Research Fellow in Computer Vision, Spatial Audio and Audio-Visual AI

Please note, it is University Policy to offer a starting salary equivalent to Level 3.6 to successful applicants who have been awarded, but are yet to receive, their PhD certificate. Once the original PhD certificate has been submitted to the local HR Department, the salary will be increased to Level 4.1

This is an exciting opportunity for an outstanding researcher in Computer Vision, Audio and/or Audio-Visual AI to join CVSSP as part of a major new five-year research partnership with the BBC to realise Future Personalised Media Experiences.

The goal of the research partnership is to realise future personalised content creation and delivery at scale for the public at home or on the move. CVSSP research will address the key challenges for personalised content creation and rendering by advancing computer vision, audio analysis and audio-visual AI to transform captured 2D video to object-based media. Research will advance automatic online understanding, reconstruction and neural rendering of complex dynamic real-world scenes and events. This will enable a new generation of personalised media content which adapts to user requirements and interests. The new partnership with the BBC and creative industry partners will position the UK to lead future personalised media experiences.

The Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP) at the University of Surrey is ranked first in the UK for computer vision and recognised worldwide for pioneering new technologies in audio and vision. The centre leads ground-breaking research in audio-visual AI and machine perception for the benefit of people and society through technological innovations in healthcare, security, entertainment, robotics and communications. Over the past two decades, CVSSP has pioneered advances in 3D and 4D computer vision and spatial audio which have enabled award-winning technologies for content production in TV, film, games and immersive entertainment.

BBC R&D (bbc.co.uk/rd) has a worldwide reputation for developments in media technology going back over 90 years and has worked closely with CVSSP for over 20 years. It has pioneered the development of object-based media, working closely with programme-makers and technology teams across the BBC. Recent work has included object-based audio delivery across multiple synchronised devices for sports and drama, and AI for recognising wildlife for natural history.

The Research Fellow will hold a PhD in computer vision, audio and/or audio-visual AI with a track-record of publication in leading academic forums. The successful candidate will contribute novel machine learning approaches advancing audio-visual AI to transform video of real-world scenes to object-based representation and neural rendering. The post-holder will collaborate with the team and project partners to realise personalised media experiences.

The post is at the core of a research team working together with the BBC, University and industry partners to realise personalised object-based media experiences at scale for offline content and live events. The post will enable individuals to advance knowledge in computer vision, audio and machine learning and raise their own academic and research profile by joining Europe's largest research centre in this field. All posts will initially be offered for a fixed term contract for up 3 years which is extendable for the 5-year duration of the partnership.

The University of Surrey is a global university with a world-class research profile and an enterprising spirit, located in one of the safest counties in England, within 35 minutes of London by train and minutes away from the Surrey Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Recent investments have seen the opening of a world-class Sports Park and important updates to central facilities.

We can offer a generous renumeration package, which includes relocation assistance where appropriate, an attractive research environment, the latest teaching facilities and access to a variety of staff development opportunities.