The VOICING Project (Voicing Spaces: Towards an Aural Architecture in the Past), funded by an Advanced Grant from the Italian Science Fund (FIS 2) and the Ministry of University and Research (MUR) under the direction of Principal Investigator Professor Angela Bellia, is pleased to announce two fully funded PhD scholarships at the University of Palermo for the academic year 2026-2027 (42nd Cycle).
The VOICING project stands as a pioneering initiative aiming to bridge the gap between traditional archaeology, contemporary acoustic studies, and the emerging perspectives of Voice Studies. We are currently inviting applications from highly motivated candidates to join our international and multidisciplinary research team through the following doctoral programmes:
- PhD Programme in Semiotics: Studies on Text, Discourse, Media, Culture
- Position Code: [SEMIOTICA.FIS2.VOICING]
- Project Role: The successful candidate will contribute to the project’s Work Packages concerning acoustic space analysis, written records and material evidence, and acoustic ecological surveys (WP2, WP3, WP4).
- Research Focus: Voice as a Space of Meaning: A Critical Analysis of Sound Remediation Methodologies. This semiotic and historical-interpretative investigation will explore voice, sonority, and rhythm as phenomena of signification and aesthetic experience. The research will establish a dialogue between the study of the ancient world, the thought of Roland Barthes, and contemporary sound studies. A critical objective will be to assess how digital technologies—such as 3D acoustic modelling, auralisation, and Virtual/Augmented Reality (VR/AR)—transform the performative space, collective listening practices, and the re-mediation of cultural heritage.
- Requirements: A Master’s Degree in Humanities (e.g., Semiotics, Philosophy, Aesthetics, Classical Philology), Communication Sciences, or acoustic engineering/sciences, coupled with a strong inclination towards interdisciplinary studies.
- Mobility: A research period abroad is required.
- PhD Programme in Classics for Contemporaneity
- Position Code: [STUDCLASS.FIS2.VOICING]
- Research Focus: Experienced Ancient Religious Sound Studies. The doctoral researcher will investigate the entanglement of sacred and performative architecture, the human voice, and ritual movement in the ancient Mediterranean world. The project integrates rigorous philological analysis of written sources with the study of Voicescapes and Sacred Soundscapes, examining how architectural forms and the surrounding natural environment shaped religious perception and auditory experiences.
- Mobility: A research period abroad is required.
Application Details
By joining the VOICING project, researchers will contribute to an educational and scientific ecosystem of excellence that masterfully combines humanities research with cognitive sciences and technological innovation.
- Application Deadline: 12 August 2026
- Official Call and Application Procedure: University of Palermo – PhD Programmes 2026-2027 (Cycle XLII)
- Info: https://www.unipa.it/didattica/dottorati/
