PhD Studentship in Audio-Visual Machine Listening

[Mark Plumbley <mark.plumbley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Applications are invited for a 3-year PhD studentship to undertake research into audio-visual analysis of sound events, with an emphasis on non-speech (music and environmental) sounds.

Research in audio and video signal processing has traditionally taken place in different research groups, but audio-visual processing is now increasingly being linked. In speech processing, for example, image processing methods for lip reading can help improve speech recognition performance, particularly in noisy environments. One promising technique for audio-visual analysis of particular interest in this project is "sparse representations", which looks for a representation of an audio or video signal using a small number of non-zero elements, which can then be associated together.

The work will form part of a programme of research in "Machine Listening using Sparse Representations", supported by a Leadership Fellowship from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). This is a concerted programme of research aiming to establish machine listening as a key enabling technology to improve our ability to interact with the world.

The successful candidate will be based in the Machine Listening lab of the world-leading Centre for Digital Music at Queen Mary University of London, working under the supervision of Prof Mark Plumbley (www.elec.qmul.ac.uk/people/markp).

Candidates should have a first or upper second honours degree or equivalent in electronic engineering, mathematical science, physics, statistics, computer science, or allied disciplines, and be able to demonstrate excellent mathematical and programming skills. Research experience in digital signal processing of audio, image and/or video signals is desirable. 

The studentship is for 3 years (subject to satisfactory progress) starting from 1 September 2009 or as soon as possible thereafter. It includes tuition fees and a tax-free stipend in line with EPSRC recommendations (currently at £14,940 per annum for the 2008/09 session), and is open to EU (including UK) candidates.

For informal enquiries, please contact Prof Mark Plumbley, Queen Mary University of London, Email: mark.plumbley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

How to apply

To apply for the PhD studentship please email the following documents to Prof Mark Plumbley: mark.plumbley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx: a completed application form, a CV listing all publications, your representative publications in PDF format, two independent reference letters, and other relevant documents as requested (see http://www.eecs.qmul.ac.uk/phd/apply.php). These documents must also be provided in paper form and sent to the Admissions and Recruitment Office (see the application form for address).

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 1st July 2009.

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Prof Mark D Plumbley
Electronic Engineering & Computer Science (Eng Bldg)
Queen Mary University of London
Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 7518
Fax: +44 (0)20 7882 7997
Email: mark.plumbley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.elec.qmul.ac.uk/people/markp/