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These positions are part of the H2020 Marie-Curie Innovative Training Network project comm4CHILD that received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 860755.
Research field: Neurosciences, Psychological sciences, Audiology, Biomedical Engineering
Supervision: Astrid Van Wieringen and Jan Wouters
Application deadline: June 30th, 2020
Scientific department : The research group Experimental Oto-rhino-laryngology (ExpORL, Dept Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Belgium) focusses on evidence-based rehabilitation of children and adults with hearing impairments (HIs) in an interdisciplinary context. Because of the multidisciplinary nature of hearing impairment the research group hosts a broad range of expertises, please visit our website for more information :
https://exporl.med.kuleuven.be/web/index.php/Public:Main_Page
Duration: 4 years
Starting date: October 2020
Research project of ESR1: Restoring binaural hearing in children with single sided deafness
The goal of this research project is to investigate the cortical reorganization of children with single sided deafness (SSD) following intervention with a cochlear implant (SSD-CI), compared to a group of children with SSD but not fitted with a CI (SSD-noCI) and a group of children with normal hearing. SSD significantly affects cortical symmetry, as it results in an increased dominant representation of the normal ear compared to the deaf ear. However, research shows that early intervention in children with SSD can restore the hemispheric representations of bilateral auditory input in the auditory cortex. Using EEG-based objective measures, we will investigate the binaural restoration at the subcortical and cortical level of the auditory pathway in children who are four years and older. Neural activity captured by the multi-channel EEG will be used to construct functional network models of cortical processes.
Research project of ESR 7: Improving integration of audio-visual speech cues in children with hearing impairment
The goal of this project is to research the variability in listening performance in children with hearing impairment (HI) using AVATAR (Audio-Visual True-to-life Assessment of Auditory Rehabilitation) and other behavioral measures. This true-to-life model for everyday real-life listening conditions (entailing auditory, visual and cognitive cues) allows to research the challenges persons with HI encounter. The candidate will first focus on expanding the paradigm (for example by including multiple speakers, eye-tracking, reaction time ….). Subsequently, different research questions will be examined, e.g., the extent to which young children with different degrees of HI are capable of integrating sensory and cognitive cues in multi-tasking and multi-modal situations. This research will provide an in-depth understanding of the auditory/visual/cognitive interactions in speech perception in young children and guide auditory rehabilitation to the individual needs of the child.
Your profile:
- Master degree in audiology, biomedical engineering, neuroscience, psychology, or related field
- Profound interest in science
- Experience with electrophysiological data is an asset
- Good verbal skills Dutch (for the children)
- Good verbal and written communication skills in English
- Interested to learn within an international network, spend secondments in a partner country, attend networkwide training events and conferences
- Keen interest in signal in statistics (R)
- ESR1: Keen interest in signal processing (CI, artefacts), matlab
- ESR1: Keen interest to (learn to) work with the neuroimaging toolbox Brainstorm
- ESR7: Keen interest in the technical aspects related to the paradigm (e.g., eyetracking)
Eligibility criteria: The candidate must not have resided or carried out their main activity (e.g. work, studies) in the country where you have been recruited (Belgium) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date. This excludes short stays such as holidays. Candidates cannot have completed more than four years of full-time equivalent research experience.
We offer: A highly dynamic interdisciplinary research environment in Europe’s most innovative university. The European funding will cover the 3 years of a full-time PhD (3 270 € monthly gross salary including employer and employee deductions and taxes) in Belgium, plus 600 € per month as Mobility Allowance and if entitled Family benefits. A 4th year will be provided to the successful candidate to complete the doctorate.
How to apply? Interested candidates should submit :
1. a cover letter describing their background, research experiences, interests, and goals,
2. a curriculum vitae,
3. at least one letter of recommendation from previous research supervisors,
4. a copy of diploma (with the university transcripts),
