Cochlear implants and spatial hearing: Enabling access to the next dimension of hearing

Overview:
A 4-year PhD position is open at the Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC) of the University of Trento, Italy. This PhD project is part of the multidisciplinary MSCA Doctoral Network 'CherISH' (Cochlear Implants and Spatial Hearing), which integrates approaches from medicine, biomedical engineering, psychology, and neuroscience to enhance hearing restoration in deaf individuals by combining next-generation cochlear implant (CI) technology with innovative rehabilitation methods.

Project Details:
As a PhD candidate at CIMeC, you will investigate how motor actions on sounds can influence perceptual and metacognitive experiences of sound position, such as confidence in sound position and perceived effort in sound localization. The research will also explore how this active listening approach can aid in re-learning or improving sound localization skills, particularly for cochlear implant users. You will gain expertise in human psychophysics, experimental psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and 3D sound technology related to auditory virtual reality.

The project includes a study and research period at Imperial College London (UK) for at least six months, under the co-supervision of Dr. Lorenzo Picinali, and offers extensive training opportunities within the international and interdisciplinary CherISH Doctoral Network.

Working Environment:
You will join the Cognition Across the Senses (CAtS) team at CIMeC, an interdisciplinary research and teaching center in the Cognitive Neuroscience field at the University of Trento. CIMeC is located in Rovereto, in the beautiful Trentino region of Northern Italy.

Qualifications and Skills:
- A four or five-year Master's degree in Psychology, Behavioral Sciences, Cognitive Neurosciences, Neurobiology, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, or Life Sciences.
- The applicant will undertake important responsibilities for all aspects of the research project, including data collection, statistical analysis, basic programming, and writing publications.

Contract and Application Process:
- Duration: 48 months, starting approximately from 1st September 2024.
- EU Requirement: The doctoral candidate must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Italy for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the date of recruitment.
- Application Deadline: 28th June 2024

More details on the contract and application procedure here 

If you have any questions, please contact me (francesco.pavani@unitn.it).

Best regards,  
Francesco Pavani