics of Hearing” . We are seeking a highly motivated and talented research candidate to work on a Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) project about measurement and modeling of sound propagation in bone conduction hearing. Starting date for the position is March 1st 2023 or later. The position is available for 3 years and is in close collaboration with EMPA and ETH Zurich.
Your responsibilities

• Coordinate, plan and run experiments in our “Biomechanics of Hearing” laboratory on sound propagation in bone conduction hearing
• Develop your own innovative approaches to analyzing and combining multi-domain data including volumetric imaging, mechanical stiffness, velocity and acoustic pressure.
• Use of Laser-Doppler measurement equipment, acoustic receiver devices, tensile measurement setup, and CT scanners.
• Close collaboration with PhD students and researchers from EMPA and ETHZ on the formulation and optimization of FEM simulations of the bone conduction hearing.
• Communication of results in academic peer-reviewed journals and at scientific meetings.

Your profile

• A relevant degree with excellent scores in biomedical, medical, mechanical, electrical, acoustic, micro engineering, audiology, biology or other related fields.
• Good knowledge and experience with experimental methods, such as Laser Doppler vibrometry, acoustic measurements or similar.
• Statistical and programming skills (i.e. Matlab, Python, LabView etc.) are very advantageous.
• Good knowledge of written and oral English is necessary; knowledge of German or motivation to learn German is desirable.
• Ability to learn fast and independently as well as in a multidisciplinary scientific team are very welcome.

What we offer
The research group “Otology and Biomechanics of Hearing” has an excellent research infrastructure combined with an international multidisciplinary scientific community. The group provides research training with engineering and clinical connections and close supervision. Review of applications will begin on January 2023 and will continue until the position is filled. Candidates should send a CV, copies of relevant certificates, names and full contact details of two referees, and a brief statement describing motivations, personal qualifications, and research interests by e-mail to Dr. Ivo Dobrev.
Interested candidates can check our recent publication in this research area: Farahmandi et al. (2022). Wave propagation across the skull under bone conduction: Dependence on coupling methods. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 151(3):1593-1606.
Place of work
University Hospital of Zürich, Rämistrasse, Zürich, Switzerland
Start of employment
The preferred start date is the 1st of March 2023. The project duration is three years, and the employment and salary conditions adhere to the regulations of the University of Zurich and Innosuisse (the Swiss Innovation Agency).
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