Sound Studies and Sonic Art PhD

 

Project Description

The Sound Studies and Sonic Art doctoral program promotes research focused on the experience of sound, exploring its relationship with society, technology, nature, and the urban environment.
The program also aims to strengthen ties with the industrial sector at both national and international levels, fostering the dissemination of research findings and contributing to innovation in the creation of new artworks, tools, methods, and services.

Interdisciplinary by design, the program embraces the idea that music and sound can both contribute to and benefit from deep integration with a wide range of surrounding disciplines, across various scales and contexts.
This interdisciplinary approach is reflected in the unique and original composition of the Doctoral College, which includes scholars from diverse fields such as musical composition and performance, psychology, neuroscience, information engineering, architecture, and the social sciences. All are committed to promoting the study and development of new theoretical paradigms, applications, and practices focused on sound in its creative, musical, acoustic, psychoacoustic, cognitive, social, analytical, and interpretive dimensions.

This diversity has led to the development of a doctoral program that is unique within the current academic landscape, placing PhD research in Sound Studies and Sonic Art at the intersection of multiple disciplines. It transcends traditional boundaries and aims to:

  • foster dialogue and collaboration among performers, composers, theorists, and researchers;
  • actively support interdisciplinary projects involving music, sound, and both the hard and soft sciences.

Inspired by key international models (such as the MAT program at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the ATIAM program run by IRCAM in collaboration with Sorbonne University), the program has a dual objective:
On one hand, the expertise of musicians—performers, composers, and theorists—and sound professionals is essential for expanding the horizons of artistic research. On the other hand, the inclusion of new perspectives is fundamental for advancing the analysis, creation, and interpretation of sound and music through models, tools, devices, installations, musical works, and multimedia applications.

In line with these goals, research may originate from compositional, analytical, or theoretical inquiries (content-driven), or it may be informed by musical practice and scientific or technological innovation (technique-driven). In either case, the aim is to ensure a tangible impact on both the musical community and the broader artistic and scientific domains.

The PhD culminates in a research thesis intended to contribute to the development of practices, knowledge, tools, and works related to sound in its broadest sense—extending well beyond traditional definitions of “music.”

Course Objectives

The goal of the program is to build a bridge between creative and interpretive theories and practices in the use of sound, both in the arts and in scientific and industrial contexts. The continuous development and discussion of theoretical, analytical, and practical tools aims to foster critical and creative reflection on sound and its realization through new or traditional instruments.

The exploration and practical implementation of experimental approaches, along with the creation of innovative artistic and scientific products, will be disseminated through seminars, performances, concerts, publications, and conferences.

The doctoral program seeks to equip students with the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to engage with the following areas:

  • forms of analysis, creativity, and interpretation of the sound environment through a multidisciplinary and methodologically rigorous lens;
  • systems for the analysis, production, interpretation, and recognition of sound, including those based on artificial intelligence;
  • sound and multimodal interfaces;
  • sonification for artistic and scientific applications;
  • analysis, design, and creation of sonic spaces and soundscapes;
  • intersections between mind, society, and technology as mediated by sound and music;
  • multiple and dynamic meanings in the analysis, creation, production, and interpretation of organized sound across different cultural contexts and historical periods, with a focus on contemporary culture and history.

Although Sound Studies is part of a broader multimodal field of theory and practice, the program favors tools and methods that allow students to go beyond traditional boundaries, expanding the cultural, interpretive, and creative dimensions of sound.

 

Career opportunities after your PhD

A PhD in Sound Studies and Sonic Art opens up a broad spectrum of career paths, from academia and creative industries to media and interdisciplinary research, all  around the innovative and impactful use of sound.
Graduates can pursue academic careers as professors or researchers in universities, contributing to the growing field of sound studies through teaching, publications, and conference presentations. They may also find roles in interdisciplinary research projects that explore the intersections of sound, technology, and culture.
Beyond academia, opportunities exist in the arts and creative industries. Graduates can work as sound artists, curators, or consultants for galleries, museums, and cultural institutions, developing exhibitions and sound installations. They may engage in sound design for film, theater, or virtual reality environments, leveraging their expertise in auditory experiences to enhance storytelling and user engagement.
In the media industry, PhD holders can work as audio producers creating content that emphasizes the critical and creative aspects of sound. The skills developed during their doctoral studies, such as advanced audio analysis, recording techniques, and sound editing, are highly valuable in these roles.
Moreover, the increasing recognition of sound’s role in urban planning, architecture, and public health opens up opportunities. Graduates can collaborate with architects and urban planners to design soundscapes that improve the quality of life in public spaces, or work with healthcare professionals to develop therapeutic sound interventions.