A recent report issued by the WWF states that there has been a catastrophic decline in wildlife population in recent years. A large number of species are threatened with extinction due to a number of factors. Further conservation efforts are still urgently required to ensure the survival of the remaining individuals. The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) and Stellenbosch University are looking to appoint a post-doctoral fellow to work in the area of deep learning and bioacoustics.
This fellowship aims at investigating deep learning models for passive acoustic monitoring of animal species. The fellow will research state-of-the-art techniques in deep learning and mathematics to address critical conservation problems. The fellow will develop software code for audio processing, and suitable deep neural networks, typically in TensorFlow or other libraries.
The fellow will work closely with Dr. Emmanuel Dufourq and the Machine Learning for Ecology Research Group. The fellow will work at AIMS South Africa which is located in the beautiful city of Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa. AIMS is located just a few meters from Muizenberg beach!
Requirements
- PhD in a relevant mathematical science (e.g. computer science, mathematics, …).
- Strong experience in deep learning (TensorFlow, PyTorch,…) and Python programming
- Clear evidence of completed deep learning projects in computer vision or audio tasks.
- Good mathematical and problem solving skills as the candidate will actively engage in this.
- A strong desire to apply machine learning to bioacoustics problems.
- Proven ability to publish in reputable peer-reviewed journals (Q1 or Q2 ranked, check ranking here).
- Strong communication skills (English written, oral, and presentation).
Application deadline: applications will be evaluated as they are received
Start date: immediately
For more information please see the full job advertisment here.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.
DISCLAIMER: AIMS South Africa reserves the right to disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications. AIMS also reserves the right not to make an appointment to the position as advertised. Only successful applicants will be contacted.
Resident Researcher in Machine Learning
The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) South Africa is looking to hire a skilled and motivated Machine Learning Researcher to join our team in Cape Town. The successful candidate will play a key role in developing innovative machine learning algorithms and models to analyze satellite imagery, Earth observation and remote sensing data (e.g. acoustic monitoring and camera traps). Use cases could include disease modelling and prediction, and wildlife monitoring tasks. Recent trends in deep learning open up large potential for impactful research by harnessing the vast data volumes related to Earth observation and remote sensing. The researcher will have a flexi-role: work closely with CLIMADE (https://climade.health/africa/) on projects related to climate change and the spread of vector borne disease, and contribute to research in machine learning for ecological tasks.
What we are looking for:
- Ph.D. in machine learning, computer science or related field.
- Experience in collecting and processing satellite data, e.g. Sentinel-2 or Landsat-8.
- A track record of research and scientific discovery, including publications related to deep learning.
- An ability to communicate research to scientific and public audiences.
- Experience in developing, debugging and publishing research code.
What you will do:
- You will lead and pursue a long-term ambitious research agenda related to machine learning using Earth observation data (focusing on arboviral diseases in Africa) or with remote sensing data (audio, camera traps).
- You will share research findings clearly and efficiently both internally at AIMS and externally to the research community and public, verbally and in writing.
- You will enjoy working in a multi-cultural pan-African environment, 50 metres away from Cape Town’s #1 surf spot.
If you love making connections between people and ideas, if you love starting new things, enjoy scientific freedom, and you are excited about the idea of advancing machine learning in Africa, then this job is for you. AIMS has a social mission. There are opportunities to participate in activities related to AIMS and the research centre.
Application process:
To apply, please e-mail the below documents in three pdf files to our recruitment team at: ml-positions@aims.ac.za:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Cover letter detailing your relevant experience and planned research agenda
- Proof of Ph.D. completion
There is no application deadline, and the position will be filled when a suitable candidate is found.
Questions about the position may be addressed to ml-positions@aims.ac.za.
DISCLAIMER: AIMS South Africa reserves the right to disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications. AIMS also reserves the right not to make an appointment to the position as advertised. Only successful applicants will be contacted.
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