Cochlear implants and spatial hearing

☞ KU Leuven

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Giorno di aggiornamento: 26-11-2025

Località: Leuven Flemish Brabant

Categoria: IT - Software IT - Hardware / Reti Tecnologie dell’informazione

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Contenuto del lavoro

Experimental Oto-rino-laryngology (ExpORL) is one of the research groups of the Department of Neurosciences, and focuses on research about normal and pathological human communication and about ORL-related aspects, audiology and speech-language pathology. Hearing research is part of ExpORL. Presently ExpORL consists of a team of 13 professors, 5 post-doctoral researchers, and about 35 Ph.D. students and is exquisitely interdisciplinary: engineers, audiologists, speech therapists, psychologists, ORL medical specialists, ...
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Project

Abstract

The loss of inner hair cells in the cochlea causes deafness. Since the first trial of a cochlear implant in 1957, cochlear implants have been developed to the point where they can (re-)restore hearing and speech understanding in a large proportion of patients. Although spatial hearing is central to controlling and directing attention and to enabling speech understanding in noisy environments it has been largely neglected. Incurrent implants, matching of binaural information, a basic prerequisite for spatial hearing, is not yet implemented. Furthermore, intensive rehabilitation programs are lacking. The here proposed interdisciplinary doctoral network in which physicians, psychologists and engineers collaborate, aims at the improvement of spatial hearing in cochlear implant users. In ten different interconnected projects spatial hearing will be improved by (1) applying machine learning algorithms to identify sounds sources and to provide the information to CI users through visual or tactile spatial cues, (2) examining physiological impairments of spatial hearing in CI users and matching the imbalance of the binaural inputs, and by (3) patient centered training programs that make use of virtual environments. The doctoral training network will provide the next generation of researchers and engineers that will have a good understanding of the multifaceted problems of spatial hearing and that will be equipped with expertise and skills to come up with innovative solutions in this field. The collaboration between academia and the private sector enables the realisation of new solutions for spatial hearing with CIs, thus enabling deaf patients to substantially improve their hearing.


This project is a collaboration between the universities of Tübingen, Lyon, Leuven, Imperial College London, Budapest and companies Cochlear, 4D Sound Studio. In this consortium the Leuven partner will use EEG and behavioral measures to improve basic understanding and enhance spatial hearing with new stimulation strategies for patients using bilateral electrical stimulation.


This research is part of the CherISH project: Cochlear implants and spatial hearing: enabling access to the next dimension of hearing.


Profile



The Hearing research group at the Department of Neurosciences of the KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Belgium, is looking for motivated PhD students to be trained as a researcher (develop all necessary skills) in a doctoral network (a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action of the EU) and to do translational research.


We are looking for candidates with:

a background in signal processing

a degree in electrical or biomedical engineering, physics, or similar

a strong interest in interdisciplinary work.

an interest in auditory perception

an inquisitive mind, good problem solving skills

very good English proficiency

knowledge of EEG, human neurophysiology and psychology of hearing is a benefit


Offer



Exciting auditory research

A PhD title after4 years of research

A thorough scientific education, the possibility to become a world-class researcher

Membership of a world-renowned lab, as part of a motivated interdisciplinary team

Membership of KU Leuven, one of the largest research universities of Europe

The possibility to take part in international conferences and collaborations

A competitive salary


Join our team!Improve spatial hearing of persons with deafness using 2 cochlear implants




Interested?

For more specific information please contact Prof. dr. Jan Wouters, tel.: +32 16 33 04 75, mail: jan.wouters@med.kuleuven.be.
You can apply for this job no later than December 31, 2023 via the online application tool
KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at diversiteit.HR@kuleuven.be.
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Scadenza: 10-01-2026

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