Friday, May 30, 2025

Fwd: [DMRN-LIST] AURORA³ announcement and Research Engineer job opportunity (deadline 18 June 2025)



---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Enzo De Sena <00007eea1c298d8e-dmarc-request@jiscmail.ac.uk>
Date: Fri, 30 May 2025 at 15:57
Subject: [DMRN-LIST] AURORA³ announcement and Research Engineer job opportunity (deadline 18 June 2025)
To: <DMRN-LIST@jiscmail.ac.uk>


Dear Digital Music Research Network, (Apologies for cross-posting!)

I am writing to share two pieces of news.

First, we secured funding from EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) to build new acoustic research infrastructure. AURORA³ (Anechoic and Universal Research Observation Rooms for Audio, Acoustics, and AI) will incorporate a state-of-the-art anechoic chamber equipped with a spherical loudspeaker array and a variable acoustics room combining adjustable wall panels and a moving wall system, enabling both room volume and reverberation times to be controlled.

The aim is to provide precisely controlled acoustic conditions for fast, accurate and reproducible physical and perceptual data collection. This is valuable, for instance, in machine/deep learning research, where large, high-quality, and diverse datasets captured under realistic conditions are important to build effective models.

AURORA³ is UK National Strategic Infrastructure, but it will be accessible to researchers worldwide, from both industry and academia. In addition to welcoming on-site visits, we also plan to support remote collaborations by conducting certain experiments on behalf of external researchers. If this sounds relevant to you, please follow our LinkedIn page:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/aurora3-uk

Second, we are looking for a Research Engineer to help us bring AURORA³ to life. The position is initially for two years. The job advertisement is included below. If you know a graduating PhD student or a promising MSc graduate who might be interested, please feel free to share. Thank you!

Best regards,
   Enzo


RESEARCH ENGINEER IN AUDIO, ACOUSTICS & AI

Institute of Sound Recording, University of Surrey
Location: Guildford (35 minutes by fast train from London)
Salary: £37,174 p.a. - £45,413 p.a.
Post Type: Full Time
Closing Date: 23.59 hours BST on 18 June 2025
Interview Date: 27 June 2025 (online)

An exciting opportunity to join the AURORA³ team to pioneer next-generation infrastructure for audio, acoustics, and AI.

AURORA³ is a new strategic facility at the University of Surrey supporting cutting-edge research in audio, acoustics, and artificial intelligence (AI). It will incorporate a state-of-the-art acoustic anechoic chamber equipped with a spherical loudspeaker array and a world-first variable acoustics room enabling reverberation times as well as room volume to be precisely controlled. Our vision for AURORA³ is to bring the A³ (audio, acoustics and AI) community together, produce high-quality data resources that enable substantial advances in the development of technologies and science relating to sound and hearing, and foster a mindset that encompasses inclusion, rigorous inquiry and pathways for realising societal and economic benefit.

AURORA³ will establish National Strategic Infrastructure, accessible to researchers in industry and academia alike. It is supported by a £2.2 million investment from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), in addition to significant contributions from the University of Surrey and the 18 AURORA³ partners.

We are seeking to appoint a Research Engineer to help design, implement, and operate AURORA³. The successful candidate will be appointed at Level 4, with salary depending on experience. The post is full time and initially offered for a fixed term of 2 years (end date currently capped at 30/June/2027). The preferred start date is as soon as possible, with the earliest possible start on 1/July.

YOUR PROFILE

You will have a strong background in acoustics and audio engineering, software development, and technical writing/documentation. Ability to collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders will be essential. We particularly welcome candidates with experience in psychoacoustic listening tests and machine/deep learning. A PhD in a relevant area is desirable. Depending on experience, the role may additionally involve shaping strategic direction, including co-writing of grant proposals and mentoring PhD students.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER

The University of Surrey is a global university with a world-class research profile and an enterprising spirit, located in one of the safest counties in England, within 35 minutes of London by train and minutes away from the Surrey Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The successful candidate will be hosted by the Institute of Sound Recording (IoSR), an internationally-recognised centre for acoustic engineering research. The IoSR is also home to the renowned Tonmeister degree in Music and Sound Recording, which has produced a stream of highly successful graduates who have collectively received numerous accolades, including three Oscars, twelve Grammys, six Emmys, and twelve BAFTAs. AURORA³ is delivered in collaboration with the Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP), globally recognised for pioneering 3D computer vision and spatial audio, founder of Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI (PAI), and host of the new £8 million CoSTAR AI compute facility. This network of expertise will provide the post holder access to a thriving, world-class research environment, state-of-the-art facilities, and opportunities to engage with both academic and industry stakeholders.

We offer a competitive remuneration package, including relocation assistance where applicable,  market-leading pension scheme, and staff development opportunities.

HOW TO APPLY

Informal enquiries by email are welcomed to Professor Enzo De Sena (e.desena@surrey.ac.uk).

Please apply using the link below with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are interested in the position also answering the criteria questions. Applications received via email will not be considered. Interviews will be held on 27/June.

https://jobs.surrey.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?id=14845



--
Enzo De Sena
Professor (Full Professor)
Director, Institute of Sound Recording
Department of Music & Media
University of Surrey
Stag Hill, University Campus, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK

Office: 08aBC03
Email: e.desena@surrey.ac.uk
URL: desena.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/enzodesena

Friday, May 9, 2025

Fwd: [DMRN-LIST] Survey on the landscape of computational musicology

Dear Colleagues,

As part of the Laudare ERC project, we are conducting a research
focused on computational musicology. Our specific aim is to identify
current gaps and understand the needs within the existing suite of
tools available for researchers.

