PhD Candidate in NeuroAI for Auditory Neuroscience

Official university vacancy imported from Maastricht University. Details are presented for discovery and may change. Confirm the latest requirements and apply on the official source.

• Our goal: Understand how the human brain recognizes and interprets complex natural auditory scenes and to uncover computational principles shared by biological and artificial systems. The PhD project is part of NASCE (Natural Auditory SCEnes in Humans and Machines), an ERC Synergy project conducted in collaboration with Dr. Bruno Giordano (CNRS, Marseille). NASCE brings together cognitive neuroscience, advanced neuroimaging, behavioural research, and artificial intelligence to investigate natural sound perception in humans and machines.
• Your colleagues: You will join the AuditoRy Cognition in Humans and MachInEs (ARCHIE) lab, an interdisciplinary and international research team led by Prof. Elia Formisano at the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University. You will work closely with researchers with complementary expertise in auditory neuroscience, neuroimaging, and AI/NeuroAI.
• Acquire and analyse human neuroimaging data, with a primary focus on high-field fMRI of natural sound perception.
• Develop and apply AI/NeuroAI models, including deep neural networks, to model auditory processing.
• Relate representations learned by AI models to behavioural and brain data using multivariate and representational modelling approaches.
• Contribute to the design and execution of neuroimaging and behavioural experiments.
• Develop your expertise across neuroscience and AI, with intensive training in the field that is less familiar to you at the start of the PhD, while collaborating with researchers across the interdisciplinary NASCE consortium.
• Present your findings at international conferences and publish them in peer-reviewed journals.
• Contribute to open and reproducible research through well-documented analysis pipelines, models and data products.
• Contribute up to 0.1 FTE to teaching or supervision at Maastricht University.
• You hold a Master’s degree in cognitive or computational neuroscience, artificial intelligence, computer science, biomedical engineering, cogntitve sciences with a strong quantitative focus, data science, or a related field.
• You have relevant experience in at least one of the two core areas: human neuroimaging or AI/machine learning/NeuroAI. For candidates with a neuroimaging background, this may include experience with data acquisition, preprocessing, and/or analysis; experience with fMRI is preferred, but candidates with experience in other neuroimaging techniques are also encouraged to apply. For candidates with an AI background, we expect practical experience in implementing, training, and evaluating machine-learning or deep-learning models. You are not expected to already be an expert in both areas,
• You are genuinely motivated to develop expertise in the complementary field: If your background is in neuroimaging, you are willing to develop your expertise in AI and deep learning. If your background is in AI, you are eager to develop your knowledge of cognitive neuroscience, experimental design, and fMRI analysis.
• You have a strong quantitative background, including a solid understanding of statistics and data analysis; prior experience with multivariate or computational modelling methods is an advantage. You have good programming skills, preferably in Python, and are able to independently write and adapt code for data processing, analysis, and visualization. Experience with deep learning and frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or JAX is an advantage.
• You have strong English language skills, with proficiency at a minimum of C1 level (CEFR).
• A 12-month contract (1.0 FTE) with the prospect of an extension for the remaining PhD period following a positive evaluation.
• A gross monthly salary between € 3.204 and € 4.051 (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and the option to work partially from home.
• Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas.
• A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with.
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities.
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe.
• A curriculum vitae (CV).
• A motivation letter explaining your interest in the project and how your current background and learning goals fit its combination of neuroimaging, AI/NeuroAI, and auditory cognition.
• Contact details of two academic referees.