About CVC:
The Computer Vision Center (CVC) is a non-profit research center established in 1995 by the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). Its mission is to carry out cutting-edge research that has the highest international impact in the field of computer vision. It also promotes the transference of knowledge to industry and society.
Computer vision is an exciting research area and an omnipresent technology, essentially empowering machines with the sense of vision. The CVC is a successful marriage between knowledge and innovation. In addition to our cutting-edge scientific achievements, we have established lasting ties with industrial partners and created several spin-off companies.
Research area or group: NeuroComputational and Biological Vision Team (NeuroBiT)
Project: NeuroDeepBeauty – Neurons and Beauty: Learning the common bottom-up mechanisms of aesthetics and visual discomfort (Ref.: PID2020-118254RB-I00)
Description of group/project:
The NeuroComputation and Biological Vision Team (NeuroBiT) conducts fundamental, experimental and computational modelling research on the mechanisms of human visual perception, being at the frontier between Computational Neuroscience and Computer Vision. It addresses problems by combining both, computational modelling tools and psychophysical experimentation. Recent research lines of our members have been focused on the study of processes such as colour perception (categorisation, chromatic induction and colour constancy), visual discrimination, high dynamic range visualisation techniques; visual saliency, and applications to perceptual image compression and image quality. Most of our past research experience and background involves the development of high-level biologically-inspired computational models whose fundamentals are firmly grounded on psychophysical studies of human perception. Our present interest also includes the definition of biologically-plausible, mid-level architectures which simulate the network dynamic characteristics of the human visual cortex and the use of computational learning techniques to map the output of our models to complex phenomena. Our final objective is to apply our knowledge to solve important Computer Vision problems and provide some answers to medical and biological questions.
In this project, we study the relationship between computational algorithms and several perceptual processes such as visual aesthetics and visual discomfort (one of the triggers of migraines). This study uses both experimental data obtained from psychophysical experiments and computational simulation of the neuronal mechanisms of the Human Visual System.
Context and Mission:
The NeuroBit group at Computer Vision Center seeks applications to fill a junior software engineer position focused on psychophysical experiments on visual aesthetics and symmetry.
Main duties:
· Manage psychophysical experiments on visual perception of discomfortable stimuli. Generate MATLAB code for VISAGE visual card, manage calendars and perform psychophysical experiments with experimental subjects.
· Generate a visual database to be distributed on a crowsourcing online experiment for the study of visual aesthetics
Requirements:
· Education
o Engineering or similar Science degree.
o Master in any Scientific area (Comp. Sci, Maths, Physics, etc.)
 Essential Knowledge and Professional Experience
o Programming in Python
o Some experience on Vision Science / Human Visual System biology is desirable
o Some experience on computational modelling of Human Visual System is desirable
o Some experience on visual discomfort, is highly desirable
o Experience in psychophysical experiments on visual perception will be a plus
o Fluency in English
Competences
o The candidate must be an effective communicator, multitask, and work well on collaborative and interdisciplinary designs.
o Ability to think creatively.
o Ability to work independently and make decisions.
o Ability to take initiative, prioritize and work under set deadlines and pressure.
Conditions:
· The position will be located at Computer Vision Center (Campus Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
· We offer a full-time contract, a good environment, flexible working hours
· Duration: 3 months (December 2021 – February 2022)
· Annual gross salary: 16.074,00 euro, according to CVC labour categories.
· Starting date: December 1st 2021
Applications Procedure:
Applicants must submit their curriculum vitae through the CVC website application online form indicating offer code*: 20211117_ENG_NDB_2
*Important: it is imperative to indicate offer code; otherwise, application might not be processed.
Selection Procedure:
1. Pre-selection: determination of compliance with the minimum requirements of the offer.
2. Selection: assessment of the preselected candidates by scoring based on objective criteria.
3. Potential candidates will be contacted to set up an interview.
Application Deadline: 28 November, 2021
Project PID2020-118254RB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 funded by Spanish Government -Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI).
