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Positions Available

Ph.D. Position in Hearing Research

University of South Florida

Applications are being accepted for a four-year Ph.D. studentship under the direction of Dr. David A. Eddins. Applicants with research interests in speech perception/psychoacoustics in hearing impaired and aging populations, quantitative models of auditory processing, the development and evaluation of hearing enhancement technologies, or diagnosis and treatment of auditory disorders are encouraged to apply. Ongoing research in the laboratory in each of these areas is supported by NIH NIA, NIH NIDCD, NSF and industry. We are part of a vibrant community of auditory scientists spanning the disciplines of human psychoacoustics, speech perception and production, electrophysiology, animal behavior, molecular biology, imaging and neurophysiology which is supported by an interdepartmental effort between Communication Sciences & Disorders, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, and the Global Center for Hearing & Speech Research.

Laboratory facilities include setups for psychoacoustic and speech perception experiments under earphones and in free field; hearing aid modification, dispensing, and evaluation; multi-channel (up to 64) auditory evoked potentials. The newly designed facilities include five sound booths equipped with a wide array of research systems, including eight TDT psychoacoustic/speech systems, two auditory evoked potential systems (TDT and ANT), hearing aid dispensary with instrument evaluation systems (Verifit and Frye), audiometers (3 GSI, middle-ear analyzers (2 GSI), oto-acoustic emissions systems (2 ILO), and an array of calibration equipment.

The ideal applicant will support current and planned experiments, and also develop their own research topic. Applicants should have excellent skills in experimental design and scientific writing, a strong quantitative background, as well as programming skills (MATLAB or other programming languages are desirable). Qualities and skills that are also beneficial include: knowledge or coursework in signal processing, and an interest in the clinical applications of basic research. If you are interested in applying please send your resume and letter of introduction to David A. Eddins, Ph.D., CCC-A (PCD 1017, 4202 Fowler Av. Tampa Fl, 32620), or feel free to email all enquires to deddins@usf.edu.

More information may be obtained from the following sites:

Ph.D. Studentship in Auditory Neuroscience

University of South Florida, Global Center for Hearing and Speech Research

Applications are being accepted for PhD candidates to study neural correlates of complex sound encoding in normal and disease rodent models. Our group is broadly interested in the neural bases of age-related hearing loss, the role of neural plasticity following peripheral hearing loss and neural mechanisms involved in extracting signals in adverse listening environments. We are part of a vibrant community of auditory scientists spanning the disciplines of human psychoacoustics, animal behavior, molecular biology, imaging and neurophysiology which is supported by an interdepartmental effort between Communication Sciences and Disorders, and Biomedical Engineering. Laboratory Focus: Neurophysiological and molecular tools are used to measure changes in auditory midbrain and cortex neuronal function, molecular pathways and neurochemistry. A fundamental question is thus how the in inferior colliculus and primary auditory cortex adapts with age and in cases of loss of peripheral input. Current projects use multiple methodologies, including multi-channel and single-cell electrophysiology, evoked potentials, molecular assays (HPLC and western blots) where physiological and molecular results are compared with perceptual results in the animal model using behavioral assessment.

The ideal applicant will support current and planned experiments, and also develop their own research topic. Applicants should have excellent skills in experimental design and scientific writing, a strong quantitative background, as well as programming skills (MATLAB or other programming languages are desirable). Qualities and skills that are also beneficial include: knowledge or coursework in signal processing, and an interest in the clinical applications of basic research. If you are interested in applying please send your resume and letter of introduction to Joseph P. Walton, Ph.D. (PCD 1017, 4202 Fowler Av. Tampa Fl, 32620), or feel free to email all enquires to jwalton1@usf.edu.