Research Fellow in Perceptual Audio Evaluation

Research Fellow in Perceptual Audio Evaluation

http://jobs.surrey.ac.uk/012217

University of Surrey, UK

Salary:  GBP 31,076 to GBP 38,183 per annum

Closing Date: 14 March 2017

Reference: 012217

Applications are invited for a Research Fellow in Perceptual Audio Evaluation to work full-time on an EPSRC funded project "Musical Audio Repurposing using Source Separation" from 1 April 2017 to 31 January 2018. This project is tackling the challenge of high quality musical audio repurposing, focussing on soloing, desoloing, remixing and upmixing. The project is investigating new methods for musical audio source separation, in parallel with investigating new perceptual evaluation measures for audio source separation.

The candidate will be responsible for perceptually evaluating the results of musical audio separation and repurposing. This will involve preparing and conducting subjective experiments, analysing the results, and comparing these with extant metrics and perceptual models. The candidate will make use of the resulting data to either refine or develop new metrics or perceptual models to aid the development and evaluation of musical source separation and repurposing algorithms.

The successful applicant will have undertaken doctoral level research in experimental/applied psychoacoustics or similar and will have expertise in psychoacoustics, with an understanding of factors likely to be related to source separation and audio repurposing. Skills in and experience of the following are essential: the design and execution of listening-based subjective experiments; and statistical analysis and modeling. Also essential are strong writing skills for audiences of varying levels of technical expertise, and the ability to work independently and manage time effectively. A background in programming in one or more of Max/MSP, PureData, Python, C++ and/or MATLAB will be an advantage. Specific skills in source separation and audio repurposing and the development of related perceptual models will also be an advantage, as will academic publications in a relevant area.

The project is led by Prof Mark Plumbley in the Machine Audition Lab of the Centre for Vision Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP), and this post will be jointly supervised by Dr Russell Mason in the Institute of Sound Recording (IoSR).

CVSSP is one of the largest groups of its type in the UK, with over 120 active researchers working in the areas of vision, image processing, and audio, and a grant portfolio of over £12M. The Centre has state-of-the-art acoustic capture and analysis facilities enabling research into audio source separation, music transcription and spatial audio, and video and audio capture facilities supporting research in real-time video and audio processing and visualisation. The IoSR is a leading centre for research in psychoacoustic engineering, as well as being home to the Tonmeister undergraduate degree programme. It has a focused team of 12 researchers, plus several industrial collaborators, and a range of professional facilities of the highest standards, including three recording studios and an ITU-R BS 1116 standard critical listening room.

Informal enquires are welcome, to: Dr Russell Mason (r.mason@surrey.ac.uk) or Prof Mark Plumbley (m.plumbley@surrey.ac.uk).

For more information on the job and how to apply, visit http://jobs.surrey.ac.uk/012217