Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position and a PhD studentship to be part of the ERC Advanced Grant Project, COSMOS: Computational Shaping and Modeling of Musical Structures. COSMOS aims to understand musical structures, as they are experienced and created in performance, and in unusual sources such as arrhythmic cardiac data, using data science, optimisation/data analytics, and citizen science. The job is to undertake research investigations in collaboration with and under the supervision of Professor Elaine Chew in order to realise the project’s goals. The research objectives are to develop scientific research methodologies for large-scale studies to automatically extract perceived and inherent structures in music performance and cardiac data, and to harness volunteer thinking to interrogate the experience and the creative process of manipulating musical structures. Team members will be working with collaborators and with data from the Barts BioResource, Stanford Player Piano Project, and a Bösendorfer Disklavier.
Queen Mary University of London is one of the UK’s leading research-focused institutions of higher learning and a member of the Russell Group of universities. The School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) is an exciting and dynamic environment with researchers working at the intersection of the arts, sciences, and medicine. The School is ranked 11th in the UK for quality of computer science research (REF 2014) and 6th in the UK for quality of electronic engineering research (REF 2014). The School’s Centre for Digital Music (C4DM) is a world-leading centre for research in music and audio technology, with over 70 researchers undertaking ground breaking and high-impact research in a lively and supportive community. QMUL’s newly established partnership with the Alan Turing Institute offers opportunities to collaborate with data scientists in the larger network and to apply for further fellowships and grants.
| The PhD studentship |
The PhD studentship is available to candidates of all nationalities, and covers student fees and 3-1/2 years tax-free stipend starting at £16,777 per annum.
Qualifications:
• applicants should have an MSc (preferred) or first-class honours degree or equivalent in computing, engineering, mathematical sciences, music technology, or a related field;
• a BA or MA in music performance, music theory, music composition or equivalent is highly desirable.
Essential:
• experience in using/designing scientific computing software, tools, and methodologies; and,
• research experience using optimisation, statistics, machine learning, or data science.
Desirable:
• experience designing and implementing interactive games or other software;
• research experience with music and/or cardiovascular signal analysis; and,
• experience with computational research in music perception and cognition.
To apply, please follow the online process at www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/applying-for-a-phd by selecting ‘Electronic Engineering’ in the ‘A-Z list of research opportunities’ and following the instructions on the right-hand side of the web page.
Candidates are asked to upload a brief (max 500 words or one A4 page) Statement of Research Interests answering two questions: (i) Why are you interested in the topic? (ii) What relevant experience do you have? and a sample of written work.
The application deadline is 31 October 2018. Interviews are expected to be held shortly thereafter, and positions are expected to begin 1 January 2019.
| The PDRA position |
The PDRA position is full time and the appointment fixed term for 2 years, with possibility of extension. Starting salary will be in the range of £33,615 - £37,411 per annum, inclusive of London Allowance. Benefits include 30 days annual leave, pension scheme and interest-free season ticket loan.
Qualifications:
• applicants should have a PhD (awarded or reasonably expected to be awarded within 3 months) in computing, engineering, mathematical sciences, music technology, or a related field; and,
• a BA or MA in music performance, music theory, music composition or equivalent is highly desirable.
Essential:
• experience in using/designing scientific computing software, tools, and methodologies; and,
• research experience using optimisation, statistics, machine learning, or data science.
Desirable:
• experience designing and implementing interactive games or other software;
• research experience with music and/or cardiovascular signal analysis; and,
• experience with computational research in music perception and cognition.
Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. Where required this may include entry clearance or continued leave to remain under the Points Based Immigration Scheme. Applicants who require visas to work in the UK may also apply.
The official advertisements for the positions with application links will be posted shortly. Candidates will be asked to upload documents totaling no more than 10 pages.
The application deadline is 11 November 2018. Interviews are expected to be held shortly thereafter, and positions are expected to begin 1 January 2019.
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| Informal enquiries should be addressed to Professor Elaine Chew at elaine.chew@qmul.ac.uk or on +44 (0) 020 7882 7331. Further details can be found at the following websites: • ERC ADG COSMOS project – erc-adg-cosmos.blogspot.com • Music, Performance and Expressivity Lab – mupae.blogspot.com • Centre for Digital Music – c4dm.eecs.qmul.ac.uk • School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science – www.eecs.qmul.ac.uk |
