Postdoc in soundscape engineering and acoustic metamaterials

KTH Royal Institute of Technology; Stockholms kommun; On-site; SEK 500,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of Engineering Sciences, invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher in soundscape engineering and acoustic metamaterials as part of the SMILE project. The position focuses on developing models and design methods for metamaterials, simulations, and perceptual evaluation.

The successful candidate will contribute to listening tests, VR-based soundscape evaluation, prototype work, and publishing results, with teaching up to 20% of working hours.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent degree by start of employment.
• Research expertise in soundscape, psychoacoustics, or environmental acoustics.
• Experience with soundscape research methods and perceptual modelling.
• Strong scientific writing and English communication.
• Good collaboration, independence, and awareness of diversity.

Responsibilities

• Develop models and design methods for acoustic metamaterials.
• Use simulation and data-driven optimization.
• Contribute to listening tests and VR-based evaluations.
• Build or test prototypes and publish results.
• Supervision and coordination; teaching may be up to 20% of hours.

Skills

Soundscape research

Psychoacoustics

Environmental acoustics

English writing

Collaboration

Independence

Education

Doctoral degree

Tools

Python

MATLAB

Julia

Job description

Postdoc in soundscape engineering and acoustic metamaterials

KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of Engineering Sciences

KTH's Division of Vehicle Engineering and Technical Acoustics is looking for a postdoc for the Swedish Research Council-funded SMILE project (Soundscape engineering with Metamaterial Innovation and LEarning). SMILE develops acoustic design methods that combine soundscape targets, acoustic metamaterials, physical modelling, inverse design, machine learning and perceptual evaluation.

The postdoc will develop models and design methods for acoustic metamaterials/metasurfaces; use simulation and data-driven optimization; contribute to listening tests and VR-based soundscape evaluation; build or test prototypes; publish results; and contribute to coordination and supervision. Teaching may be included, but will not exceed 20% of working hours.

Qualifications

Requirements

• A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than the time the employment decision is made.
• Research expertise in soundscape, psychoacoustics, environmental acoustics, engineering acoustics, acoustic design or a closely related field.
• Documented experience with soundscape-related research methods, such as soundscape prediction, soundscape design or soundscape evaluation; psychoacoustic or perceptual modelling; auralization; listening tests; VR-based or other human-subject experiments; or analysis of urban, indoor or vehicle sound environments.
• Very good ability to write scientific publications and communicate in English. English is required because the project is international and results will be disseminated internationally.
• Good collaborative ability, independence, responsibility and awareness of diversity and equal opportunity issues, with specific focus on gender equality.

Preferred qualifications

• A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree, obtained within the last three years prior to the application deadline.
• A strong publication record in a field relevant to the position.
• Experience with soundscape prediction, soundscape design, soundscape evaluation, psychoacoustics, auralization or related perceptual modelling.
• Experience designing, conducting or analysing VR-based soundscape experiments, listening tests or other human-subject experiments.
• Experience with acoustic metamaterials/metasurfaces, including design, modelling, fabrication, prototyping, measurements or experimental validation.
• Additional merits include machine learning, optimization, signal processing, numerical acoustic simulation (for example FEM/BEM/SEA), and programming or data analysis in Python, MATLAB, Julia or similar tools.

Great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.

Join us at KTH

KTH shapes the future through education, research and innovation. As a leading international technical university, we play an active role in advancing the transition towards a sustainable society. At KTH, you have the opportunity to grow and develop in a creative and dynamic environment, with good working conditions and attractive benefits. Equality, diversity and equal opportunities are essential to quality and form an integral part of KTH’s core values as a university and public authority.

Log into KTH's recruitment system to apply for this position. You are responsible for ensuring that your application is complete according to the instructions in the ad.

The application must include:

• CV including relevant professional experience, knowledge and publication list.
• Copy of diplomas and grades from your previous university studies. Translations into English or Swedish if the original documents have not been issued in any of these languages.
• Brief account of why you want to conduct research, your academic interests and how they relate to SMILE, your previous studies and future goals. Maximally two pages long.

Your complete application must be received at KTH no later than the last day of application, midnight CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

About the employment

The position offered is for, at the most, two years.

It may be the case that a position at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position, a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicant's consent. In such cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.

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Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.