We kindly invite you to contribute your valuable expertise by
participating in a brief survey. It is designed to take approximately
10-15 minutes of your time and can be conveniently completed from your
smartphone or computer.

Access the survey here: https://forms.gle/tvy3S6raKK76qkgN7

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Best regards,



--
Federico Simonetta
Post-doc Researcher @ Laudare ERC project
Visiting Researcher @ LIM - Music Informatics Laboratory
GSSI - Gran Sasso Science Institute
https://federicosimonetta.eu.org | https://gssi.it | https://laudare.eu
| https://lim.di.unimi.it

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Fwd: Survey on the landscape of computational musicology

Dear Colleagues,

As part of the Laudare ERC project, we are conducting a research
focused on computational musicology. Our specific aim is to identify
current gaps and understand the needs within the existing suite of
tools available for researchers.

We kindly invite you to contribute your valuable expertise by
participating in a brief survey. It is designed to take approximately
10-15 minutes of your time and can be conveniently completed from your
smartphone or computer.

Access the survey here: https://forms.gle/tvy3S6raKK76qkgN7

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Best regards,


--
Federico Simonetta
Post-doc Researcher @ Laudare ERC project
Visiting Researcher @ LIM - Music Informatics Laboratory
GSSI - Gran Sasso Science Institute
https://federicosimonetta.eu.org | https://gssi.it | https://laudare.eu
| https://lim.di.unimi.it

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Fwd: [DMRN-LIST] Mon,12 May 2025, 4PM, KCL Strand S1.12: Ville Pulkki (Aalto University) career contributions in acoustics and sound


Please see below for an upcoming MARC seminar at King's College London.  If you do not have access to the Strand Building at King's, please sign up here so we know to send someone to meet you in the Strand Building lobby 10 minutes before the event.  Professor Ville Pulkki is hosted by Professor Zoran Cvetkovic and Dr Julie Meyer.

__

KCL Music and Acoustics Research Centre Seminar

Ville Pulkki from Aalto University to give presentation on career contributions in acoustics and sound

Monday, 12 May 2025, Strand Campus, King's College London... Professor Ville Pulkki will visit King's and give a talk on his career contributions. Ville's main contributions include Vector Base Amplitude Planning (VBAP), Directional Audio Coding (DirAC), and Cross-Pattern Coherrence (CroPaC). In addition, Ville contributed to research outputs on lasers, psychoacoustics, simplified room acoustics rendering, studies on yelling against wind, rendering of thought voice in VR, and aurora borealis sounds.
Ville's talk is an in-person event. The event will take place in room S1.12 at the Strand building (Strand Campus, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS) between 16:00pm – 17:00pm on Monday, 12 May 2025.

__


Elaine Chew | eniale.kcl.ac.uk
Professor of Engineering | King's College London
NMES: Engineering | FoLSM : BMEIS : Cardiovascular Imaging
Becket House, BH5.16 | 1 Lambeth Palace Rd, London, SE1 7EU, UK

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Fwd: PhD Scholarships at the University of Leeds (Deadline: 2 June)




Dear all,

 

The School of Music in the University of Leeds invites applications for two PhD scholarships from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2025/26.  

 

School of Music Opportunity Research Scholarship

This scholarship is open to prospective postgraduate researchers from Black, Asian and other minoritised ethnic groups who are eligible for the Home/UK rate of tuition fees.

Further information can be found here: https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/385-school-of-music-opportunity-research-scholarship-2025-26

 

Stanley Burton Research Scholarship

This scholarship is open to prospective postgraduate researchers who are eligible for the Home/UK rate of tuition fees.

Further information can be found here: https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/23-stanley-burton-research-scholarship-2025

 

The awards provide full academic fees and a maintenance grant (£19,237 in Session 2024/25) for full-time study (with pro-rata awards available for part-time study).

 

The School of Music at the University of Leeds has an international reputation for research, and we bring together a community of scholars, composers and performers. We particularly welcome applications that connect to the School of Music's core research areas:

- Music as Culture (musicology exploring the role of music within historical, theoretical, literary, aesthetic, technological, popular, and interdisciplinary contexts)

 

- Music, Science and Technology (including music psychology, music and wellbeing, music technology, musical instrument studies, sound studies, and scientific perspectives on music)

 

- Making Music (composition, performance, and practice-based research methodologies)

 

- Pedagogic Research in Music (research regarding teaching and learning processes, experiences, and contexts in music)

How to apply

Full information, including details of the application process can be found through the links above. Applicants must submit both PhD study and scholarship applications no later than 5pm (UK time) Monday 2 June 2025.

 

All best,

 

Emily Payne

 

Dr Emily Payne (she/her) (hear my name)

Associate Professor of Music

Director of Postgraduate Research Studies, School of Music

 

School of Music, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK

https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/music/staff/396/dr-emily-payne

 

Payne, E. (2022). Instrumental Interaction and Subversion in John Cage's Concert for Piano and Orchestra. Contemporary Music Review.

Schuiling, F. & Payne, E. (Eds.) (2022). Material Cultures of Music Notation: New Perspectives on Musical Inscription (Routledge).

Doffman, M., Payne, E., & Young, T. (Eds.) (2021). The Oxford Handbook of Time in Music (OUP).