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Research group

Signal Processing Audio and Hearing Group

We research the processing, perception and control of complex signals.

Part of the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, Engineering

About

We develop technological innovations related to both engineering and the human science aspects of acoustics.

Our main research areas are: 

  • active control of sound and vibration 
  • spatial and 3D audio reproduction and capture 
  • audiology, hearing impairment, psychoacoustics and communication 
  • signal processing for underwater acoustics 
  • bioacoustics 

Our work also extends beyond acoustics to: 

  • the fields of image processing 
  • biomedical signal processing 
  • human balance 

People, projects and publications

People

Dr Aimee Zhang PhD

Lecturer

Research interests

  • Audio and Acoustic Signal Processing, especially Spatial active noise control, Audio solution for Human-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) interactions, Sound field Reproduction, Room Acoustics, Spatial Audio Solution for Virtual and Augmented Reality, and Microphone Arrays.
  • Digital Design and Embedded systems, especially Embedded Automatic Test and Control Systems and Embedded Audio Systems.

Accepting applications from PhD students

Email: aimee_jihui.zhang@soton.ac.uk

Address: B13, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

Dr Ben Lineton

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • Much of cochlear physiology and pathophysiology remains poorly understood. For example, how do the 3000 rows of active outer hair cells interact with each other and with other cochlear structures to amplify the waves in the cochlea that allow us to hear? How are the motions of these cochlear structures related to the otoacoustic emissions that we can measure in the ear canal?  What role do the efferent nerves play?  What are the changes brought about by pathology? The long term research goal is to understand human cochlear physiology in both normal and pathological conditions with a view to aiding the development of improved clinical diagnostic techniques and treatments.  One approach to improving our understanding of the electro-mechanical aspect of physiology is to develop realistic models of the cochlea.  These should capture the essential hydrodynamics, structural dynamics, and electrical processes involved in cochlear physiology. The non-linear mechano-electrical and electro-mechanical transduction processes are key aspects of the physiology where our understanding remains at a basic level. The ways in which these models may be useful clinically are: to aid the development of treatments, or prostheses for hearing impairment, to improve our ability to interpret clinical results (such as measurements of otoacoustic emissions or electrophysiology), to aid the development of new clinical tests of cochlear function.

Accepting applications from PhD students

Email: bl@isvr.soton.ac.uk

Address: B13, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

ORCID

Dr Chuang Shi PhD

Lecturer in Actv Noise and Vibtn Control

Research interests

  • Active Noise Control
  • Parametric Acoustic Array
  • Audio Signal Processing

Accepting applications from PhD students

Email: chuang.shi@soton.ac.uk

Address: B13, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

Google Scholar
ORCID

Professor David Simpson

Prof of Biomedical Signal Processing

Research interests

  • His research interests are in biomedical signal processing with applications in neurophysiology and cardio-vascular and cerebro-vascular control. Specific topics are:
  • Blood flow control in the brain (how does the brain regulate is own blood supply and how to detect impairment of this function).
  • Auditory evoked potentials (methods to detect the small electrical responses of the brain to auditory stimulation for the assessment of various hearing disorders).

Accepting applications from PhD students

Email: ds@isvr.soton.ac.uk

Address: B13, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

ORCID

Mrs Emma Mackenzie

Principal Teaching Fellow

Research interests

  • Emma is interested in the fitting and verification of hearing aids.

Email: ep@isvr.soton.ac.uk

Address: B13, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

ORCID

Dr Felix Langfeldt BEng, MSc, PhD, FHEA

Lecturer

Research interests

  • Active/Passive Acoustic Metamaterials
  • Low-frequency Sound Insulation
  • Aircraft Cabin Noise Control

Accepting applications from PhD students

Email: f.langfeldt@soton.ac.uk

Address: B13, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

Google Scholar
ORCID
Twitter

Dr Jen Muggleton BSc (Eng), ACGI, PhD, MA

Principal Research Fellow

Research interests

  • Detection and location of buried infrastructure using vibration techniques.
  • Acoustic leak detection in pipes.
  • Vibration of fluid-filled pipes.

Email: jmm@isvr.soton.ac.uk

Address: B13, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

Dr Jiahong Zhao PhD

Lecturer in Acoustics

Research interests

  • Microphone array signal processing,
  • spatial audio,
  • machine learning and computer vision.

Accepting applications from PhD students

Email: jiahong.zhao@soton.ac.uk

Address: B13, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

Professor Jordan Cheer BMus (Tonmeister), MSc, PhD, CEng, MIMechE, FHEA

Professor

Research interests

  • Active Noise Control
  • Active Vibration Control
  • Smart Structures for Noise and Vibration Control

Accepting applications from PhD students

Email: j.cheer@soton.ac.uk

Address: B13, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

Google Scholar
ORCID
LinkedIn
Twitter

Mrs Kerry Barker

Lecturer

Research interests

  • Using different methodologies to identify hearing tasks within a specific workforce.Response times to speech stimuli.

Email: ksab1r17@soton.ac.uk

Address: B13, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

My research focuses on the use of active control technologies to enhance the performance of systems in terms of their sound and vibration characteristics.
Professor Jordan Cheer
Professor
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