Research Associate

Project Focus

We have one position available, ending 31/03/2027, across a range of activities but there is great scope for input in specific projects from candidates and the project is intended as a collaborative undertaking alongside the other half of our MyWorld team at the University of Bristol.

Topics of focus include:

• Beyond SMPL: Building Anatomically Accurate Digital Human Models
• Next generation virtual production with light-fields
• Creating data-driven 3D human representations that combine the fidelity of implicit models with explicit controls preferred by animators

The CAMERA Studio

As part of our recent expansion we are very excited about the opening of the new CAMERA studio which uniquely comprises four innovative capture stages as illustrated above:

1. Motion Capture Stage: Our marker based motion-capture facility is centred on 36 26MP Vicon Valkyrie cameras that can be used to capture highly detailed movement (e.g. individual fingers) as well as group interactions (many participants) in the large capture volume. We are interested in capturing truly realistic motion: this could be for training or validating markerless capture systems or biomechanical analysis. We have force-plates to capture ground-reaction forces and suspension harnesses to simulate constrained motion (e.g. movement under Lunar or Martian gravity).
2. Face/Body Light Stage and Photogrammetry Rig: The face capture system comprises a light-stage from Esper with 25MP cameras and high-speed lighting control. The photogrammetry rig allows us to perform body reconstructions, e.g. for creating avatars. Combined, they allow us to capture cinematic quality datasets, e.g. to investigate training data for automatic avatar creation and rig construction suitable for high-end visual effects.
3. 4D Volumetric Capture Stage: This new room scale stage allows for free-form 4D capture or lightfield capture using 48 24MP Emergent machine vision cameras. This will allow capture of high-quality, dynamic datasets and we are interested in using new view synthesis to provide virtual camera paths as well as new methods for artistic control and editing of volumetric data (e.g. allowing NERFs or similar to be used in immersive AR/VR productions or in visual effects).
4. Virtual Production Stage: This brand new 12m by 3m LED wall will allow us to develop the next generation of capture and editing tools for media production.

About You

In addition to working with the CAMERA centre in Bath, the MyWorld research project will include regular collaboration with researchers at the Universities of Bristol, Bath Spa and the West of England (UWE) including technical and creative collaborations. You will also join the vibrant Visual Computing and Machine Learning and AI groups at Bath. The VC group comprises around 30 doctoral students, 10 post-doctoral researchers and 8 academics and presents many opportunities for collaborative work and shared publications.

In addition to the standard duties of performing research and the dissemination of research through publications and demonstrations (e.g. SIGGRAPH, FMX and CVPR), you will also be expected to be involved in the supervision of project and PhD students as well as undertaking some teaching duties at undergraduate or graduate level.

Further Information

We are working to improve the gender balance within the department’s population and particularly welcome applications from women.
For an informal discussion relating to this vacancy, please contact Rebekah Hole at rih23@bath.ac.uk

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