The Bionic Ear Institute

POSITION DESCRIPTION

POSITION TITLE: Research Fellow – Music & Voice Perception

TIME SCALE: 100%

SALARY: Level B, 1-6, $68,939 - $81,863 (dependent on experience)

Generous salary packaging is available

DURATION: 3 years

Organisational context

The Bionic Ear Institute

The Bionic Ear Institute, an independent, not-for-profit biomedical research organisation, is a major centre for Cochlear Implant Research in Australia. The Institute was established to undertake vital research to assist in the ongoing development of devices that would allow deaf people to communicate and today our researchers are world leaders in innovative biomedical research. Our work contributes to improved hearing for more than 100,000 severely and profoundly deaf children and adults world wide.

Building on our extensive knowledge and experience with the Bionic Ear, we are now extending our research into areas such as a retinal implant (Bionic Eye), targeted nanomedicine for intelligent drug delivery, intelligent implants to treat selected neurological disorders and substantial improvements to hearing technology.

The BEI works closely with the Departments of Otolaryngology, Ophthalmology and the Engineering Faculty (University of Melbourne), National ICT Australia, CERA, the RVEEH Hospital, the CRC for Cochlear Implant and Hearing Aid Innovation, Dept of Clinical Neurosciences (St Vincent’s Hospital), Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, University of Wollongong and Bionic Technologies Australia plus collaborative arrangement with many other organisations.

Music and Voice Perception Program

The aim of the proposed research is to determine the nature of the frequency and time information that is contained in an auditory signal in order to maximise the perception of music and voice-pitch information. This information is of vital importance to the design of future cochlear implant technology that will enable cochlear implant users to hear music and voice-pitch as it should be heard.

Position Summary

To assist in developing research models which will provide a better understanding of how pitch can be encoded in cochlear implant systems and assist in the development of next generation cochlear implant technology. The incumbent will be responsible to Professor Anthony Burkitt, Program Leader.

Key responsibilities

· Assist in the development of computer models that accurately account for the mechanical and neural response of the ear to sound.

· Assist in the development of models to compare pitch perception data against existing cochlear implant systems.

· Develop electrical stimulation algorithms based upon these models

· Assist with the translation of the resulting electrical stimulation algorithms into the cochlear implant hardware

· Assist with audiological testing with cochlear implantees.

· Production of conference and seminar papers and publications from the research.

· Involvement in professional activities including, subject to availability of funds, attendance at conferences and seminars in the field of expertise.

· Administrative functions primarily connected with the research program.

· Co-supervision of postgraduate research projects within this research program.

· Attendance at meetings associated with research within The Bionic Ear Institute.

Job complexity, skills, knowledge

Skills

The incumbent will have the ability to work independently on research projects, involving the building of neural models, the formulation of testable hypotheses, the implementation of the neural models in software (MATLAB or C++), and the analysis of the model output. In addition, the incumbent is expected to have a high level of computer literacy and experience, and will have the ability to communicate the outcomes of the research, both in written and spoken form.

Level of Supervision

The incumbent must be capable of some independent decision making in all aspects of the research referred to under Key Responsibilities. Depending on the level of appointment, he/she may be required to assist in the supervision of junior staff or students working as part of the research team. He/she will be required to liaise with his/her supervisor on the basic focus of the research and any changes in direction that may be required arising from research developments.

Problem solving

Problems arising from the research should be solved independently and/or in collaboration with fellow researchers in the team, with reference to the incumbent’s supervisor when necessary. The incumbent will be required to solve problems as part of the research team, for example discuss with engineers, clinicians and other professionals the application of research results.

Judgement

The incumbent is required to exercise sound judgement in areas of his/her expertise, such as collating and analysing data.

Breadth of Position

The incumbent will be working predominantly in the Music and Voice Perception Program.

Personal Attributes

· ability to work as part of a team

· excellent communication (written and oral) skills

· outstanding analytical skills

· enthusiasm, passion and drive

Minimum training level or qualifications

Essential

A Postgraduate qualification in Mathematics or Engineering or equivalent qualification.

Desirable

Previous experience with neural modelling or other relevant field as well as DSP and/or patient testing.

Environmental Health & Safety

It is each staff member’s responsibility to adhere to the Health & Safety regulations as prepared by the EHS committee of the Institute, which are as follows:

Responsibilities:

· all staff members (including those employees referred to above) are to comply with the EHS Incident/Accident reporting procedures

· adopt work practices that support EHS programs

· take reasonable care for the safety of his/her own health and safety and that of other people who may be affected by their conduct in the workplace

· seek guidance for all new or modified work procedures to ensure that any hazardous conditions, near misses and injures are reported immediately to supervisor

· must not wilfully place at risk the health or safety of any person in the workplace

· participate in meetings, training and other environment, health and safety activities

· must not wilfully or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interest of environment health and safety or welfare

· wear personal protective equipment as provided

· use equipment in compliance with relevant guidelines, without wilful interference or misuse

· must cooperate with the Institute in relation to actions taken by the Institute to comply with Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental legislation.

For further information email Professor Tony Burkitt aburkitt@bionicear.org