[alife] PhD - Image Recognition and Neural Networks

[Rick Stafford]

Research studentship: Faculty of Applied Sciences - University of  
Gloucestershire



RESEARCH TOPIC: Citizen Science for Conservation: New Directions for  
Local and Global Approaches



Applications are invited for a three year research studentship  
(£13,590 pa plus tuition fees) to undertake a PhD at the University of  
Gloucestershire.  The studentship is part of a successful University  
of Gloucestershire research award to Biosciences to develop novel  
approaches to conservation using citizen scientists.  The research  
student will be based at the University of Gloucestershire’s FCH  
Campus, although collaboration with, and travel to, other Universities  
in the UK will be required.



The work will use photographic records submitted to social network  
sites (Facebook, Flickr etc.), which will be used to produce  
distribution maps of species of UK butterfly, and also track the  
movements of individuals of specific species (e.g. manta rays,  
cheetahs and Bewick’s swans). The uploaded photographs will be either  
accompanied by GPS coordinates, or ‘geotagged’ on internet-based  
interactive maps (i.e. Yahoo! maps or Google maps). Preliminary work  
has already been undertaken by the supervisory team, involving  
tracking and monitoring the distribution of bumble bees, which can be  
accessed here:



http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0014381



The studentship is available to conduct aspects of the following  
research:

1)     development of computerised automatic recognition systems for  
individuals, based on unique patterns (species to be included are  
manta rays, cheetahs and Bewick’s swans) and/or development of  
automatic recognition systems for species within a specified taxonomic  
group (UK butterflies). Recognition systems will be based around  
neural network processing of uploaded images.

2)     managing social networks, recruitment of volunteers,  
collecting, processing and disseminating ecological data and  
development of statistical processes for spatial data analysis – with  
consideration of the role of ‘presence only’ data.



Depending on the successful applicant, the focus of the studentship is  
likely to focus predominantly on one of the two points above.



The studentship will be supervised by Dr Anne Goodenough and Dr Adam  
Hart (University of Gloucestershire) and Dr Rick Stafford (University  
of Bedfordshire).  It is anticipated that the position will commence  
1st October 2011.



The Faculty would welcome applications from individuals who have the  
following qualifications, interests or experiences:



·       first or upper second class (or equivalent) degree in a  
related subject area (e.g., Biology, Ecology, Computer Science,  
Mathematics);

·       the applicant to have demonstrable interests and some  
experience in the other area to their degree (e.g. either in computer  
science for graduates in biology or in biology for graduates in  
computing or mathematics);

·       experience of social networking sites, especially for  
marketing or data collection purposes.



Application forms can be downloaded here or obtained from the  
Postgraduate Research Centre, University of Gloucestershire, Francis  
Close Hall Campus, Swindon Road, Cheltenham, GL50 4AZ; researchadmin at glos.ac.uk 
.  Applications should be submitted to the above address or email and  
accompanied by an Equal Opportunities form and evidence (scan,  
photocopy) of your bachelor/master’s degrees.

Please note that instead of a 2 page research proposal detailed on the  
application form, you should provide a 2 page supporting statement on  
the experience you have that will help you complete a research degree  
in the topic area.

For further information about the nature of the position please  
contact Dr Anne Goodenough (aegoodenough at glos.ac.uk) – for mainly  
ecological enquiries or Dr Rick Stafford (richardstafford1 at mac.com)  
for mainly computer-based enquiries before Wednesday 1st June 2011.

Closing date for receipt of applications: Friday 3rd June 2011

Interviews will take place at the University of Gloucestershire in  
June or July 2011


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