Role Summary
The Signal Processing for Communication group and the Human-centered Robotics and AI group at Idiap are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to work on assistive speech technologies for pathological speakers integrated into robotic platforms. The project lies at the intersection of speech processing, machine learning, assistive AI, and human–robot interaction.
The research will focus on enabling robots and interactive systems to better understand and assist pathological speakers through advanced audio and AI techniques.
The PhD project will include the following research areas:
* Speech enhancement for pathological speech
* Source separation for pathological speakers
* Automatic speech recognition (ASR) for pathological speakers
* Human–robot interaction for healthcare and rehabilitation applications
* Real-time deployment on robotic systems
* Deep learning and generative AI methods for speech processing
The project is part of the Palliacare initiative at Idiap, which aims to develop technological tools to support patients with neurological disorders and their caregivers.
The position is intended to be filled from September 1st 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.
Ideal PhD Candidate Should Have
* A Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Speech Processing, or a related field
* Already been accepted into the EDEE, EDIC, or EDRS doctoral programs at EPFL
* Strong programming skills in Python and machine learning frameworks
* Background in speech/audio processing, deep learning, or robotics
* Interest in interdisciplinary research combining AI, speech technologies, and healthcare
* Excellent communication and scientific writing skills
* Motivation to work in an international research environment
Application Deadline
June 30th 2026.
Screening of applications will start on June 15th 2026.
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