PhD position (m/f/d) at the intersection of auditory cognition, experimental pschology, and voi[...]

Overview

Apply for one of two doctoral positions within the Emmy Noether Group “UniCoRN”! UnivCoRN stands for “From Unidirectional to Interactive Communication: Revealing the Impacts of Voice and Noise on Listening and Speaking” and, starting in summer 2026, will investigate how vocal characteristics and background noise influence listening effort, speaking effort, memory performance, and communicative behavior. Methodologically, the project combines behavioral data, physiological measures, acoustic parameters, and subjective ratings in laboratory and virtual reality (VR) experiments. The aim is to extend models of speech perception and production to better predict how acoustic environments affect cognitive processes and speaking behavior in real‑world contexts.

The UniCoRN group will be based in and closely connected to the Teaching and Research Area of Work and Engineering Psychology. As a member of the group, you will benefit from an international and interdisciplinary research network with collaborations in VR research (RWTH Aachen University), digital signal processing (CAU Kiel), and voice research (Lund University, Sweden; University of Sydney, Australia). Through integration into the Institute of Psychology, you will have the opportunity to regularly participate in research colloquia, engage in methodological exchange, and initiate further collaborations.

Doctoral Position 1 – Listening Effort and Memory

This position examines how voice quality and speakers’ body posture influence listeners’ listening effort and memory. In ecologically valid, partly VR‑based scenarios, the project analyzes how visual and auditory signals interact and draw on cognitive resources during speech comprehension. Behavioral data will be combined with physiological measures (e.g., heart rate variability, pupillometry) to identify key mechanisms of speech understanding under challenging conditions and to further develop existing theoretical models.

Doctoral Position 2 – Auditory Feedback Modulation

This position investigates how real‑time changes in voice quality through auditory feedback modulation affect voice production and which vocal‑motor mechanisms are involved. In addition to conducting a systematic meta‑analysis, the project includes experimental studies in which vocal responses are acoustically quantified and analyzed. The aim is to advance our understanding of core processes in voice production and the role of feedback loops, both theoretically and with regard to practical applications.

Requirements

• An above‑average Master’s degree (or comparable) in one of the following fields is required:
  • Psychology
  • Cognitive Science or Neuroscience
  • Linguistics or Psycholinguistics
  • Engineering (with a focus on acoustics, speech, or voice processing)
  • or a closely related discipline
• A strong interest in auditory cognition and voice research
• Very good written and spoken English skills
• Solid knowledge of statistical analysis using R
• Excellent communication skills in interdisciplinary contexts
• Strong analytical thinking skills and a structured, reliable working style
• A high degree of personal responsibility combined with a proactive approach to work
• Enjoyment of close teamwork and willingness to actively contribute
• Interest in and willingness to familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of acoustics
• Willingness to travel for work
• Ideally, experience in programming experimental paradigms (e.g., PsychoPy)

Position‑Specific Requirements

PhD Position 1 (Listening Effort and Memory)

• Strong interest in VR‑based experiments
• Enthusiasm for developing a new cognitive psychology paradigm
• Ideally, prior experience with Unity or Unreal (training can be provided)
• Ideally, experience in collecting and analyzing physiological data

PhD Position 2 (Auditory Feedback Modulation)

• Strong interest in auditory feedback modulation
• Theoretical background in one or more of the following areas: vocal motor control and feedback loops, phonetics, voice research
• Willingness to learn software for feedback modulation (KiRAT)
• Ideally, prior experience in analyzing acoustic data (e.g., Praat or Python)

Responsibilities

• Presenting research findings at international conferences
• Publishing research results in high‑ranking open‑access journals
• Programming robust and reproducible analysis pipelines (Praat/PsychoPy/R/Git)
• Contributing to the preparation of research grant proposals
• Supervising and training student assistants or new team members
• Planning and organizing team activities
• Regularly and actively participating in team meetings and research colloquia
• Supporting administrative tasks (e.g., procurement of equipment)
• Teaching is generally not required but may be possible upon interest
• Pursuing a PhD is explicitly intended and will be actively supported

Position‑Specific Responsibilities

PhD Position 1 (Listening Effort and Memory)

• Develop and validate ecologically valid German listening tasks and implement dual‑task designs
• Independently design and conduct cognitive psychology listening experiments in traditional laboratory and VR settings
• Collect multimodal data (behavioral measures, reaction times, HRV, pupillometry, subjective ratings)

PhD Position 2 (Auditory Feedback Modulation)

• Conduct a meta‑analysis on the effects of auditory feedback modulation on voice production (following PRISMA guidelines)
• Independently design and carry out experimental studies manipulating auditory feedback and its interaction with background noise
• Quantify vocal responses using acoustic parameters (e.g., Cepstral Peak Prominence, voice SPL, and others)

Contact

Interested candidates may contact Isabel Schiller at for further information.