The University of Bath is inviting applications for the following PhD project supervised by Prof Peter Hall in the Department of Computer Science.
We are all used to searching the internet and we all know how useful it is. But the way we search is limited almost exclusively to typing in text, and results all too often depend on the right keywords being tagged to the data. This is a particular problem for things that are not text based, such as pictures, sculptures, and video.
Heterogeneous datasets include different sorts of data – text, pictures, 3D models and such like. Such datasets are used by films companies and games companies, who build large datasets as part of their production process. The same sort of databases are used by museums across the world to catalogue the varied objects they curate.
This project will be about tagging objects in heterogenous databases. The key technical challenge is to build a system that is robust to the huge variety of ways objects can be visually represented. Think of cats, for example, which appear in ancient Egyptian art, renaissance painting, modern photographs, animation and in many more forms. Current techniques are limited mostly to photographs, they do not generalise well to other depictive forms. You will develop deep learning techniques to recognise objects in a wide variety of artistic forms. These will include not just photographs and flat artwork, but bas relief, carvings on sarcophagi, and fully 3D sculptures. During your work, you will liaise with the British Museum and use their datasets.
You will join a vibrant team already using neural networks for style transfer, recognition of objects, and neural painting. The team is part of the Visual Computing group. The group is well organised with seminars, meetings, and social events. It is large enough to support two major centres (CDE and CAMERA), members publish regularly in top flight venues, and enjoy extensive collaborations with academia and industry (especially in the creative sector, games, films etc) both at home and overseas (China, Canada, Germany, Australia, and others).
The position will suit anyone with an interest in computer science, mathematics, and art. It demands strong background skills in coding and mathematics. You will be expected to publish papers, there will be opportunities to travel to conference.
Candidate requirements:
Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a First Class or good Upper Second Class Honours degree (or the equivalent) in a mathematical subject including but not limited to: mathematics, physics, engineering, computer science. A master’s level qualification would also be advantageous.
Non-UK applicants will also be required to have met the English language entry requirements of the University of Bath.
Enquiries and applications:
Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Prof Peter Hall, [Email Address Removed].
Formal applications should be made via the University of Bath’s online application form for a PhD in Computer Science.
More information about applying for a PhD at Bath may be found on our website.
Anticipated start date: 4 October 2021.
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