Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Audio Signal Processing

Tampere University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Audio Signal Processing, based in the Signal Processing Research Centre within the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences. The position is part of the European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant project 'EveryContext' (2026–2031), which aims to advance understanding of young children's language, auditory, and motor experiences in everyday contexts. The research focuses on automatic and semi-automatic analysis of long-form audio signals collected from children’s daily life using wearable microphones, with a particular emphasis on analyzing non-linguistic soundscapes to identify various activities and contexts. The successful candidate will join the Speech and Cognition Research Group, one of four teams in the Audio Research Group (ARG) at Tampere University, renowned for its collaborative and international research in audio and speech signal processing. The role involves tackling technical challenges such as domain mismatch between standard model training datasets and child-centered audio recordings, and developing robust machine learning solutions for audio scene analysis, event detection, and acoustic characterization. The position offers close supervision from Professor Okko Räsänen and co-supervision from Professor Tuomas Virtanen, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration within a vibrant research community. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in information technology, computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field, and demonstrate independent scholarly activity through high-quality publications. Essential skills include proficiency in machine learning for audio processing (using PyTorch or TensorFlow), strong signal processing theory, and excellent English communication. Additional advantages include experience in domain adaptation, active/incremental/transfer learning, state-of-the-art audio analysis techniques, noise-robust processing, computational challenges, acoustics, collaborative research, and supervision of junior researchers. The postdoctoral position is offered for two years, with a starting date between 3 August and 1 November 2026. The typical starting salary ranges from 3,900 to 4,200 EUR/month, depending on experience and qualifications, and includes a range of staff benefits such as occupational health care, flexible working hours, modern research infrastructure, teaching facilities, campus amenities, and a personal fund for sports and cultural activities. The work is conducted on site at the Hervanta campus in Tampere, Finland, encouraging active participation in the local academic community. To apply, candidates should submit their application via the Tampere University online recruitment system by 31 March 2026. Required documents include a curriculum vitae, list of publications, letters of reference from two senior researchers, motivation letter, and doctoral diploma with an official English translation if necessary. Applications are processed as received, so early submission is encouraged. For further information, contact Professor Okko Räsänen at [email protected]. Tampere and Finland offer a stable, safe, and dynamic environment for academic and personal growth, with affordable living, excellent public transport, and access to nature. The city is a major academic hub in the Nordic region, supporting a healthy work-life balance and a vibrant cultural scene.