PhD Student: 100%

University Hospital for Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases, Inselspital, Bern
Start of employment: immediately or by arrangement, limited for 4 years
We are looking for a motivated PhD student in the field of translational hearing research.

Background: Cochlear implants are among the most successful neuroprostheses in modern medicine. They enable deaf individuals to hear again and understand spoken language. While most patients achieve good to very good results in speech understanding, about a quarter of them fall short of expectations. Currently, there are no reliable biomarkers that can predict individual outcomes before surgery. However, there is increasing evidence that the central connectivity of the brain plays a crucial role in this.

Goal of your doctorate: As part of your project, you will investigate central auditory pathways using imaging techniques – particularly functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and specific magnetic resonance techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Together with our partners from neuroradiology and experts from the clinic and engineering, you will explore predictive factors that enable reliable predictions of the benefits of a cochlear implant.

• You will be part of the research team "Auditory Pathway", which is based in the Hearing Research Laboratory of the ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research at the University of Bern and works closely with the ENT clinic at Inselspital

• Our interdisciplinary team brings together professionals from the fields of neuroscience, surgery, audiology, and engineering

• Master's degree in electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, physics, or a related field
• Practical experience in signal processing
• Experience in medical image analysis is an advantage
• Very good German and English skills (spoken and written)
• Interest in working in a clinical environment with patient contact