one (1) Research Grant (BI) for Graduated Students - Project UIDB/0048/2020 - Application period:...

CALL FOR ONE RESEARCH GRANT UNDER THE RoboTherapist RESEARCH PROJECT

Grant: Research Fellowship for Graduated Students

Reference: RoboTherapist -ISR-BIG

Application period: 28th of July to 10th of August, 2022

The Institute of Systems and Robotics - University of Coimbra (ISR-UC) opens a tender for the award of one (1) Research Grant (BI) for Graduated Students in the framework of the Project UIDB/0048/2020, designated by RoboTherapist - “Child-Robot Interaction (cHRI) in Pediatric Settings”, with funding supported by FCT/MCTES, funded entirely by national funds through the UIDB/0048/2020.

Scientific area: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Informatics Engineering, Biomedical Engineering or related areas.

Skills/Qualifications/Admission requirements: Students enrolled in a Master Degree program in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Informatics Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or related areas.

Candidates should have good knowledge of Python, C/C++ programming. Preference will be given to candidates with knowledge in machine learning techniques, computer vision and robotics.

Although the candidates must be enrolled in a study cycle leading to an academic degree, it is not required at the time of application that the candidate has previously enrolled. Applicants are only required to meet the requirements for enrolment in the training offer. If there are candidates already enrolled (including those attending a course), they shall compete in the competition on an equal footing with those who are not enrolled.

Work plan/ Objectives: Research and development activities will be carried out in the area of artificial intelligence (Machine Learning), and robotics focusing on deep-learning approaches for automatic perception of engagement in a cHRI task performed with a NAO robot, using methods such as transfer learning for high level feature extraction (child engagement in a task with a robot), which is expected to help dealing with the scarcity of children’s datasets as well as unbalanced data. This project is the result of a consortium between the ISR-UC and CINEEIC-UC research centers, as well as University of Hertfordshire.

Regime: The attribution of the fellowship does not generate or entitle a relation of a legal-labour nature, and the fellowship is undertaken in an exclusive dedication regime. The fellowship holder is awarded the Fellowship Statute of the ISR-UC, in its current wording, according to the Research Fellowship Holder Statute, and according to the Regulation for Research Fellowships of the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., both in their current wording.

Location: Instituto de Sistemas e Robótica - Universidade de Coimbra (ISR-UC)

Duration: 6 months.

Renewal: Possibly renewable, by agreement between both parties, not being allowed to exceed 12 months.

Scientific orientation: Prof. Ana Lopes and Prof. Urbano Nunes

Financial conditions: The amount of the fellowship is € 875.98 corresponding to the monthly compensation stipulated in the FCT table (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores.phtml.en ), plus social security (Seguro Social Voluntário, first level contributions) and personal accidents insurance.

Selection methods: The selection methods to be used will be the following: curricular evaluation, with a valuation of 50% for academic qualifications and 50% for the degree of satisfaction of the requirements relating to knowledge and experience for the project. If the Jury deems it necessary, an interview may be carried out with the candidates placed in the first three positions according to the ranking resulting from the above criteria. In this case, the final score will include the curricular assessment (as described above), with a valuation of 60%, and the interview, with a valuation of 40%. If none of the candidates has the appropriate profile (overall assessment below 60%), the scholarship will not be awarded.

Jury responsible for selection: President: Prof. Ana Cristina Lopes; Jury Members: Prof. Urbano Nunes and Prof. Jorge Batista.

Formalization of application: Applications must be formalized by sending the following elements:

(1) Letter of motivation;

(2) Curriculum Vitae (CV). The CV should include: (i) Contact; (ii) Academic qualifications, including a complete list of the concluded courses/subjects/curricular units and their classifications); (iii) List of scientific publications; (iv) Projects in which he/she has participated; (v) Other relevant information;

(3) Copy of the Certificate of Qualifications with the final average.

(4) Proof of enrollment in a MSc program.

(5) Declaration on the honor of the candidate(s) with the indication of the fellowship(s) of the typology to which the contest was held and the respective duration(s).

Applicants with academic degrees obtained abroad will be required to present a Certificate of Recognition in accordance with applicable law. This document is mandatory only in the contractualization phase.

Applications submission: Applications must be sent by e-mail, with reference "RoboTherapist-ISR-BIG" in the subject, to [email protected] .

Submission of applications: Between 28th of July and 10th of August, 2022

Form of publicity / notification of the results: The results of the evaluation will be publicized, through a list ordered by the final grade obtained, with the candidates being notified by email. After the dissemination of the results through e-mail, the candidates must consider themselves, from the outset, notified to, if they wish, express themselves in a prior hearing within a maximum period of 10 working days after that date. At the end of this period, the selected candidate must consider himself summoned to start the fellowship.