Full description and application here: https://www1.chester.ac.uk/phd-studentship-using-artificial-intelligence-measure-emotion-and-wellbeing-people-and-other-animals
Project Description:
This project is interdisciplinary with collaborative supervision across faculties. It offers a high-quality student the opportunity to integrate innovative artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, such as DeepLab™, into animal observation studies. The student will undertake training in machine learning and then test and evaluate the utility and efficiency of this automation using a nonhuman animal model. This is likely to involve observations and video recordings of zoo-housed chimpanzees. From video footage and photographs, DeepLabCut™ programs can be trained to identify individual animals and to measure aspects of behaviour and morphology rapidly. For example, facial expressions conveying emotion and wellbeing will be monitored and used to build these machine-learning models that will be able to quickly detect positive and negative welfare.
This methodology has many novel applications in several fields that require fast and accurate machine-detected analysis that complements human-collected data. It will provide a richer knowledge base for the addressing of big-picture issues including helping people and animals understand and share space with each other, and to live in a sustainable way that preserves biodiversity in the face of climate change. In addition, the project will include the development of an app incorporating VR/AR and thermal imaging for both the measurement of welfare indicators and the training of field observation skills.
Qualifications & Eligibility:
Candidates should have a first-class or high second-class degree in an appropriate subject (e.g. Psychology, a Biological Science, Computer Science). Experience with machine-learning is not essential but would be helpful. Experience in conducting behavioural observations on animals is essential.
Funding Notes:
The successful applicant will receive a bursary, to cover UK up to 3 years full time / 6 years part time. All fees due above the UK rate will normally be paid by the Student.
Stipend
For the academic year 2022/23 the stipend will be £17,668 as determined by the National Minimum Doctoral Stipend specified by UKRI and will be subject to an inflationary increase in October each year up to a maximum of a 4% increase per annum.
Supervisors :
Dr Lindsay Murray, Associate Professor
Department/Faculty: Psychology/Health, Medicine and Society
Dr Sonya Hill, Deputy Head of Department and Senior Lecturer
Department/Faculty: Biological Sciences/ Science, Business and Enterprise
Dr Richard Stocker, Senior Lecturer
Department/Faculty: Computer Science/ Science, Business and Enterprise