Saturday, June 27, 2009

PhD studentship at Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robot

PhD studentship

PhD studentship available at Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robotics
(http://www.robot. jussieu.fr/ ?op=view_ page&id=2& page=Object〈=en)
University of Paris 6 (www.upmc.fr) .

The position is available within the framework an interdisciplinary
project HuPer and Lunettes Intelligentes
(http://www.robot. jussieu.fr/ fra/projets/ lunintel/ index.html)
on "Cognitive navigation in space ; application to design of mobility
assistance for visually impaired". Cooperation with London University
(professor Steve Maybank).

Project summary.
ISIR (Institute of Intelligent Systems & Robotics) (former Laboratoire de
Robotique de Paris,) of Paris 6 University studies neuro-cognitive
human-space interaction in order to design and realize prototypes of
intelligent systems, robotics and mechatronics systems, highly autonomous
and/or able to assist healthy and handicapped (especially visually
impaired), in performing everyday life tasks. The provision of autonomous
mobility for the visually impaired is a difficult but important societal
problem. Solutions based on GPS and a digital map of the environment are
not suitable because of the low, 10m, precision of GPS, poor satellite
signal reception in urban areas and indoors, and the difficulty of
responding to changes in the environment. Artificial vision in the form of
SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) provides a satisfactory
solution for autonomous mobile robots. However, SLAM is not suitable for
assisting the visually impaired, because human navigation is far more
complex than that of a mobile robot. Human navigation leads to the
definition of natural visual SLAM (SLAM-VN). SLAM-VN is a simulation of
the visual perception-motion loop, including feedback from inertial
sensors to the imaging system, in analogy with the human vestibulo-ocular
feedback. This should reinforce the robustness of classical stereovision
systems and solve the problem of the spatio-temporal instabilities caused
by uneven ground and by sudden and unpredictable human movements. This
thesis aims to define precisely the concept of SLAM-VN and model it in
hardware and software. We will use the ISIR convergent stereovision system
to which we will add an inertial system, which will play the role
analogous to the human vestibular system. The combined system is named
intelligent glasses (IG). One of challenges of the IG system is the
correct synchronization and fusion of the visual information and the
inertial information. The information about the environment obtained by
SLAM-VN will be used for object recognition and tracking, and obstacle
detection. The Fisher-Rao metric will be used to quantify the accuracy
with which the objects and obstacles can be described. This will lead to
the design of new vision processing algorithms, never investigated before.
3D object localization (precision of ~ 0.5 m) will be established via
RANSAC type algorithms. Object tracking will use a classical approach such
as a particle filter. The SLAM-VN model will be validated by experiments,
including navigation in real environments by both the visually impaired
and by the robot iCUB (European humanoid robotic platform of ISIR
laboratory). The interface for visually impaired will include a touch
stimulating interface upon which obstacles will be displayed
Key words: visual perception, stereo, inertial data, data fusion,
localization, object recognition, Fisher-Rao metric, RANSAC, particle
filter,visually impaired mobility assistance

- Starting date: October 2009
- Duration: 3 years
- Required education: Master in Computer Science, or Robotics, or
Intelligent Systems, or Cognitive Science, or Human/animal
Physiology/Biology obtained in 2009 in a European Union University;
- Be 26 year old or less

- Required skills: Programming in C and C++; good level of written/spoken
English
(French not required)
- Experience/studies in computer vision, image processing, robotics, VLSI is
an advantage.
- The successful candidate will be hired as PhD student and receive
Ministry of Education scholarship with social benefits.

Deadline for application : June 28, 2009 (first preslection) , July 2st
(final application)

If interested, please post, e-mail (pdf format only), or fax:
for preselection
1- C.V.
2- Copy of original study certificates with list of exams, grades, and scale
(indicate min, max, and pass threshold) for Master
3- Copy of international publications, if any (max 3)

For final application
1- C.V.
2- Motivation letter (career plan, motivation for PhD, statement of research
interest)
3- Copy of original study certificates with list of exams, grades, and scale
(indicate min, max, and pass threshold) for Master
4- Contact addresses of two reference persons
5- Copy of international publications, if any (max 3)

to:

Prof. Edwige Pissaloux
ISIR
Université Paris 6
Contact : Edwige.Pissaloux@ upmc.fr
Fax : + 33 2 32 10 69 90

Given the high number of applications and enquiries, further information can
be provided only to applicants who have submitted all items listed above.

============ ========= ========= ========= ========= =
Edwige Pissaloux ph. 33(0)144272874
Professeur fax : 33(0)144275145
Vision VLSI/System Design email:Edwige.Pissaloux@ upmc.fr
ISIR/UPMC & CNRS UMC 7220
Pyramide tour 55
4 place Jussieu
75 252 Paris Cedex 05, France
IEEE France Section EMBS Chapter Founder and Past Chair
Présidente de la Section Signal & Image du Club
EEA Section
============ ========= ========= ========= ========

3 PhD Studentships in ITS, Oxford Brookes University, UK

Three Fully funded 3-year PhD Studentships in Intelligent Transport Systems
Intelligent Transport Systems
Oxford Brookes University Doctoral Training Programme

Stipend:
£14,000 tax-free per annum UK/EU students (plus fees paid)
£12,000 tax-free per annum International students (plus fees paid)

Start Date: Sept/October 2009

Deadline: 10 July 2009

Eligibility: Applicants should have or hope to obtain a first class degree or postgraduate degree in a engineering, mathematical, computer science or analytical subject. If you are interested in these studentships then please fill in the application form and obtain references as per instructions in the given form below. Open to Home, EU and International candidates.

The Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Doctoral Training programme resides within the School of Technology at Oxford Brookes University. The School is situated in a new £8 million teaching and research facility. The School also has an international reputation in several research areas and performed well in the recent Research Assessment Exercise. For more details about our research please see http://tech. brookes.ac. uk/research.

The ITS programme focuses on the development of intelligent vehicle and traffic systems. The two main motivations for this research are: (a) the need for safe and environmentally sustainable transport systems, and (b) to develop technology for autonomous vehicles.

The programme invites applications for three fully funded PhD studentships for application details please contact: neil.fellows@ brookes.ac. uk

Further details: http://tech. brookes.ac. uk/research/ intelligent- transport- systems

Further Details
http://www.jobs. ac.uk/jobs/ ZM403/Three_ Fully_funded_ 3-year_PhD_ Studentships_ in_Intelligent_ Transport_ Systems/

32 PhD Studentships at Univ. of the West of England, UK

Research+Opportunit y
http://rbi.uwe. ac.uk/internet/ research/ ro.asp

This is an exciting time to be at the University of the West of England. An excellent performance in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercisereinforced UWE's position as one of the leading and fastest growing post-92 universities for research, and this growth is set to continue. In a move designed to create a truly distinctive 21st century university, we are doubling the size of the main Frenchay campus!

We now plan to build on this success and to take the University into the next stage of its research development by offering up to 32 new fully-funded PhD studentships in a range of subjects that have been identified as areas of world-class and internationally excellent research.

Current opportunities

Health and life sciences
Business
and management
Environment and technology
Creative arts, culture and media
Law, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences

http://rbi.uwe. ac.uk/internet/ research/ ro.asp

32 PhD Studentships at Univ. of the West of England, UK

Research+Opportunit y
http://rbi.uwe. ac.uk/internet/ research/ ro.asp

This is an exciting time to be at the University of the West of England. An excellent performance in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercisereinforced UWE's position as one of the leading and fastest growing post-92 universities for research, and this growth is set to continue. In a move designed to create a truly distinctive 21st century university, we are doubling the size of the main Frenchay campus!

We now plan to build on this success and to take the University into the next stage of its research development by offering up to 32 new fully-funded PhD studentships in a range of subjects that have been identified as areas of world-class and internationally excellent research.

Current opportunities

Health and life sciences
Business
and management
Environment and technology
Creative arts, culture and media
Law, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences

http://rbi.uwe. ac.uk/internet/ research/ ro.asp

Saturday, June 20, 2009

8 Erasmus Mundus Scholarships 2010 in Robotics

16 Erasmus-Mundus Studentships
Computer Vision and Robotics

Applications are currently being considered for 16 fully funded scholarships (fees and stipend for 8 EU and 8 non-EU students) on the prestigious 2-year Erasmus-Mundus European Masters programme on Computer Vision and Robotics (VIBOT) between Heriot Watt University (UK), the Universite de Bourgogne (France) and the Universitat de Girona (Spain).

VIBOT is one of the European Union`s flagship Erasmus-Mundus courses. The key aim of VIBOT is to produce the next generation of leading engineering researchers to solve important future challenges in a broad range of engineering applications. Starting from a comprehensive coverage of the prerequisites in the field of digital imagery and basic image processing, the students will cover at specialized level all subjects of artificial vision applied to robotics, medical imagery and 3D vision.

This Masters programme will provide an unrivalled knowledge in computer vision and robotics applied to industrial problems and medical imagery. Moreover, the students will have also acquired a mobility, a broadmindedness and the language skills which constitute, in an age of globalization, a major asset for finding research work either in a public laboratory or in a private company.

VIBOT encompasses a broad spectrum of scientific and engineering research from fundamental theoretical results to applied engineering solutions that have strong industrial relevance. Individuals within the VIBOT research network are leading authorities on areas ranging from computer vision, autonomous vehicles, statistical signal processing, robotics and image processing.

The Masters candidates will experience research cultures in three different European countries and will be able to draw on the expertise from leading experts in different disciplines and different nationalities. The students spend the first semester in Scotland, the second in Spain and the third in France. The fourth semester is reserved for the 5-month Masters research project at one of the host universities or in industry.

Selection Criteria
Admission to VIBOT is highly competitive and based on academic excellence. Applicants should have a minimum of a BSc degree in computer science, electrical engineering, physics or mathematics. The VIBOT research programme is intended for top level non-EU and EU students with a fluent knowledge in spoken and written English (TOEFL 550). Applicants are expected to provide a statement of their research interests and motivation.

