Postdoctoral Researcher in Machine Learning and Room Acoustics

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The Technical Psychoacoustics research group at the Aalto Acoustics Lab, within the Department of Information and Communications Engineering at Aalto University, invites applications for a one-year Postdoctoral Researcher position in the area of machine learning and room acoustics, starting between April 1, 2026 and July 1, 2026.

The position is part of a research collaboration between the Technical Psychoacoustics research group and Meta Reality Labs (Redmond, WA, USA) and focuses on machine listening, which involves machine learning methods that enable systems to analyze, interpret, and selectively attend to complex acoustic scenes. The research investigates how the realism of room acoustic simulations influences the training, robustness, and generalization of machine listening models for tasks such as sound source localization, speech separation, and enhancement, as well as the perceptual outcomes of these models in realistic listening scenarios.

What we are looking for

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with a strong background in machine learning, room acoustic simulation, virtual acoustics, computational acoustics, or audio signal processing who is interested in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of machine learning, acoustics, and augmented hearing. The ideal candidate will be curious, independent, collaborative, and interested in methodological development and perceptual experimental evaluation.

Roles and goals

The postdoctoral researcher will:

• Conduct independent and collaborative research on machine learning-based sound source localization, speech separation, and/or enhancement.

• Investigate the impact of room acoustic simulation realism on machine learning model training, generalization, and robustness.

• Work with simulated and real-world acoustic data.

• Contribute to the design of experiments, evaluation of results, and interpretation of findings across algorithmic and perceptual domains.

• Disseminate research outcomes through high-quality scientific publications and presentations.

In addition, during the position, the postdoctoral researcher will have the opportunity to work closely with the Principal Investigator on the preparation of follow-up research proposals, with the aim of securing external funding and potentially extending the position beyond the initial contract period.

Experience and qualifications

Applicants are expected to have:

• A PhD degree (or close to completion) in acoustics, audio engineering, audio signal processing, machine learning, computer science, or a related field.

• Strong programming skills (e.g., PyTorch/TensorFlow, MATLAB).

• Experience with machine learning methods for audio, speech, or spatial audio signal processing.

• A solid publication record or clear potential for high-quality scientific output.

• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary research team.

• Excellent scientific writing and presentation skills in English

• A willingness to mentor to PhD and master level students

Experience with room acoustic simulation, virtual acoustics, or perceptual experiments is considered an advantage, but not a strict requirement.

What we offer

• A full-time, fixed-term position for one year at Aalto University.

• A starting monthly salary of approximately 4,100 EUR. The contract includes occupational health care benefits and Finland has a comprehensive social security system.

• Access to excellent research infrastructure, including GPU computing resources, acoustic laboratories, and state-of-the-art measurement facilities.

• A highly international and interdisciplinary research environment.

• Support and mentoring for academic career development, including proposal writing and research leadership.

Aalto University values diversity and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

Application details

Please submit your application through Aalto University’s recruitment system by using the "Apply now" link. The application should include:

• A motivation letter describing your research interests and suitability for the position (1-2 pages).

• A curriculum vitae describing education and employment history

• List of publications

• PhD certificate (or an estimated graduation date if the degree is not completed) and transcript of records (if available)

• MSc certificate and transcript of records

• Contact details of at least 2 possible reference letter writers

The position will remain open until February 28, 2026. However, early applications are strongly encouraged and interviews may be conducted already during the application period.

Please note: Aalto University’s employees should apply for the position via our internal HR system Workday (Internal Jobs) by using their existing Workday user account (not via the external webpage for open positions). If you are a student or visitor at Aalto University, please apply with your personal email address (not aalto.fi) via Aalto University open positions

Aalto University reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, to extend the application period, reopen the application process, and to consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.

For further information of the available position, please contact Prof. Johannes M. Arend (johannes.arend@aalto.fi). In application process related questions, please contact HR Advisor Johanna Haapalainen (hr-elec@aalto.fi)

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