Funded PhD opportunity in UK

Richard Polfreman rpolfreman [ à ] beeb.net

******** University of Hertfordshire Interfaculty Studentship
***********

We are offering a three-year full-time studentship leading to the
award of PhD, in the following subject area,
under the auspices of a collaboration between the Faculty of
Engineering and Computer Sciences, and the
Faculty for the Creative and Cultural Industries. To start: October
2007 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The Project
Audio and speech processing has been a field of active research at
the University of Hertfordshire over several years.
The work in this area has resulted in the development of effective
algorithms and methods for such applications
as voice biometrics, detection of speaker changes in audio, music
content analysis and characterisation, language
identification and audio indexation.

This project is concerned with vocal-based music information
retrieval. This is envisaged to involve investigations
into methods for the discrimination and indexation of vocal/
instrumental segments of music, segregation of
voice from music accompaniment, and artist identification. The
segregation of vocal segments can help extract
such useful information as melody for searching for a song in a given
database. It can also facilitate lyrics recognition.
In brief, the outcomes are expected to significantly enhance the
functionalities of music information management.

You should have at least an upper second-class degree in Electronic
Engineering, Computer Science or a related discipline.
Additionally, you should possess a working knowledge of digital
signal processing and C++. Having an MSc in a relevant
field and/or experience of statistical signal and audio/speech
processing will be advantageous.

The Studentship
The studentship will pay your fees and provide an annual stipend of
£12,600 (~ 18,128 Euros). Due to funding body restrictions
eligibility is limited to UK and EU citizens.

The successful candidates should normally hold at least a first or
upper second class honours degree
(or equivalent) from a recognised institution.

Further information Application
For further information on each project or an application form please
email research.studentships [ à ] herts.ac.uk

*********

The University of Hertfordshire is an ambitious and entrepreneurial
University. It offers excellence in teaching, learning and research
and puts students at the
heart of its activities. It is a model of a 21st Century university,
international, business-facing and business-like in approach - making
it distinctive in an ever
changing higher education environment.

The University of Hertfordshire is one of its region’s largest
employers with over 2,500 staff and a turnover of more than £160
million. With a student community
of over 24,000, including more than 2,000 international students from
over 85 different countries, the University has a global network of
over 100,000 alumni.
For more information, please visit http ://www.herts.ac.uk/