Research Fellow in Pattern Recognition Job in Wageningen, Netherlands

Noldus Information Technology (www.noldus.com) is a leading developer of software and instrumentation for the study of human and animal behavior. We are specialists in behavioral observation, video analysis, computer vision, signal analysis, sensor fusion and pattern recognition. Our tools are used in psychology, neuroscience, human factors and consumer science, and many other fields. Our clients include more than 6.300 universities, research institutes and companies in over 85 countries. We currently employ 130 people, spread over our headquarters in Wageningen, The Netherlands and branch offices across Europe, North America and China. Our company culture is based on enthusiasm, a proactive attitude, and customer satisfaction and we strongly believe that the success of our business is related to the dedication of our employees.

Research Fellow in Pattern Recognition Job Description

The PhenoRat project
We have an immediate opening for a research fellow in the field of Machine learning/pattern recognition. The project concerns the automated identification and tracking of rats in a social context and recognition of individual and social behavior. This position has been opened in the framework of “PhenoRat”, a European research and training program (Marie Curie EID). PhenoRat will focus on the generation, characterisation and validation of transgenic rat models of two neurodegenerative diseases: Huntington disease and Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 17 .We have assembled a unique consortium in which industry, academia and a university-related foundation for entrepreneurship will work closely together to achieve both organization of an excellent training program and performance of excellent research projects with a pronounced focus on inter-sectoral doctoral education and transfer of knowledge. In this part of the project we will investigate and develop novel methods and techniques for the tracking and analysis of rat social behavior. Rats will be group-housed in the PhenoTyper, with infrared illumination and a ceiling-mounted video camera, controlled by EthoVision software. The system continuously computes position, body orientation and behavior of each animal in each image, as well as responses to interactive stimulus devices mounted in the cage. The aim is to develop algorithms/software for detection and recognition of individual and social behaviors of rats.

Research Fellow position
Within this project we are looking for a research fellow to be employed at Noldus Information Technology bv in Wageningen, The Netherlands.
The research fellow (called within the project 2012-PHENP4) will develop machine learning or pattern recognition algorithms/software for the recognition of social behavior.
 
Testing, validation and improvements of the system will be done in cooperation with Delta Phenomics bv (The Netherlands) and the University of Tüebingen (Germany) using two novel transgenic rat models.
 
The research fellows will work within the Research & Development department of Noldus Information Technology bv in Wageningen for the first approx. 24 months. The remaining time the research fellows will work at the University of Tüebingen in Tüebingen, Germany. Scientific supervision for the total length of the project will be provided by Prof. dr. Remco Veltkamp and Prof. dr. Berry Spruijt of the Utrecht University, where the research fellow will be enrolled as a Ph.D. student.

Research Fellow in Pattern Recognition Job Requirements

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• University degree (M.Sc. level) in computer science, biomedical engineering or electronic engineering with knowledge of machine learning or pattern recognition techniques.
• Substantial knowledge of mathematics, statistics and informatics, as well as computer programming (e.g. Matlab, C++, C#, Java). We will provide additional training in software engineering and application development.
• You must be willing to move to The Netherlands for the first part of the project and to Germany for the second part of the project. You are a creative, pro-active and a driven person who is able to work independently.
• You are flexible, enthusiastic and willing to set your mind into accomplishing the mission.
• The successful candidate will be associated with the University Utrecht as a Ph.D. student.

• The candidate has not yet been awarded the doctorate degree and is still within the first four years (full-time equivalent) of his/her career in research (i.e. after completion of university education), at the time of appointment.
• The candidate must not have resided or carried out research in The Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to recruitment.
• The candidate will be employed as an Early Stage Researcher in this prestige Marie Curie project, with excellent employment conditions like a very good salary and many benefits (allowances for travel, mobility and education) in accordance with the Marie Curie guidelines for ESR fellows.
• The duration of employment will be three years.

Research Fellow in Pattern Recognition Application Information

Please contact our R&D Manager, Mr. Herman Roosken (phone +31-317-473300) if you have any questions about this position. For more information on Noldus Information Technology bv, please visit www.noldus.com.

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Research Fellow in Pattern Recognition Summary

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