Innovation Bursary Ph.D. Studentship: Speaking the 1641 Depositions

Post Title: Speaking the 1641 Depositions (Inter-disciplinary Ph.D. Studentship)
Post Status: Four years, fully-funded (EU and non-EU)
Discipline/School/Faculty: Centre for Language and Communication Studies / School of History
Closing Date: Until position is filled

This innovative project under the theme of "Digital Humanities and Sustainable Records" will attract candidates who are interested in independent and advanced research linking speech synthesis and important historical documents. It will involve application of advanced linguistic and statistical methods, using the latest tools and technologies, for the analysis and rendering into speech of large bodies of annotated historical text.

The project will last for four years. A stipend of €16,000 per year, research costs and coverage of fees, etc., will be offered.

Successful applicants will have a background in either history or computing. They will have keen analytical skills and will join a small team of researchers with similar interests in the way people speak and present information. They will be especially interested in expressing personality through speech synthesis, and in attempting to render historical texts in order to express character through the synthesised voices.

For further information: www.tcd.ie/Graduate_Studies/InnovationBursaries/

Successful candidates will have an excellent academic record such as a postgraduate qualification, or a II.1 or higher in a relevant primary degree.

Candidates are asked to apply online via PAC www.pac.ie/tcd with a covering letter, a full CV to include the names and contact details of 2 referees and academic transcripts.

Email contact for informal enquiries: Prof. Nick Campbel nick@tcd.ie or Prof. Jane Ohlmeyer ohlmeyej@tcd.ie

 

The Book of Kells - Analysis of Style and Design Through the Application of Techniques in Non-photorealistic Rendering

Post Title:  The Book of Kells - Analysis of Style and Design Through the Application of Techniques in Non-photorealistic Rendering (Inter-disciplinary Ph.D. Studentship)
Post Status: Four years, fully-funded (EU and non-EU)
Discipline/School/Faculty: History of Art / Computer Science
Closing Date: 12 August 2010

This multidisciplinary research project will tackle some long standing problems associated with the style and design of decoration within the Book through the use of digital media. Employing methods from the field of Non-photorealistic Rendering (NPR), specific stylistic and design features will be captured and analysed, with the aim of exploring geometrical patterns and compositions, colour palettes and material properties, as well as visceral mood and style. The aim is to place traditional methods of analysis employed by the art historian on a deeper, more objective and scientific basis. The project will provide an innovative approach to long standing problems, while at the same time giving the Book itself a new and more dynamic relevance in 21st century society.

The project will last for four years. A stipend of €16,000 per year, research costs and coverage of fees, etc., will be offered.

The technical challenges of the project fall within the fields of Computer Graphics and Image Processing, and may include:

• analysis and modelling of the styles, colours and techniques
• semi-automatic assisted segmentation of image elements
• accurate modelling of material and surface properties of the vellum and pigments
• procedural creation of original imagery and digital content themed on the styles of the book
• analysis and modelling of wear and weathering on the inks and vellum to simulate how the original print may have looked like.
• rendering imagery under varying simulated lighting conditions to simulate how the book was originally perceived upon creation (it is believed the pages were created by monks in severely under-lit conditions)
• development of techniques capable of facilitating collaborative, remote and online exploration that will reach and engage students and the general public

A student with at least an Upper Second Class Honours1 degree from a computer science background with experience in computer graphics, image processing or computer vision is sought, although applications will be considered from students from related areas with sufficient experience in programming. Students should have an interest in art history or art and some formal background in these areas and prior knowledge of the Book of Kells would be beneficial.

For further information: www.tcd.ie/Graduate_Studies/InnovationBursaries/

Candidates are asked to apply online via PACwww.pac.ie/tcd with a covering letter, a full CV to include the names and contact details of 2 referees and academic transcripts.

Email contact for informal enquiries: Dr. John Dingliana: John.Dingliana@scss.tcd.ie

 

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