PhD Position on Neuro-Symbolic Modelling of Music (Durham, UK)

[Robert Lieck]

Dear ISMIR Community,

I am happy to announce a funded PhD position on neuro-symbolic modelling of music at Durham University (UK). The project is about combining deep learning with structured/symbolic methods (artificial grammars, graphical models, etc.) to address fundamental challenges in machine learning and music analysis.

More details can be found here and below. Please distribute to anyone who might be interested.

Many thanks!

Best wishes,
Robert

(apologies for cross-posting)

--
Dr Robert Lieck (he/him)
Assistant Professor
Department of Computer Science
Durham University
robert...@durham.ac.uk

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More information can be found here.

This funded PhD position is about developing novel algorithmic tools for music analysis using deep learning and structured/symbolic methods. It will combine approaches from computational musicology, image analysis, and natural language processing to advance the state of the art in the field.

Music analysis is a highly challenging task for which artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) is lagging far behind the capabilities of human experts. Solving it requires a combination of two different model types: (1) neural networks and deep learning techniques to extract features from the input data and (2) structured graphical models and artificial grammars to represent the complex dependencies in a musical piece. The central goal of the project is to leverage the synergies from combining these techniques to build models that achieve human-expert level performance in analysing the structure of a musical piece.

You will get:

• the chance to do your PhD at a world-class university and conduct groundbreaking research in machine learning and artificial intelligence
• the opportunity to work on an interdisciplinary project with real-world applications in the field of music
• committed supervision and comprehensive training (regular one-on-one meetings, ample time for discussion, detailed feedback, support in your scientific development, e.g., presentation skills, research methodology, scientific writing etc.)
• a stimulating, diverse, and supportive research environment (as member of the interdisciplinary AIHS group)
• the opportunity to publish in top journals, attend international conferences, and build a network of collaborations

You should bring:

• enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research in artificial intelligence and music
• an open mind-set and creative problem-solving skills
• a solution-oriented can-do mentality
• a desire to understand the structure of music and its inner workings
• a good command of a modern programming language (preferably Python) and familiarity with a modern deep learning framework (e.g. PyTorch)
• a strong master degree (or equivalent) with a significant mathematical or computational component
  

If you are interested, please send an email with your CV and a short informal motivation to Robert Lieck robert...@durham.ac.uk for initial discussions.

Important Note: We are looking to fill this position as soon as possible (the position is still open as long as it is advertised) and are accepting applications on a rolling basis. The preferred start date is October 2022 (new academic year). We would particularly like to encourage applications from women, disabled, Black, Asian and other minority ethnic candidates, since these groups are currently underrepresented in our area.