MGK: Integrated Research Training Group
Contact
Principle investigator
Prof. Dr. Dr. Birger Kollmeier (Uni Oldenburg)
Prof. Dr. Bernd Meyer (Uni Oldenburg)
Project coordinator
MGK: Integrated Research Training Group
The Integrated Research Training Group (IRTG) is the project-overarching institution of the CRC that aims at supporting and qualifying all early career researchers within the CRC. The IRTG offers and supports,
Courses tailored to PhD students at different levels in their PhD project
- Courses tailored to PhD students at different levels in their PhD project:
- Introductory courses (e.g., acoustic signal processing, speech and statistical signals)
- Specialization courses (e.g., advanced topics in speech and audio processing)
- Soft skill courses (e.g., mental health in science)
- Workshops (e.g., virtual reality in hearing research and audiology)
- Summer-/winterschools (e.g., summer school on machine learning & numerics for acoustics, see picture below)
Structured promotion
- A structured promotion (enrolment and promotion agreement between PhD student and supervision committee) via the Graduate School Science, Medicine and Technology (OLTECH)
Lab visits
Lab visits at other universities/research institutions or a practical training period within a company or a non-university research institution. Two of our PhD students, Merle and Simon, have recently benefited from this offer:
Lab visit Merle
Merle Gerken (Universität Oldenburg): Three-month research stay at Eriksholm Research Centre, Part of Oticon, Snekkersten, Denmark. „Collaboration in a research project about hearing aid user preferences and speech intelligibility in complex acoustic scenes. Scientific discussions and presentations, and networking with colleagues from Eriksholm, Oticon, and the Hearing Systems Section at Technical University of Denmark DTU.”
Lab visit Simon
Simon Kersten (RWTH Aachen University): Two-week lab visit at Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Copenhagen, Denmark. „Scientific exchange on auditory modeling and current challenges for hearing technologies, discussions on career development. Presentations and informal interactions with both the Hearing Systems Section and the Acoustic Technology Group at DTU.”
Qualification and start up PhD stipends
Qualification stipends targetet at talented and highly motivated Master students (typically in connection with the „Fast Track” program at Universität Oldenburg) and start up PhD stipends during the initial training period in which PhD students may decide on the project for their doctoral thesis.
If you are interested in pursuing a doctoral thesis within the CRC, please contact or directly submit a detailed and informative application to Thomas Biberger, Birger Kollmeier or Bernd Meyer.
Testimonials of early career researchers on the IRTG
Swati Vivekananthan (PhD student): „The Summer School organized by the CRC was an excellent introduction to my PhD and greatly supported my onboarding into the research group. As an international researcher joining the team, the sessions were particularly valuable in helping me get started while also offering opportunities to socialize. It gave me the chance to meet other PhD students, connect with professors, and learn more about the research activities within the CRC.”
Ruben Johnson Robert Jeremiah (PhD student): "The CRC has provided a fantastic platform to grow both scientifically and personally. The seasonal schools, workshops and interdisciplinary discussions have not only enriched my PhD journey but also helped me develop skills beyond my research. Moving to Oldenburg with my family from abroad, I found the research environment here to be extremely welcoming and supportive from the beginning. The vibrant academic community, combined with the family-friendly atmosphere, made the transition much smoother than I anticipated."
Tong Xiao (Postdoctoral researcher): "Through the IRTG's feedback sessions on my manuscripts and conference talks, I received actionable critiques from both peers and senior mentors. By incorporating suggestions such as tightening my abstracts and improving slide design, my scientific communication has become much clearer. This has made my papers more compelling, my presentations more engaging, and has boosted my visibility and collaboration opportunities."