PhD student position in Computer Vision

At the Department of Signals and Systems, we conduct internationally renowned research in biomedical engineering, antenna systems, signal processing, image analysis, automatic control, automation, mechatronics, and communication systems.
We offer a dynamic and international research environment with about 150 employees from more than 20 countries, and with extensive national and international research collaborations with academia, industry and society.
The department provides more than 70 courses, of which most are included in the Master’s Programs ”Biomedical Engineering”, ”Systems, Control and Mechatronics”, and ”Communication Engineering”.

Read more at www.chalmers.se/en/departments/s2


Information about the research group
The Computer Vision Group conducts research in the field of automatic image interpretation. The group targets both medical applications, such as the development of new and more effective methods and systems for analysis, support and diagnostics, as well as general computer vision applications including autonomously guided vehicles, image-based localization, stereo and structure-from-motion. The main research problems include mathematical theory, algorithms and machine learning (deep learning) for inverse problems such as reconstruction, segmentation and registration.

Information about the project
The development of computer vision, machine learning and robotics has come a long way but there remains a lot of work to merge the technologies into a functioning integrated system to give us truly smart robots. The use of robotic computer vision today is limited to very specific scenarios or controlled laboratory environments. In the interdisciplinary project Semantic Mapping and Visual Navigation for Smart Robots, which recently has received funding from the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, we rely on expertise from computer vision, machine learning, automatic control and optimization in order to take the current state-of-the-art in autonomous systems to the next level of perception, cognition and navigation, and towards key capabilities of robots able to effectively act in the real world.

For demonstration, the project will develop an autonomous system for the visual inventory inspection of a supermarket using small-scale, low-cost quadcopters. The system will provide a complete solution for visual navigation and 3D mapping where not only scene geometry is modelled, but also semantic constraints are integrated. The research is relevant for many industrial applications, such as self-driving cars, unmanned ground vehicles, scene modeling and inspection in general.

The research will be focused on mathematical tools appropriate for the above challenge. We have previously worked a lot on geometric reconstruction methods and this will form the basis for the new project. Another relevant example from our current research is the development of mathematical models and optimization methods for Markov Random Fields (MRFs) in combination with Deep Learning. This will be key in order to combine geometry and semantics within a single, joint framework.

Major responsibilities
Your major responsibilities are to pursue your own doctoral studies. You are expected to develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing, both in Swedish and in English. The position generally also includes teaching on Chalmers' undergraduate level or performing other duties corresponding to 20 per cent of working hours.

Position summary
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of five years.

Qualifications
To qualify as a PhD student, you must have a master's level degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education credits in a relevant field (physics, mathematics or computer science).

The position requires sound verbal and written communication skills in Swedish and English. If Swedish is not your native language, you should be able to teach in Swedish after two years. Chalmers offers Swedish courses.

Chalmers continuously strives to be an attractive employer. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application deadline: 16 August 2016

 

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. *** 
   



Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, technology-related mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society. The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our eight Areas of Advance; Built Environment, Energy, Information & Communication Technology, Life Science, Materials Science, Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!