Shaping our society’s future

POSITION:

Research Associate in Character Animation and Virtual Humans- PULSE Research Group

Category:

A six-month employment contract will be offered, with the possibility of renewal based on performance and project requirements. The selected candidate will also have the opportunity to enroll as PhD candidates in the Depart. of Computer Science, University of Cyprus, under the supervision of Dr. Andreas Aristidou.

Location:

Nicosia, Cyprus

preferred start date:

January 2025 or as soon thereafter.

Application Deadline:

Remain open until the positions are filled.

No. of positions:

SALARY RANGE:

€28,000 - €45,000 (depending on the applicant qualifications)

ABOUT THE POSITION:

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Applications are invited from candidates who possess the necessary qualifications to fill one (1) full-time Research Associate position at the CYENS Centre of Excellence (the position could lead to a PhD degree at the University of Cyprus), to investigate in the field of "Character Animation and Virtual Humans". The CYENS CoE is focusing on multidisciplinary research in the greater area of interactive media and smart systems. It is a joint venture between the three public universities of Cyprus (University of Cyprus, Cyprus University of Technology, and Open University of Cyprus), the Max Planck Institute for Informatics, Germany, and University College London, United Kingdom, hosted by the Municipality of Nicosia. The Centre was set-up with seed funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017 (Teaming Phase 2) under grant agreement No. 739578. The successful candidate will join the PULSE Research Group to conduct research in computer graphics, character animation, extended reality, and artificial intelligence. The objective of this research is to offer: (a) novel solutions for overcoming the current limitations in character animation, and (b) essentials for future improvements in a wide range of ambitious and challenging projects using machine learning. Position holders are expected to conduct experimental research on computer graphics/character animation/extended reality, to collect and analyze experimental results, to conduct bibliographical review of the current literature, to publish/present their research results in prestigious international conferences and journals, and potentially to participate in the preparation of research and innovation proposals. We welcome applications from talented and motivated individuals with backgrounds in related fields such as Computer Science, Engineering, & Mathematics.

General Qualifications & Requirements:

Bachelor's degree and/or postgraduate degree in a relevant field (e.g., Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning) from an accredited institution.
Strong algorithmic background and computer programming skills (e.g., C/C++/Java/C#, Python) are a must.
Experience with development in Game Engines (e.g., Unity or Unreal) will be considered an advantage.
Knowledge of Computer Graphics and/or Computer Animation and/or Extended Reality technologies will be considered an advantage.
Knowledge of Artificial Intelligence, including Machine Learning and Deep Learning including the usage of relevant environments (e.g., Keras, Tensorflow, Pytorch, scikit-learn) will be considered an advantage.
Previous research experience and high impact research publications will be considered an advantage.
Language requirements: Excellent written and oral English-language skills will be required.

For non-EU applicants a work permit will be required

Profile of the ideal candidate:

A team player. 
Willing to learn.
Self-motivated with the ability to take initiative and work independently. 
Strong organizational, communication, presentation, and negotiation skills, having the ability to deal confidently and politely with enquiries.  
Very good analytical skills coupled with attention to detail.  
Dynamic, adaptable, hands-on and results driven.
High levels of commitment, energy, and drive.

BENEFITS:

Take advantage of this opportunity for your professional and personal development by being a part of our fast- growing Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence. A very attractive remuneration package will be offered to successful candidates according to their qualifications and experience, that it ranges between €28,000 - €45,000 for Research Associates. From this amount all legal employee contributions will be deducted.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

For full consideration, interested applicants should submit the following items via the online application form and mention the position they are applying for: “Application for Research Associate in Computer Graphics and/or Computer Animation”: Process for Research Associate:

A cover letter which clearly specifies 1) contact details, 2) employment availability date, 3) part-time or full-time availability
A detailed curriculum vitae in English.
Copies of academic transcripts
Description of their academic and research experiences as well as any relevant industrial / innovation / entrepreneurship experience, where applicable (500 words maximum).
Contact details of two University professors or one University professor and one industry referee who will provide the letters.
Two (2) representative publications (if applicable).
Two (2) representative innovation outcomes / products (if applicable).
A portfolio of projects (if applicable).
Personal website and/or Github page (if applicable).

Incomplete applications will not be accepted. In case you have previously applied for a post at CYENS CoE, a new application is required. For general enquiries, applicants may contact the HR Department of CYENS, Centre of Excellence at [email protected]. The applicants may address any technical or research related inquiries to Assoc. Prof. Andreas Aristidou ([email protected]).

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