Research Fellow in Digital Music Interaction

About this role

You will design, develop, & evaluate novel music & human-computer interaction technologies that combine wearable motion capture technology & 3D prototyping. You will examine a range of design & fabrication approaches for physically prototyping tactile objects & develop algorithms for detecting interactions with these objects with hand-worn motion sensors. Additionally, you will develop & facilitate accessible user studies, workshops, & residencies to evaluate & co-design new interfaces with diverse participants, including Disabled musicians. You will publish your work at major music technology & human-computer interaction conferences & journals.

The successful candidate will be based in School of Computing & Creative Technologies at The University of the West of England, Bristol. They will join the Music Interaction & Computational Arts (MICA) Lab working on the UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) funded Future Leaders Fellowship "Sensing Music Interactions from the Outside-In: Accessible Innovation Fusing Wearable Technology & Physical Prototyping". The project will examine technologies & methods to support the co-design & development of bespoke & accessible digital musical instruments. Project partners include MiMU Gloves, x-io Technologies, Watershed, Drake Music & Billy & Andy’s Music School.

*Please attach to your application a 2-page research proposal for a project that will use wearable technologies to sense interaction with 3D prototyped objects & mechanisms. For more information see: www.micalab.org and/or contact tom.mitchell@uwe.ac.uk.

About you

We seek applications from enthusiastic individuals who are strongly motivated to help push the boundaries of research & technology in music & human-computer interaction. You will have excellent technical skills with research experience in one or more of the following areas: new interfaces for musical expression, human-computer interaction, sensor/signal processing and/or AI. Experience with creative 3D prototyping as well as designing & running accessible user studies, workshops & residencies to co-design & evaluate interactive systems is also desirable. You should have excellent communication skills, show a high level of initiative & be able to collaborate effectively with disabled & non-disabled colleagues & participants.

As a Research Fellow you will hold (or be close to completion of) a PhD in computer music, computer science, human-computer interaction, robotics, mechatronics, or other relevant field with a suitable publication track record. Equivalent knowledge & experience gained through alternative pathways is also welcomed.

Where is this role based?

Located within a multidisciplinary space called The Bridge, which is a cutting-edge creative technology facility funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council & the West of England Combined Authority. The Bridge is located on our lively Frenchay campus adjacent to the Centre for Print Research & Bristol Robotics Laboratory.

Why UWE Bristol?

We are one of the largest providers of Higher Education in the Southwest with 38,000 students & 4,000 staff from right across the globe. Based in Bristol, one of the UK’s most exciting & forward-thinking cities, we are regionally embedded & globally connected, with an established network of employer & academic partners.

We also support access to work applications & will work flexibility to identify & remove disabling barriers.

Further information

This is a 46 month (3 years 10 months) fixed-term post & is full-time working on a 1.0 FTE contract.

Full job information & job description is on the UWE vacancies page.

For informal enquiries please contact Prof. Tom Mitchell on 0117 328 3349 or email: tom.mitchell@uwe.ac.uk.

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