Dr. Marta Gospodarek is a PhD graduate from the Music and Audio Research Lab (MARL) at New York University, where her research bridged the realms of spatial audio, sound design, and psychoacoustics, particularly in the context of Virtual and Mixed Reality. Her work is characterized by a deep exploration of how sound can transform immersive experiences, with a focus on auditory perception in Augmented Reality (AR) environments. As a recipient of the prestigious Chateaubriand Fellowship, Dr. Gospodarek conducted advanced research on sound perception at IRCAM (Paris), pushing the boundaries of AR audio plausibility.

Her dissertation, Acoustic and Perceptual Factors Affecting Plausibility in Sound Design for Audio Augmented Reality, investigates the integration of virtual sounds in real environments, exploring both acoustic and perceptual factors that influence the realism of AR audio experiences. Her research offers new methodologies for evaluating plausibility in AR, contributing valuable insights to the field.

Throughout her career, Dr. Gospodarek has contributed significantly to the field of immersive audio, leading sound design and engineering efforts on major VR and AR projects. These include Mary and the Monster (Cannes XR 2020, Tribeca Film Festival 2019), where she served as the lead sound designer for a shared, theatrical XR experience, and Cave (Siggraph 2018), a pioneering multi-audience cinematic VR experience produced by the Future Reality Lab at NYU. Her role encompassed the entire spectrum of sound production, from initial design to 3D audio programming, ensuring that each auditory element enhanced the immersive quality of the experience.

As the co-leader of the Immersive Audio Group at NYU, Dr. Gospodarek spearheaded numerous music recordings in VR, experimenting with cutting-edge recording techniques and mixing approaches. She has also shared her expertise as an adjunct professor, teaching graduate courses on 3D Audio at NYU's Music Technology program.

Dr. Gospodarek's work on projects like the NYU Holodeck, which facilitates distributed music collaboration in VR and AR, and the VR rehabilitation platform for postural control dysfunction, underscores her versatility and dedication to advancing the capabilities of immersive audio technologies.

Dr. Gospodarek’s academic journey began with an M.S. in Sound Engineering from the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, where her thesis focused on auditory-visual interactions and the influence of color on loudness perception. Her early career included a tenure as an assistant professor teaching audio for film, as well as a year at The Banff Centre, where she honed her skills as an audio engineer, sound designer, and composer. In 2012, she was honored with the Gold Award in Sound for Visual Media at the 132nd AES Students Recording Competition.

In addition to her academic and teaching roles, Dr. Gospodarek has worked extensively in sound engineering across various stages of film production, from ADR and sound design to surround mixing and foley recording. Her collaborations with contemporary composers on interactive sound installations using MAX/MSP reflect her ongoing commitment to innovation in sound.