Research Assistant – in the fields of Auditory Cognition and Voice Research (2 positions)

As part of the construction of the Emmy-Noether group “UniCoRN”, led by Dr. Isabel Schiller, two doctoral positions are to be filled. UniCoRN stands for 'From Unidirectional to Interactive Communication: Revealing the Impacts of Voice and Noise on Listening and Speaking' and, from summer 2026, explores the influence of vocal features and background noises on hearing and speech efforts, memory performance and communication behavior. Behavioural data, physiological measurements, acoustic parameters and subjective ratings are combined with each other in laboratory and virtual reality (VR) experiments. In this way, models of speech perception and production are expanded to better predict practical effects of acoustic environments on cognitive processes and speech behavior. The UniCoRN group will be located in the field of work and engineering psychology and will be closely connected with it. As part of this group, you benefit from an international and interdisciplinary network with collaborations in VR research (RWTH), digital signal processing (CAU Kiel) and voice research (Lund University, Sweden; University of Sydney, Australia. By embedding the Institute of Psychology with a total of seven professorships, you also have the opportunity to regularly participate in research colloquia, exchange methodologies, or initiate further cooperation. As a university of excellence, RWTH provides extensive programmes for scientific career development, including the Doctoral Academy, the IGaD (center for inclusion, gender and diversity) and the ERS (Exploratory Research Space). We expressly support these offers for the qualification, networking and start-up funding of our own research projects and understand them as an important part of your development. Become part of the UniCoRN team and apply to one of the following places! Doctorate Center 1 – Hearing and Memory: This doctorate examines how voice quality and attitude of speakers influence the hearing effort and the memory of listeners. In realistic, partially VR-based scenarios, it is analyzed how visual and auditory signals interact and use cognitive resources in understanding. Behavior data are combined with physiological measures (e.g. HRV, pupillometry) to map central mechanisms of speech understanding under difficult conditions and to expand existing models. Promotional Agency 2 – Auditive Feedback Modulation: This doctoral research center examines how real-time changes in voice quality by auditive feedback modulation influence the voice and what vocal-motor mechanisms are involved. In addition to a systematic meta-analysis, experimental studies are carried out in which vocal reactions are acoustically quantified and analyzed. The aim is to better understand central processes of voting and the role of feedback loops and to further develop them theoretically and in terms of application. The RWTH is certified as a family-friendly university. RWTH offers a variety of health, counselling and prevention services (e.g. university sports) as part of a university health management. There is a wide range of training and the possibility of obtaining a job ticket for employees and civil servants.

Your duties As a doctoral student in the UniCoRN group, your tasks include: Presentation of research results at international conferences Publishing research results in high-level open access journals Programming robust, reproducible analysis pipelines (Praat/Psychopy/R/Git) Support in the development of research applications Support and involvement of student assistants and support in the incorporation of new team members Planning and organisation of team activities Regular active participation in team meetings and research colloquia Support for administrative tasks (e.g. procurement of equipment) Participation in teaching is not provided in principle, but can be made possible in the event of interest. A promotion is expressly provided and is actively supported. In addition, the following applies for an application to the doctorate: Development and validation of realistic listening tasks and implementation of dual task designs. Independent conception and implementation of cognition-psychological hearing experiments in traditional laboratory and VR settings. Collection of multimodal data (consistencies, reaction times, HRV, pupillometry, subjective ratings). In addition, the following applies for an application to the doctorate 2: Conducting a Meta Analysis on Effects of Auditive Feedback Modulation on Voting (PRISMA Guidelines) Independent design and implementation of experimental studies to manipulate auditive feedback and interaction with noise quantification of voice responses using acoustic parameters (e.g. Cepstral Peak Prominence, voice SPL and other)

Your profile A prerequisite for setting is an above-average master's degree (or comparable degree) in: Psychology Cognition or Neurosciences Languages and Psycholinguistics Engineering (focus on acoustics, speech, or voice processing) or a closely related subject In addition, you have: a great interest in auditory cognition and voice research very good English knowledge of word and writing well-founded knowledge in statistical analysis with R very good communication skills in interdisciplinary contexts analytical thinking, as well as structured and reliable work a marked self-responsibility combined with a proactive method Joy of close cooperation in the team and the willingness to get involved Interest and willingness to familiarise yourself with basic acoustics readiness to travel ideally knowledge of programming experimental controls (psychopy) For an application to Doctorate Center 1, you can also bring: strong interest in VR-based experiments enthusiasm for the development of a new cognition-psychological paradigm ideally pre-experience with Unity or Unreal (release possible) ideally knowledge of the collection and evaluation of physiological data For an application to PhD 2 you will also bring: strong interest in the field of auditory feedback modulation theoretical knowledge in one or more of the following themes: vocal motor control and feedback loops, phonetics, voice research. readiness to incorporate into feedback modulation software (KiRAT) ideally experience with the analysis of acoustic data (Praat or Python)

The employment is in the employment relationship. The place shall be occupied at the next possible time and shall be limited to 3 years. The temporary employment is carried out within the framework of the time-limits of the science-time contract law. It is a part-time job with three quarters of regular weekly working time. There is a doctoral opportunity. The grouping depends on the TV-L. The place is rated with EG 13 TV-L. The job description is aimed at all sexes. We want to promote the careers of women at RWTH Aachen University and are therefore looking forward to applicants. Women are preferably taken into account in the case of equal suitability, competence and professional performance, provided You are underrepresented in the organisational unit and, if not in the person of a competitor, outweigh the reasons. Applications for suitable people with difficulty are expressly desired. For the purposes of equal treatment, we ask you to waive an application photo. Information on the collection of personal data pursuant to Articles 13 and 14 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) can be found at https://www.rwth-aachen.de/dsgvo-information-bewerbe