University of Surrey - Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP)
Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship to pursue research in the area of audio signal processing with applications to automatic localisation and separation of a target speech signal from a mixture of sound sources. The project, starting on Monday 4 January 2010, will focus on developing novel signal processing algorithms and software tools to explore both statistical and spatial characteristics of the stereo input with the aim of enabling a robotic system with certain perceptual abilities within complex auditory scenes.
The successful applicant will join the CVSSP, a world-leading research group in sensory (visual and auditory) data analysis and interpretation. CVSSP is one of the largest UK research groups in machine vision and audition with more than 70 researchers and world-class audio and video facilities. CVSSP forms part of the Department of Electronic Engineering, which has a track record high quality research: it was ranked joint second in the latest UK research quality assessment, RAE 2008, with 70% of its research classified as either 4* ("world-leading") or 3* ("internationally excellent"), and attained the highest grade of 5*A in the previous RAE 2001. It produces around 20 academic journal papers and 10 doctorates a year, covering many aspects of blind source separation, audio-video analysis and interpretation, information retrieval and biometrics, 3D computer vision and animation, and speech signal processing.
Entry Requirements
Applicants should have a first or 2:1 honours degree or equivalent in electrical and electronic engineering, computer science, mathematical science, statistics, physics, or related discipline. Applicants should be able to demonstrate excellent mathematical, analytical and computer programming skills. Advantage will be given to applicants with experience in one or more areas of audio and speech signal processing, acoustics, blind source separation, and/or machine learning.
Funding
The studentship includes tuition fees (at the UK/EU rate of approximately £3400 per year) and an annual bursary of approximately £13000. Prospective students of any nationality are eligible to apply. However, international (i.e. non-UK/EU) applicants should be prepared to cover the difference in tuition fees, which is approximately £8000 per year.
How to Apply
If you want to apply, you should send a CV, a covering letter explaining the reason why you are interested in this studentship, a scanned copy of your undergraduate and/or postgraduate transcripts and certificate of qualifications, names and contact details of two referees. Please quote the above studentship in your email or covering letter.
Applications should be sent to:
Mr James Field
Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing
Department of Electronic Engineering
University of Surrey
Guildford, Surrey
GU2 7XH,
UK.
For informal enquiries about the studentship, please contact Dr Philip Jackson at p.jackson@surrey.ac.uk.
Suitable candidates will be shortlisted within one week of the closing date, and then be invited to complete the application form and to have an interview.
Application Deadline: Monday 7 December 2009. For further information about the University of Surrey, please visit www.surrey.ac.uk. The University is committed to an Equal Opportunities Policy
