Please note the deadline for application has passed and this vacancy is no longer available

Automatic Visual Analysis of Spontaneous Behaviour

Department of Computing

 


Fixed Term Appointment for up to 24 months

Research Assistant salary: £26,580 - £29,550 per annum

Research Associate salary: £30,360 - £38,930 per annum

 

The Department of Computing is a leading department of Computer Science among UK Universities. It has consistently been awarded the highest research rating (5*) in Research Assessment Exercises (RAE), coming 2nd in the 2008 RAE, and was rated as "Excellent" in the previous national assessment of teaching quality.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for one Research Assistant (at the pre-doctoral level) or Research Associate (at the post-doctoral level) for the prestigious European Research Council Starting Grant funded project on human naturalistic behaviour analysis. The purpose of the project is to attempt to build automated tools for machine understanding of human interactive behaviour in naturalistic contexts. The envisioned technology will be based on findings in cognitive sciences and it will represent a set of visual and audiovisual spatiotemporal methods for automatic analysis of human spontaneous (as opposed to posed and exaggerated) patterns of behavioural cues including continuous analysis of deceptive behaviour.

Within the project, the applicant will be responsible for visual continuous analysis and interpretation of human facial behaviour. More specifically, the aim is to design and develop effective and efficient algorithms for visual analysis and interpretation of human facial behaviour that can be subtle, brief, and accompanied by large and sudden head movements and occlusions (e.g. by the hand).

The project involves significant research and development challenges, and the end results will contribute to development of more natural user interfaces as well as to development of computer-based analysis of human spontaneous behaviour displayed in various contexts.

To apply for this position, you will need to have a strong computing or engineering background. You should have proven knowledge and track record in one or more of the following areas: machine learning, vision-based human behaviour analysis (in particular face analysis). Research Assistant applicants will have a Masters degree (or equivalent) in an area pertinent to the subject area, i.e., Computing or Engineering. Research Associate applicants will have a PhD degree (or equivalent) in an area pertinent to the subject area, i.e., Computing or Engineering.

You must have excellent communication skills and be able to organize your own work with minimal supervision and prioritize work to meet deadlines. Preference will be given to applicants with a proven research record and publications in the relevant areas. The post is based at the South Kensington Campus.  All applicants must be fluent in spoken and written English. 

You will be part of the Intelligent Human Behaviour Understanding Group (iBUG), Visual Information Processing Research Section, within the Computing Department and based at the South Kensington campus. For further information on the group and related projects http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~maja/

 

The preferred starting date for this post is June 2010.

 

How to apply:

Our preferred method of application is online via our website at: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/employment (please select “job search” then enter the job title or vacancy reference number into “keywords”). Please complete and upload an application form as directed.

 

Applications must include the following:

  • A college application form
  • Please quote job reference number MAH6 MP 0510 on the application form
  • A full CV including University degree & dates, past & present posts & list of publications
  • List of grades obtained for the Masters degree & Bachelor degree.
  • A 1 page research statement indicating what you see as interesting research issues relating to this post, why your expertise is relevant and what your future research plans are.

 

Should you have any queries regarding the application process please contact Joanne Day by email to: research.officer@doc.ic.ac.uk

 

Closing Date: 25th May 2010

 

 

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