Senior Researcher in Spatial Audio and Instrument Design f​/m​/d

With around 2100 Bachelor's and Master's students, the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) is one of the largest and most diverse art academies in Europe. The fields of study and research include Art Education, Design, Film, Fine Arts, Music, Dance, Theatre and Transdisciplinarity. In the centre of Zurich, the ZHdK is a dynamic place where passionate people from over 75 countries work, study, teach, research and further their education.

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The Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST) brings together scientists and artists from diverse backgrounds—ranging from computer science and engineering to composition, media art, and performance—to critically explore the relationship between technology and musical practice.

Starting February 2027, or by agreement, we are looking for a:

The ICST is offering a Senior Researcher position in Spatial Audio and Instrument Design as part of a four‑year research project, “Animated Objects and Moving Sound Sources:
Expanding Spatial Audio in Post-Instrumental Practice,” supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).

The project investigates the gap between high-resolution 3D virtual sound rendering and the physical embodiment of post-instrumental performance practices. Operating at the intersection of spatial audio, instrument design, object theatre, computer vision, and kinetic systems, it unfolds as a sequence of practice-based studies across three expanding scales—from computer-vision-based tabletop instruments using Wave Field Synthesis, through choreographed mechatronic loudspeakers and larger-scale motion tracking, to large-scale, site‑specific installations exploring spatiality and phenomenal presence.

• System Engineering & Technical Realisation:
  Develop spatial sound synthesis processes for live performance (Max/MSP, Super Collider, Pd, Python) and implement real‑time motion-to‑synthesis systems using computer vision and motion capture data with HOA/WFS renderers.
• Project Coordination:
  Support day‑to‑day strategic and operational management, including budgeting, research planning, and communication across work packages.
• Academic Dissemination:
  Contribute to publications, present at conferences (e.g., NIME, ICMC, SMC), and curate open‑source software and hardware on the project's platform.
• Expert Workshops & Evaluation:
  Help design, run, and evaluate expert workshops, contributing to qualitative analysis of user reception and spatial presence.

• Academic Degree: A PhD in Computer Music, Sound/Music Technology, Interactive Media, Computational Arts, Electroacoustic Composition, Electronic Engineering, or a related field, with experience in contemporary music practice.
• Spatial Audio Expertise:
  Deep theoretical and practical knowledge of signal processing and spatial perception, with extensive experience in HOA, WFS, and tools like IRCAM Spat.
• Advanced Programming
  
  Skills:
  
  Proven mastery of sound synthesis (Max/MSP, Pd, Super Collider, Faust) and proficiency in C++ and Python; experience with the odot OSC ecosystem is a plus.
• Physical Computing & Interaction Design:
  Experience in digital instrument design and human‑computer interaction using sensors, microcontrollers (Arduino, Raspberry Pi), and computer vision frameworks (OpenCV, Media Pipe, ML-based feature extraction).
• Interdisciplinary Orientation:
  Experience or strong interest in artistic research and qualitative research methodologies.
• Communication:
  Excellent written and spoken English.

This position offers the opportunity to conduct research at the highest level in a highly supportive, world‑class environment, with full access to ICST's state‑of‑the‑art facilities—including HOA and WFS studios, motion capture system, and a hardware prototyping lab—and leading international networks in computer music and artistic research. The position is funded per SNSF standards for 4 years (with annual renewal), based at ZHdK's Toni‑Areal campus in Zurich.

We offer competitive salary rates and comprehensive social benefits. The employment conditions are governed by cantonal personnel legislation.