Job offer: 1-year postdoc position at LSP (with a possibility of 1-year extension)

The Laboratoire des Systèmes Perceptifs (LSP, ENS Paris / CNRS, https://lsp.dec.ens.fr/en) is offering a postdoc position for the ANR project fastACI ('Exploring phoneme representations and their adaptability using fast Auditory Classification Images') supervised by Léo Varnet (leo.varnet@ens.psl.eu).

The fastACI project aims to develop a fast and robust experimental method to visualize and characterize the auditory mechanisms involved in phoneme recognition. The fast-ACI method relies on a stimulus-response model, combined with a reverse correlation (revcorr) experimental paradigm. This approach, producing an 'instant picture' of a participant’s listening strategy in a given context, has already yielded conclusive results, but remains very time-consuming. Therefore, the main objectives of this postdoc contract will be (1) to improve the efficiency of the process using advanced supervised learning techniques (e.g. sparse priors on a smooth basis) and an online adaptive protocol (e.g. Bayesian optimisation); then (2) to use this technique to map the phonemic representations used by normal-hearing listeners. For this purpose, a large number of experiments on phoneme-in-noise categorization tasks (e.g. /aba/ vs. /ada/) will be carried out, in order to insure the broadest possible mapping of the French phonological inventory. As a second step, the new tool will be used to explore the adaptability of speech comprehension in the case of sensorineural hearing loss and noisy backgrounds.

The post-doc will be involved in all activities in line with the project, including data collection, coding and statistical analyses. The post-doc will also coordinate trainees’ and students’ work involved in the project, and contribute significantly to publication of the findings.

Required profile:

 Background in psychoacoustics and/or machine learning (the candidate should preferably hold a PhD in one of these fields)

 High skills in statistical data processing (in particular supervised learning algorithms) and practical knowledge in psychophysics

 Basic understanding of psychoacoustics and psycholinguistics

 Good knowledge of Matlab programming (other languages such as R can also be useful)

 Strong communication skills in English (working language in the lab) and French (interactions with participants, etc.).

Duration: 12 months or 24 months

Start: Early 2021

Net salary: ~ 2100€/ month

Application Procedure:

Applications must include a detailed CV and a motivation letter, a link to (or copy of) the PhD thesis, PhD Viva report, plus the email contact of 2 referees. Applications are to be sent to: Léo Varnet (leo.varnet@ens.psl.eu) before 08/11 (interviews should take place on the 18/11 by videoconference)