research assistant Edinburgh, Scotland
Job description
Directorate: School of Engineering & Physical Sciences
Grade: Grade 7 (£35,308 - £43,155)
Contract Type: Full Time (1FTE), Fixed Term 12 Months
Rewards and Benefits: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday) for all full time staff. Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
Detailed Description
We are looking for outstanding candidates with a PhD in electrical engineering, applied mathematics, physics, computer science, or a related discipline.
The ideal candidates will have expertise in computational imaging, with
- a theory focus (algorithms for image reconstruction, including calibration and uncertainty quantification), with particular interest in deep learning, optimisation, or Bayesian sampling methods.
and/or
- an application focus (from astronomical to medical imaging, specifically radio-astronomical, magnetic resonance, or ultrasound imaging), including simulation work and real data processing.
Competence in specific methodological frameworks such as plug-and-play methods, or specific applications such as Very Long Baseline Interferometry and black hole imaging in astronomy, or low field magnetic resonance imaging in medicine is of particular interest.
The postdoctoral researchers will be committed to cutting-edge research for precision robust scalable computational imaging, under the supervision of Prof.Wiaux and in collaboration with UoE, EPFL, Paris-Saclay, Caltech, SARAO, SKAO, Siemens, etc.
The positions are initially for 1 year, and renewable for up to 3 years, depending on research progress. HWU offers attractive salaries, accounting for experience and excellence criteria.
The start date for the positions is flexible until March 2024.
Outstanding candidates are also welcome to propose their own research project in the broad context of computational imaging.
Upon outstanding performance, postholders can be granted opportunities for secondments in a partner institution and/or to co-supervise a PhD student.
A secondary affiliation UoE may be offered to candidates with the appropriate profile.
Expressions of interest and other queries should be sent by email to Prof. Wiaux ( [email protected] ). Applications should consist of a single PDF (including a motivation letter, CV, publication list, and names of 3 references) and be submitted via the Heriot-Watt Job Portal.
The screening of candidates will start in May 2023 and continue until the positions are filled.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
The post holder is required to
- Develop cutting-edge research (incl. publications) in collaboration with the team.
- Work as part of a team.
- Contribute, under supervision, to the planning of research projects.
- Contribute to outreach activities.
- Participate to teaching and supervision duties.
Education, Qualifications and Experience
Essential Criteria
- PhD: Hold a PhD in a relevant area (or be about to).
- Area of Expertise: Computational imaging research (theory/application; including good programming skills)
- Motivation: Energy and enthusiasm for the project.
- Experience of work environment: Experience of working in a multi-cultural work environment; ability to work as part of a team; Evidence of ability to present work effectively in person, e.g. in a team, or with a wider network.
- Publication record: Appropriate publication record; Experience in writing peer-reviewed papers in international journals.
- Presentation and communication skills: Ability to articulate research work by oral presentation; Experience in public presentations of scientific results (e.g. conference talks).
- Evidence of research ability: capability to be self-directed and think innovatively.
- Supervision: Experience of research-student supervision.
Desirable Criteria
- Demonstrated excellence in several of the essential criteria
About our Team
The Biomedical and Astronomical Signal Processing group ( BASP ) at Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh ( HWU ), headed by Professor Yves Wiaux, is recruiting, jointly with the University of Edinburgh ( UoE ) and the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne ( EPFL ), multiple postdoctoral researchers for research on computational imaging.
The BASP group is developing cutting-edge research on all aspects of computational imaging, from theory and algorithms to applications in astronomy and medicine. Dr Wiaux is a Professor in the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences at HWU. He is also Honorary fellow at the UoE School of Informatics, and Academic Guest at the EPFL Signal Processing Laboratories.
The positions are open in the context of large research projects funded by the UK Research Councils, aiming to develop a new generation of computational imaging algorithms at the interface of deep learning, optimisation, and Bayesian sampling. The algorithms are intended to deliver simultaneously precision (i.e. enabling high resolution and dynamic range imaging), robustness (i.e. including calibration and uncertainty quantification functionalities), and scalability (i.e. able to handle unprecedented image sizes and data volumes). On one hand, algorithms will be designed for radio astronomy and validated beyond Terabyte image size, based on dedicated high performance computing implementations. On the other hand, algorithms will be designed for magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging in medicine.
The projects are led by Prof. Wiaux and supported by a unique team of international partners: Prof. Pesquet from the Digital Vision Centre at Université Paris-Saclay ( CentraleSupelec ), Prof. Thiran from the EPFL Signal Processing Laboratories, Mr Jackson at the UoE Parallel Computing Centre ( EPCC ), Prof. Smirnov from the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory ( SARAO ), Dr Bouman and Prof. Hallinan from the California Institute of Technology ( Caltech ), Prof. Laing from the International Square Kilometre Array Organisation ( SKAO ), and Dr Neji from Siemens Healthineers UK .
A multi-disciplinary team of researchers is being recruited, spanning all aspects of computational imaging, from theory to application.
How to Apply
Please submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing your interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV
At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.
Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.
Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.
Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/ .
We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.
Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and leading-edge, relevant research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for innovation, business and industry.
Heriot-Watt University has five campuses: three in the UK (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney), one in Dubai and one in Malaysia. The University offers a highly distinctive range of degree programmes in the specialist areas of science, engineering, design, business and languages. Heriot-Watt University is also Scotland's most international university, boasting the largest international student cohort.
