Zurich University, Phonetics Group in the Department of Comparative Linguistics

Zurich University of the Arts, Institute for the Performing Arts and Film

PhD Position in Phonetics/Speech Sciences/Signal Processing at Zurich University (30 months, 100%)

For a 30 months research project submitted to the Swiss National Science Foundation and entitled ’Acoustic Characteristics of Voice in Music and Straight Theatre, and Related Aspects of Production, Perception, and Cortical Representation’ (cooperation of the Institute for the Performing Arts and Film atZurich University of the Arts and the Phonetics Group in the Department of Comparative Linguistics at Zurich University), we have the position of a doctoral researcher available at Zurich University (subject to approval of funding).  

The present project represents a follow-up research of a previous investigation in which we have set up a large database of vocalisations of German vowels, produced by non-professional children, women and men, as well as by professional actors and singers, and including variations in phonation (voiced vs. whispered vs. creaky), in vocal effort, in fundamental frequency and in speaking and singing styles. We also have evaluated appropriate methods of acoustic measurement and investigated vowel perception and voice and vowel-specific acoustic characteristics related to different speaking and singing styles.

The present project aims at

(a) additional recordings (in the studio and live on stage in a large concert hall)

(b) vowel synthesis and resynthesis

(c) vocal tract investigation (with MRI, with vocal tract resonance measurement)

(d) investigation of voice and vowel perception

The main aspects of investigation for the doctoral researcher concern (a), (b) and (d), and experiments on vocal tract resonance measurement.

The Phonetics Group is run by a team of enthusiastic academics with interests in a variety of areas in phonetics and speech sciences. In addition to our cooperation with researchers, actors and singers from the Zurich University of the Arts, we work closely together with researchers from the departments of German, Romance and English language as well as Psychology and Audiology.

For the website of the ongoing project and related publications, see:

www.phones-and-phonemes.org/project-1.html

Requirements:

• Master (e.g. MA, MSc, MRes, etc.) in phonetics, speech sciences, linguistics, information technology and signal processing, or related area
• Excellent knowledge of English, good knowledge of German
• Good knowledge of the acoustic analysis of speech
• Experience in speech signal processing, methods (e.g. FFT, LPC, Cepstrum, LTAS) and related software (e.g. Praat, Matlab, Wavesurfer)
• Good basis in statistics
• Related experience in scripting and programing

You should have an interest (or already experience) in areas like:

• Acoustic analysis of singing and acting
• Speech perception
• Speech synthesis 

Payment for the position will be between c. 47.000 and 50.000 (depending on year).

Your application should consist of the following items:

• CV (including publications, if available)
• List of grades
• Name and email addresses of two potential referees

Important dates:

Deadline for applications: 30th of April 2015

Interviews: April and May 2015

Starting date of position: 1st of July or 1st of August (negotiable)

Click the APPLY button for electronic application submission, further information and/or informal chats about the post, addressed to Drs. Volker Dellwo and Dieter Maurer.