Starte jetzt als PhD Student for Ultrafast Imaging of the Vocal Fold Oscillations (m/f/d) bei Universitätsklinikum Freiburg

During speaking and singing, the human vocal folds (VFs) perform one of the fastest motions in the human body with v 4 m/s at frequencies between f = 150 - 1600 Hz. In clinical routine and in voice research this motion is currently imaged with laryngeal stroboscopy, where a camera is inserted in the pharynx through the mouth or nose. Apart from the discomfort associated with this invasive procedure, it is inherently limited to a superficial view of the vocal folds which only allows the visualization of lateral motion, but hides vertical motion between camera and VFs.

In our research group we have pioneered a new 2D-imaging technique to visualize the VF motion using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). For the first time, we were able to image physiological motion with a temporal reso-lution below 1 ms (see figure). MRI offers a free choice of the image plane and thus allows us to simultaneously image the vertical and lateral motion.

In the thesis you will work on optimizing the imaging procedure via:

• optimized gradient switching
• 3-dimensional motion encoding
• new synchronization hardware
• post-processing algorithms

The successful candidate should have an interest (and, preferably, some experience) in:

• medical physics and electromagnetics
• programming (C++, Matlab)
• physiology of voice production

Please submit your application and relevant documents by the "Apply now"-Button or email.