PhD Studentship: Epsrc Case Award Scholarship with BBC Research and Development

Salary: £17, 226

Background:

The University of Bristol is a world leader in Vision Science and Engineering through its interdisciplinary Bristol Vision Institute. BVI brings together over 100 researchers across all aspects of vision related research including Engineering, Computer Science, Psychology, Biology, Medicine and the creative arts.

The University of Bristol and BBC R&D have a longstanding research relationship spanning many projects over the past 15 years. There is a strong tradition of researcher exchange and BBC R&D staff are located at the University. Most recently, collaboration has focused on new, more immersive, technologies for visual content acquisition, production, delivery, display and assessment. This has led to the establishment of a new Immersive Technology facility which is exploring the extended visual parameter space, embracing image formation, compression, format adaptation and quality assessment. This facility hosts a new subjective assessment suite, HDR, HFR and high resolution displays, eyetrackers as well as a professional edit suite and a range of HDR, HFR and HR cameras including the Red Epic.

The Project:

The student will carry out research into the implications of capture, delivery and display of visual content in an extended parameter space - at frame rates significantly higher than are currently used (around 100-300Hz), at high resolution and at high dynamic range. Together these have the potential of delivering the next generation of immersive visual experiences. Issues such as the visibility of noise as a function of display rate, the implications for this in the design or optimisation of coding systems and the bit depth required, also need to be investigated. The results of this work will inform discussions on standardisation of future video formats, and will also influence future developments in video coding, cameras and displays. The project will further consider the interactions between content type, frame rate, spatial resolution, signal dynamic range and viewing environment.

This project will primarily relate to research across electronic engineering, visual perception and computer science. It will commence in September 2013 with funding available for 3.5 years. The project will involve close collaboration with BBC experts and offers significant opportunities for placements at BBC R&D.

Candidate Requirements:

Essential

• A 1st class honours degree in a relevant discipline.
• Highly motivated and able researcher

Desirable

• Enthusiasm to undertake leading edge research in visual information processing

Funding:

The appointed candidate will receive a full EPSRC studentship (£13,726 in 2013-14) supplemented by a CASE top-up of £3,500pa. The stipend is tax-free.

The full scholarship is only available to UK residents for funding reasons. See: http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/Pages/default.aspx for eligibility details.

How to Apply:

Applicants should apply through the University of Bristol online system. http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/pg-howtoapply

Please ensure that in the Funding section you tick “I would like to be considered for a funding award from the Department” and specify the title of the scholarship in the box below.

The deadline for applications is May 31 2013. 

Contacts:

For further information, please contact:

Professor David R. Bull FIET, FIEEE dave.bull@bristol.ac.uk