Engineering tactile signals to aid hearing in noisy background

(4 year MRes + PhD studentship)

This project is on offer in the Imperial College EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Neurotechnology for Life and Health

Supervisors: Tobias Reichenbach (Bioengineering), Etienne Burdet (Bioengineering)

Humans excel in understanding speech even when background noise is present, and our ability to do so surpasses current speech-recognition technology. However, people with hearing impairment have major difficulties in understanding speech in noise even when using hearing aids. This project will explore a radically novel way, multisensing, to improve speech-in-noise perception for the hearing impaired. We will develop tactile signals that will be designed to enhance the neural coding of key aspects of speech. This will employ a combination of state-of-the art tactile stimulation, spiking neural networks for speech processing, computational neuroimaging and behavioural experiments.

The CDT programme is not a standard PhD programme; it begins with a one-year MRes in Neurotechnology, which comprises 3 months of taught courses followed by the MRes research project. Students then enter the PhD phase having developed the interdisciplinary and technical skills to thrive in a cutting edge research environment, and make the most impact with their PhD. Throughout the 4 years, there is considerable emphasis upon multidisciplinary and transferrable skills, through centre activities beyond the individual research project. More details on the CDT can be found at http://www.imperial.ac.uk/neurotechnology/cdt.

Applicants should have (or be expecting) a first or upper second class degree (or non-UK equivalent) in an engineering or physical science subject. Students with a biological and medical sciences background may be considered (depending on the individual project) but candidates must have sufficient quantitative skills to thrive in the programme. You should be looking for a challenging, multi-disciplinary PhD at the interface of neuroscience and engineering.

To apply online, visit www.imperial.ac.uk/neurotechnology/cdt/apply/

If you have questions or would like further information about the project, we encourage you to contact the supervisors directly before making your formal application.