PhD position at EURECOM

Title:      A new co-modal approach to biometrics
Department: Multimedia Communications
URL:        http://www.eurecom.fr/mm.en.htm
Start date: October 2010
Duration:   Duration of the thesis

Description: This PhD thesis aims to pioneer the next generation of multi-modal biometric systems. Most current multi-modal approaches operate at the score or decision levels and thus involve individual, parallel classifiers. The aim of this work is to develop a ‘co-modal’ approach to biometrics which better combines biometric traits from the outset, within the enrolment and/or modelling stage. Furthermore, as a semi-supervised approach to machine learning, co-training has the potential to acquire vast volumes of training data from only small manually labelled training sets and thus to bring significant improvements in multi-modal biometrics performance through improved modelling and normalisation strategies. As a fundamentally new and adventurous approach to biometric modelling, and the first to apply co-training to multi-modal biometrics, this research program is an ideal opportunity to undertake exciting, cutting edge PhD research at one of Europe’s premier research institutions. A highly competitive salary and benefits package is offered for the duration of the PhD.

Requirements: The position calls for a candidate with a strong Masters’ degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Computing Science or other relevant subject, ideally with some experience of signal processing, speech processing, image and video processing, pattern recognition or biometrics. You will be highly motivated to undertake challenging, applied research and have excellent English language speaking and writing skills. French language skills are a bonus.

Applications: Please send to the address below (i) your CV and (ii) contact details for two referees (preferably one from your final project supervisor) no later than 30th June 2010.

Contact:        Dr N. Evans and Prof. J-L. Dugelay
Postal address: 2229 Route des Crêtes BP 193, F-06904 Sophia Antipolis cedex, France

Email address: evans@eurecom.fr, dugelay@eurecom.fr
Web address:   http://www.eurecom.fr/main/institute/job.en.htm
Phone:         +33/0 4 93 00 81 14, +33/0 4 93 00 81 41
Fax:           +33/0 4 93 00 82 00

EURECOM is located in Sophia Antipolis, a vibrant science park on the French Riviera. It is in close proximity with a large number of research units of leading multi-national corporations in the telecommunications, semiconductor and biotechnology sectors, as well as other outstanding research and teaching institutions. A freethinking, multinational population and the unique geographic location provide a quality of life without equal.