Further information and application procedure can be found at:
http://vision. u-bourgogne. fr/masters/ vibot/
Closing date: 15th January 2010

Further Details

Click here for Employer Profile

http://www.jobs. ac.uk/jobs/ CK045/16_ Erasmus-Mundus_ Studentships

Postdoctoral Positions and Graduate Fellowships Available

http://www.spms. ntu.edu.sg/ PAP/Home/ documents/ ResearchProfileQ ihuaXiong. 2.pdf

Dr. Qihua Xiong won 2nd batch Singapore National Research Foundation Research Fellowship (NRF-RF) and recently joined Nanyang Technological University as a Nanyang Assistant Professor. With a strong support from both NRF and NTU, Dr. Xiong is expecting to establish a vibrant group dedicated into the research in nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Dr. Xiong finished his B.Sc. degree in Physics at Wuhan University in 1997. After obtained his M.Sc. degree in physics from Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 2000, he went to United States of America to pursue his Ph.D. research. In 2006, he received his Ph.D. degree in materials science at The Pennsylvania State University under the supervision of Professor Peter Eklund. His Ph.D. research covers from fundamental physical properties especially phonon properties of semiconductor nanowires, to nanomechanical properties and twinning superlattices in nanowires. He joined Professor Charles Lieber laboratory at Harvard as a postdoctoral research fellow in 2006. During his postdoctoral training, he has extended his research to include nanoelectronics and nanoelectronic devices for single molecule biosensing.

Dr. Xiong received several awards and fellowships during his graduate and undergraduate studies, including Pan-American Advanced Studies Institute (PASI) fellowship (DOE and NSF, 2006), Graduate Award for Academic Excellence (The Pennsylvania State University, 2006), Excellent Graduate Fellowship Award (1998 and 1999, CAS), Hui Kai Fellowship Award (Wuhan University, 1996), Gui Zhiting-Xu Hailan Fellowship Award (Wuhan University, 1995) and Outstanding Student Award (Wuhan University, 1994).

Dr. Xiong's group is seeking strongly motivated postdoctoral research fellows to carry out a multi-million dollar project (funded by Singapore National Research Foundation and Nanyang Technological University), which is on the cutting-edge research in nanomaterials, nanoelectronics, energy and nanoelectronic- bio interface for single molecule biosensing. Due to the highly interdisciplinary nature of the project, candidates with a Ph.D. degree in experimental condensed matter physics, electronic engineering, chemistry (physical or polymer), biochemistry and biophysics are all encouraged to apply. Annual salary ranges from S$ 36,000-60,000, depending on qualification. Starting date is flexible and multiple positions are available.

We also keep hiring Ph.D. students with full scholarships support, undergraduate students who want to expand their horizon. For perspective Ph.D. students, please be advised that TOEFL and GRE scores are recommended but NOT required. Applicants can take equivalent English test organized by the school. Interested candidates from Physics, Chemistry, Biological, MatSE or EE should contact Dr. Qihua Xiong with their CVs. We are looking for highly passionate young students who are willing to devote themselves in the world-wide ambition and enterprise of nanotechnology. A master's degree or demonstrated research experience in undergraduate is a plus.

Dr. Qihua Xiong
Email: Qihua@ntu.edu. sg
Tel: (65)-6513 8495
Mailing Address:
Nanyang Technological University
Division of Physics and Applied Physics
School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences
21 Nanyang Link, SPMS-PAP-04- 14
Singapore 637371

15 PhD Scholarships at University of Padova, Italy

Grants for foreign students
http://www.unipd. it/en/doctorates /grants.htm

The University of Padova, through the funding of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Padova e Rovigo, offers research fellowships for foreign students to attend Doctoral Schools/Internation al Courses. During the 3-year doctoral programme, successful candidates will be offered full board and lodging.

Notification of 15 PhD grants for foreign students (25th series)
Deadline: 3rd September 2009

Call for application
Instruction for filling in the application form
Application form

Annex 1 - List of School Curricula
Annex 2 - General terms and conditions for fellowships
Annex 3- Doctoral Schools and related research lines
FAQ

Studying in Padova
Living in Padova

Info: Research Training Office
Via del Padovanino, 9 - 35123 Padova
phone +39 049 827 3754/3935 fax +39 049 827 3780
e-mail: formazione.ricerca@ unipd.it
Mail address: via 8 febbraio 2 - 35122 Padova

http://www.unipd. it/en/doctorates /grants.htm

20 PhD positions at PRO-NEST

Prostate Research Organizations- Network of Early Stage Training (PRO-NEST)

The FP7 Marie Curie Initial Training Network
PRO-NEST has positions available for 20 PhD students and 4 postdoctoral scientists interested in basic and translational research onprostate cancer

Check this website for all the details on PRO-NEST, including available positions, the Marie Curie criteria that applicants have to meet and instructions on how to apply for a PRO-NEST position.

http://www.pro- nest.org