Dear List, Noldus Information Technology BV Wageningen (www.noldus.com), the Netherlands, is seeking to fill the position of a PhD student (Early Stage Researcher). This full-time position is available for 3 years. The general objective of this position is to develop a new and robust system to determine the quality of spoken communication in children with hearing impairment. DESCRIPTION: Objectives: - To identify parameters for supportive interaction between the child and the caregiver, to capture the required features in the scene unobtrusively. - To develop a non-intrusive technological system to quantify this supportive communication. Tasks and methods: - To develop nonintrusive technology to detect/classify the behavior parameters of the interaction between a hearing impaired child and its caregiver (facial expressions, gaze direction, body orientation, …). - To develop machine learning algorithms to analyze video streams. - To validate behavior classification systems by setting up experiments and work with hearing impaired children and caregivers. The research work will be carried out within Noldus InnovationWorks, the research laboratory of Noldus Information Technology in Wageningen. Scientific supervision will be provided by Prof. Dr. Astrid van Wieringen and Prof. Dr. Guido Lichtert, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, where the research fellow will be enrolled as a PhD. student. Noldus Information Technology is a leading developer of software and instrumentation for the study of human and animal behavior. We are seeking for candidates with a University degree (M.Sc. level) in computer science, electronic engineering, or applied mathematics or any equivalent degree. Excellent 1st degree, good verbal and written communication skills in English. Affinity with the Dutch language is desired in the experiments. Substantial knowledge of mathematics, statistics and informatics, as well as computer programming (e.g. Matlab and C++) and the Windows operating system. Affinity with linguistics, educational science and psychological aspects of interaction with hearing impaired children is desirable, as well as appreciation for the multidisciplinary nature of the project. To apply, send (in English, in pdf): - a letter of interest (including motivation relevant to the research topic), - your detailed curriculum vitae (including study curriculum rankings, relevant research experience and publications), - your diploma and transcripts (including translation if possible), - two references and their full contact information, - English language proficiency test results (if available). to: jobs@xxxxxxxxx, Attn: Nathalie Oostendorp. Technical questions about the position can be addressed to Dr. Nico van der Aa, computer vision researcher, n.vanderaa@xxxxxxxxx COMMENT: The project is part of a multi-partner Marie-Curie ITN project, iCARE (Improving Children's Auditory Rehabilitation), ITN-PEOPLE-2013-ITN-607139 (www.iCAREitn.eu). The objectives of improving Children’s Auditory REhabilitation (iCARE) are: - to provide training to create a new generation of researchers capable of exploiting the synergies between different disciplines to optimize spoken communication in children with hearing impairment, - to combine research across disciplines to develop novel methods, training skills and procedures for improving auditory rehabilitation. iCARE is an international and interdisciplinary consortium from academia, industry and socio‐economic agencies and offers a choice of 11 PhD and 3 postdoc positions, starting June or July 2014. Each project is supervised by a multidisciplinary team of experts and will benefit from extensive training. A secondment to the project's industrial associate partners is part of the job description. The candidate will actively participate in the consortiums training activities and symposia/schools. For further details on the project: see www.icareitn.eu. Eligibility criteria for Early Stage Researchers (ESR): You have at the time of recruitment less than 4 years of research experience, and you are without a doctoral degree. Eligibility criteria for Experienced Researchers (ER): At the time of recruitment you are in possession of a doctoral degree or you have at least 4 years of research experience. Mobility criteria for all fellows (ESR and ER): The researcher must not have resided, worked or studied in the country of their host organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years prior to the time of recruitment. Compulsory national service and/or short stays are not taken into account. Special rules apply for international (European interest) organizations. For a full description of the eligibility conditions see: http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/about-mca/quick- guide/index_en.htm.
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Vacancy_iCARE_Noldus.pdf
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