Sofia Dahl

Sofia Dahl is an Associate Professor in the Department of Architecture and Media Technology at Aalborg University's Technical Faculty of IT and Design. She leads research within the Media Cognition and Interactive Systems (MeCIS) group, specializing in Sound and Music Computing. Her work bridges computer science, psychology, and rehabilitation science to develop innovative auditory feedback systems for movement rehabilitation.

Dr. Dahl earned her Doctor of Technology in Speech and Music Communication from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, completing her degree in 2006. She previously served as Visiting Associate Professor in Embodied Music Cognition at the University of Oslo from 2013 to 2018.

Her research focuses on the intersection of music, technology, and human movement, particularly how auditory feedback can enhance motor learning and rehabilitation. She investigates embodied interaction, movement sonification, and the cognitive processes underlying musical performance and perception. Her work has significant applications in neurorehabilitation, particularly for stroke recovery, cerebral palsy treatment, and gait training.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend toward applying sound and music computing to clinical rehabilitation settings. Her research increasingly integrates artificial intelligence with movement analysis to create adaptive biofeedback systems that respond to patients' specific needs and progress. The work spans from fundamental research on movement fluency in musical performance to applied clinical studies with measurable patient outcomes.

• Best Student Paper Award (2024)
• Nomination - Best Posters (2024)
• 4th Prize in RehabWeek 2023 Best Poster Competition
• Best Use of Sound - Academic (2023)

Dr. Dahl actively supervises PhD students and leads multiple significant research grants, including the HearWalk project (2023-2027) focused on sound-facilitated rehabilitation and MusAIc-move (2022-present) which uses AI-generated music to promote engagement in movement rehabilitation. She collaborates extensively with clinicians and researchers across Europe through the Nordic Sound and Music Computing Network. Her laboratory work combines motion capture technology, real-time audio processing, and user-centered design to create effective rehabilitation tools that have been validated in clinical settings with measurable improvements in patient outcomes.