DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

FURTHER INFORMATION PACK

 

 

 

JOB DESCRIPTION

 

Job Title:                  Research Associate (Ref: SA/120)

 

Department:            Computer Science

(For further information regarding the department and an outline of current research projects in the department please visit our website at http://www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/  Information on UCL can be found at www.ucl.ac.uk )

 

Research Group:   Vision and Imaging Science

 

Reports to:               Professor Simon Arridge (Principal Investigator)

 

Grade:                       7

 

Project Description:          The overall objective of the project is the development of fast, robust reconstruction methods for optical tomography incorporating i) approximation error and model reduction using Bayesian methods ii) structural and statistical priors for multimodality imaging.

 

Funding Body:       EPSRC

 

Main Purpose:        To coordinate and direct research activity for UCL Vision and Imaging Science Group in respect of the EPSRC Project EP/E034950/1 Parameter and Structure Identification in Optical Tomography

 

The Research Associate will be responsible for carrying out research in application of numerical and mathematical methods for image reconstruction of diffuse optical tomography data, arising from the UCL time-resolved measurement system (MONSTIR) and other collaborators in Europe and the USA.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

 

To contribute to the design of a range of experiments in relation to the Parameter and Structure Identification in Optical Tomography project.

 

  • To collect and analyse data from the project collaborators and report results to the principal investigator.

 

  • To be involved in a range of theoretical work, software development and empirical activities.

 

 

  • To set up and run empirical activities (to include data collection, experiments, program building etc) in consultation with the Principal Investigator, ensuring that experiments are appropriately supervised and supported.  To record, analyse and write up the results of experiments in a timely fashion.

 

  • To contribute to the planning and documentation of the project.

 

  • To prepare and present findings of research activity to colleagues for review purposes.

 

  • To represent the project at workshops and conferences.

 

  • To contribute to the drafting and submitting of papers to appropriate peer reviewed journals and conferences.

 

  • To prepare progress reports on research for funding bodies as required.

 

  • To contribute to the preparation and drafting of research bids and proposals.

 

  • To develop suitable relevant web pages.

 

  • To contribute to the overall activities of the research team and department as required.

 

  • To undertake teaching as requested by the department.

 

  • To supervise project students if requested.

 

  • To periodically record your skills training and continuing professional development activities on UCL’s web-based system.

 

  • Responsible for ensuring that equipment is safe and maintained in working order and that work complies with departmental security policy.

 

  • As duties and responsibilities change, the job description will be reviewed and amended in consultation with the postholder.

 

  • The postholder will carry out any other duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job as requested by the line manager or Head of Department.

 

  • The postholder will actively follow UCL policies including Equal Opportunities and Race Equality policies.

 

  • The postholder will maintain an awareness of and observe Fire and Health & Safety Regulations.

 

 

Personal Development

 

The Principal Investigator(s) acknowledge the responsibility for guiding and assisting the Research Associate in their professional development.  The Research Associate will be given time for personal studies, preparation of research papers and presentation of papers at conferences so that they have time to qualify themselves for a permanent academic post.  The Research Associate might also be permitted to consult in industry should opportunities arise and be appropriate.  UCL also has an excellent Organisational and Staff Development service that offers a variety of different courses.

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

 

Essential Criteria:

 

  1. A PhD or equivalent in a field of medical image computing;

 

  1. The postholder must be able to demonstrate both competence and experience in research, the ability to devise innovative solutions to real-world problems, as well as the application of knowledge and scientific methodology, as evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences;

 

  1. The  ability to communicate effectively with peers, to work independently and exercise judgement, and to be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities of research;

 

  1. The ability to work independently and as a member of a multi-disciplinary team and to work to deadlines;

 

  1. A high level of proficiency in scientific computing using C/C++, Java, or another widely used high-level programming language.

 

 

Desirable Criteria:

 

  1. Experience in one or more of the following areas : near infrared optical imaging or other soft-field tomographic techniques such as EIT or microwave tomography, multimodality imaging, non-linear image reconstruction, Bayesian methods, inverse problems, finite element methods, boundary element methods, regularisation, parallel programming on multicore processors and clusters, acceleration of algorithms on graphics hardware (GPUs);

 

  1. A good understanding of the principles and practice of diffuse optical tomography;

 

  1. Experience in using Matlab or equivalent mathematical software;

 

  1. Experience in development of released software including, demos, examples, tutorials and documentation;

 

  1. Evidence of the ability to supervise students and junior research staff;

 

  1. Experience of working with experimentalists.

 

 

Knowledge – including Qualifications

 

  • A PhD in a in a field of medical image computing

 

  • Knowledge of research techniques and methodologies

 

Skills

 

  • Research skills (theoretical and empirical, planning and documentary)

 

  • Ability to analyse and write up data

 

  • Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences

 

  • Effective written and verbal communication skills

 

  • Excellent organisational skills

 

  • Ability to work to deadlines whilst maintaining accuracy and an eye for detail

 

Experience

 

  • Experience of working in a research environment is desirable

 

  • Experience of the following languages:  C or C++, Matlab

 

Publication Record

 

The successful applicant should have a publication record as first or strongly contributing author in key medical imaging journals such as Neuroimage, IEEE Transactions of Medical Imaging, Medical Physics or Physics in Medicine and Biology and/or in key methods journals relevant to their research such as Physics Review Letters, Journal of Optical Society of America, Inverse Problems. The applicant should have experience of presentation at multi-national conferences such as SPIE, ISBI, IEEE, AAPM, ISMRM.

