PhD research advancing objective hearing assessment and innovative middle ear surgery

About this position

This PhD project combines two complementary research lines, both aimed at improving the diagnosis and treatment of patients with hearing loss.

• Research line 1 – Objective clinical assessment of speech understanding using neural speech tracking with CORGEE

Accurately assessing hearing and speech understanding remains challenging in young children and in other patients who are difficult to test using conventional behavioural methods. At UZ Leuven, the CORGEE test platform (Brainphonics) has recently been implemented. This innovative EEG-based technology objectively measures the neural processing of speech without requiring active participation from the patient.

During the PhD, the candidate will further develop the clinical implementation and validation of CORGEE within the otology care pathway. The research will investigate the added value of objective assessment for clinical decision-making, hearing aid and cochlear implant fitting, and patient follow-up during rehabilitation.

Applications in patients who are difficult to test will also be explored, including young children, patients with multiple disabilities, and patients showing unexpectedly limited performance after cochlear implantation. Objective measurements will be compared with conventional audiological and behavioural assessments to determine the clinical value of this novel technology.

This project offers a unique opportunity to clinically validate and implement an innovative objective technology in routine care for children and adults with hearing loss.

• Research line 2 – Bony obliteration in cholesteatoma surgery

The second research line focuses on the surgical treatment of cholesteatoma, a chronic middle ear condition that can cause hearing loss, persistent inflammation, and serious complications.

The PhD candidate will contribute to CLEAR-EAR, an international, multicentre, prospective randomised study comparing the conventional canal wall up technique with the same technique combined with bony mastoid obliteration.

The research will investigate whether bony obliteration results in:

• fewer residual and recurrent cholesteatomas;
• better hearing outcomes and a better understanding of the underlying hearing mechanics;
• improved quality of life;
• more cost-effective treatment.

The candidate will prospectively collect and analyse clinical, surgical, audiological, and radiological data, working closely with university centres across Belgium, including French-speaking centres, and the Netherlands.

This offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the further optimisation and standardisation of cholesteatoma surgery through high-quality clinical-translational research.

We are looking for a motivated candidate with:

• a Master’s degree in Speech and Language Therapy and Audiological Sciences, (Bio)medical Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field;
• a strong interest in clinical and translational research;
• strong analytical skills and a critical scientific mindset;
• excellent communication skills;
• the ability to collaborate effectively with patients, clinicians, and researchers;
• an excellent command of Dutch and English, with good knowledge of French.
• a full-time four-year PhD position;
• a challenging research project with direct clinical impact;
• supervision within an internationally renowned research group in otology and audiology;
• close collaboration with the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at UZ Leuven;
• training in clinical research, data analysis, and scientific writing;
• opportunities to present research findings at international conferences;
• international collaborations with leading research centres;
• opportunities to develop into an independent researcher;
• a competitive PhD scholarship in accordance with KU Leuven salary scales.

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Nicolas Verhaert, mail: nicolas.verhaert@kuleuven.be or Prof. dr. Sam Denys, mail: sam.denys@kuleuven.be .