PhD Researcher in Objective Hearing Assessment and Middle Ear Surgery

The Experimental Otorhinolaryngology (ExpORL) group at KU Leuven is seeking a PhD candidate for a four-year project at the intersection of audiology, otology, and clinical-translational research. The research involves two primary lines: developing and validating the CORGEE EEG-based platform for objective speech understanding assessment, and contributing to the international CLEAR-EAR multicentre study on bony mastoid obliteration in cholesteatoma surgery. The successful candidate will work closely with clinicians at UZ Leuven to collect and analyze clinical, surgical, and audiological data. This role offers an opportunity to bridge innovative technology with routine clinical care to improve patient outcomes. Applicants are expected to demonstrate strong analytical skills and a commitment to high-quality translational research.

• Develop and validate the clinical implementation of the CORGEE EEG-based test platform.
• Conduct prospective data collection and analysis for the international CLEAR-EAR multicentre study.
• Compare objective neural measurements with conventional behavioural audiological assessments.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including clinicians, researchers, and patients across Belgium and the Netherlands.
• Prepare research findings for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentation at international conferences.
• Participate in training programs for clinical research, data analysis, and scientific writing.