 

Personal Qualities

 

  • Commitment to high quality research

 

  • Ability to work collaboratively and as part of a team in a research community

 

  • Ability to work unsupervised

 

  • Applicants should be self-motivated and able to use their initiative

 

  • Commitment to UCL’s policy of equal opportunity and the ability to work harmoniously with colleagues and students of all cultures and backgrounds

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

 

Salary

The post is graded as a Research Grade 7, the salary for which ranges from £28,839 to £35,469 (excluding London Allowance of £2,781).

 

Progression through the salary scale is incremental, with staff moving to the next point on the scale on 1st August each year, until they reach the top point, which for Grade 7 is point number 36.  Please note however that, should 1st August fall within your probation period, you would not receive an automatic increment that year.

 

Cost of living pay awards are negotiated nationally and are usually effective from 1st August each year.

The current salary scale can be found on the HR web pages at: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/salary_scales/final_grades.php

 

Probation

Appointments are subject to receipt of satisfactory references and a probationary period of 9 months.

 

Hours of work

Full time hours for Research staff average 36.5 hours per week and times of work are as determined by the Head of Department.

 

Term

Until 31 October 2010 in the first instance.

 

Holidays

Annual leave is 27 working days for a full time member of staff.

UCL also closes for a period at Christmas and Easter, at which times staff benefit from a total of 6 ‘closure days’ in addition to Bank Holidays.

 

Pension

The postholder will be eligible to join the Universities Superannuation Scheme (subject to the Scheme’s rules and regulations), which is a final salary scheme with a current employee contribution rate of 6.35% and an employer contribution rate of 14% of salary.

 

Season Ticket Loans

A season ticket loan is available to staff who have successfully completed their probationary period with the facility to repay through a monthly deduction from salary.

 

Other Benefits

Other benefits of joining UCL as a staff member are many and include:

 

·               Access to an extensive range of in-house staff development opportunities. Staff have full use of the UCL libraries and UCL operates a Study Assistance Scheme for those undertaking part-time work-related study.

 

·               An excellent location for transport networks being near Euston, Kings Cross and St. Pancras stations and a choice of underground stations connected to London’s other mainline stations.  A wide range of bus routes serves the area.

 

·               UCL lies in Bloomsbury, just north of Oxford Street, Covent Garden and the heart of the West End with access to shops, theatres, cinemas, bars and restaurants. UCL also has its own 550 seat West End arts venue (Bloomsbury Theatre) which hosts drama, dance, music, debates and lectures during the year.

 

·               The main campus has subsidised cafeterias/bars and shops, gym, hairdresser and a travel agent. UCL staff can also benefit from corporate membership at a Tottenham Court Road gym.

 

Further information on benefits, terms and conditions can be found at www.ucl.ac.uk/hr

 

 

APPLICATIONS

 

Applications for research posts are by CV (in pdf format) which must include the following:

 

  • education history
  • details of current or most recent employer (name and address of current organization, job title, salary and duties)
  • details of previous employment
  • details of two referees (one of which should be your current employer)
  • list of publications
  • details of membership of any professional organizations
  • how the applicants’ knowledge, skills, and abilities meet the job requirements

 

For this position, applicants are asked to include a statement of intended research strategy and aims.

 

Applicants must also complete and return with their CVs the Information Sheet and Equal Opportunities Classification form found at:

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/docs/download_forms/recruitment_selection_I.doc

 

References will be taken up for all short-listed candidates. A reference will be required from your immediate employer for the person appointed. If you would prefer that we did not contact your employer at the initial stage of interviews please state this clearly in your application and provide the name/address of an alternative referee.

 

Completed applications (CV, Statement of Research Strategy, Equal Opportunities Classification Form and Information sheet) should be e-mailed to Miss Lynette Hothi at l.hothi@cs.ucl.ac.uk quoting reference ‘SA/120’ in the subject line.

 

The closing date for applications is Friday, 20th February 2009.

 

We regret that due to administration costs we are only able to respond to applicants whom we wish to interview. If you have not heard from us within one month after the closing date please assume you have been unsuccessful in your application for this post.

 

Travel costs will be reimbursed for all interviewees, up to the equivalent of the most economical train/air fare available from the point of entry to the UK.