PhD Position Acoustic And Psychoacoustic Modelling (AI)

TL;DR

PhD Position Acoustic And Psychoacoustic Modelling (AI) (Signal Processing/Deep Learning): Developing a real-time perception-informed soundscape analysis platform for Hospital PICUs with an accent on Sound Quality Index (SQI) implementation and psychoacoustic metrics. Focus on building automatic sound event classification systems using deep learning (CRNNs) and integrating contextual data to improve healthcare environments.

Location: Onsite in Delft, Netherlands. Relocation support is provided for candidates moving to the Netherlands.

Salary: €3,059 – €3,881 per month

Company

hirify.global is a top international university combining science, engineering, and design to solve global challenges in health, energy, and digital society.

What you will do

• Develop algorithms for the "Auditory Footprints" digital platform for real-time soundscape analysis in PICUs.
• Implement a Sound Quality Index (SQI) reflecting both physical and perceptual dimensions of hospital acoustics.
• Extract and analyze traditional and psychoacoustic metrics (loudness, sharpness, roughness) from experimental recordings.
• Develop predictive tools for estimating the perceived affective quality of soundscapes using statistical methods.
• Create an automatic sound event classification system using deep learning techniques (e.g., CRNNs) to identify alarms and mechanical noise.
• Collaborate with academic experts, hospitals, and industry partners to improve healthcare outcomes.

Requirements

• MSc Degree in Computer Science, Acoustics, Audio Engineering, or related fields.
• Strong background in physics, mathematics, signal processing, and psychoacoustic modelling.
• Proficiency in scientific programming using MATLAB, Python, or R.
• Experience with machine learning for audio (speech modelling, sound event detection) is an advantage.
• English proficiency required for academic communication and thesis writing.
• Ability to work independently and passion for multidisciplinary research.

Nice to have

• Previous involvement in scientific research.
• Strong interest in healthcare solutions.

Culture & Benefits

• 4-year employment period divided into two contracts with a progress assessment.
• Enrolment in the hirify.global Graduate School with a structured Doctoral Education Programme.
• Customisable compensation package and discounts on health insurance.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Comprehensive relocation support via the "Coming to Delft Service," including a Dual Career Programme for partners.