Salary: up to £33,000 per annum
Closing date: 22 March 2013
Reference: D1181R
 
Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research position in applied machine learning at 
Newcastle University and XACT PCB Ltd.
 
You will work on the application of cutting edge machine learning and computational intelligence 
methods to real world industrial problems. In particular, we are interested in the combined use 
of support vector machines and unsupervised clustering methods to analyse high dimensional 
heterogeneous industrial data. The aim of the analysis is to improve the precision of the 
manufacturing process of printed circuit boards. The only company in the world that offers a 
fully automated solution to this problem is the XACT PCB Ltd based near Newcastle in the North 
East of England. The size of the market of printed circuit boards is in the range of billions of 
dollars. You can have a real impact on how printed circuit boards are made by joining this project. 
 
The project is a collaboration between the XACT PCB Ltd and Newcastle University.  You will work 
most of the time at the offices of the company and every week you will spend at least a half day 
at the School of Computing Science of Newcastle University where you will also have an office
place. The School of Computing Science recently expanded its academic staff with interests in 
applied machine learning and computational intelligence. Ongoing research includes the analysis 
of human behavioural data recorded by movement sensors, development of intelligent and adaptive 
living environments, data mining of bioinformatics databases, analysis of neuroinformatics imaging 
data, optimisation of gene regulation for synthetic biology, and experimental validation of 
cyber-physical systems. You will work under the supervision of Dr Peter Andras 
(peter.andras@ncl.ac.uk).
 
We are looking for a self-motivated person with a PhD on a topic related to machine learning or 
computational intelligence (the actual PhD area can be computer science, mathematics, physics, 
statistics, engineering or any other related field). You should have exceptionally strong skills 
in developing and coding machine learning algorithms (preferably in C# or other similar languages, 
including Java, C++, Matlab, R). You should have a clear desire to move towards industry and to 
make a real world impact through top quality research.
 
You must have a First Class honours degree or a Distinction level MSc degree (or international 
equivalent) in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics or related fields and preferably a PhD in 
one of these fields. You will have the experience in software development, large-scale data 
analytics, development and application of machine learning methods, together with a positive 
attitude and good interpersonal, communication and team working skills.
 
The position comes with benefits including a £4,000 individual training budget and management 
training. 
 
The post is fixed term for a duration of 2 Years.
 
To apply go to www.ncl.ac.uk/vacancies/ and search for the vacancy with reference D1181R.
Please note this position is subject to the confirmation of funding. Applicants are expected to 
be contacted by April 2013.
 
XACT is the world's leading provider of integrated registration solutions to many of the world's 
highest technology PCB plants.
 
For further details about the XACT PCB Ltd please see www.xactpcb.com 
 
Newcastle University is one of the top UK universities, member of the select Russell Group formed 
by the 24 leading UK universities. The School of Computing Science is one of the top research 
departments in the UK in the area of computer science with a research budget of over £4 million 
per year. The School is a partner in the Newcastle Culture Lab which is a leading UK hub for 
innovative cultural and social applications of digital technology.
 
For further details about Newcastle University please visit our information page at 
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/about/ 
 
For further details on the School of Computing Science please see http://www.ncl.ac.uk/computing/ 
 
For further details about Knowledge Transfer Partnerships please visit our Research and Enterprise 
Service webpage at: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/res/knowledge/ktp/index.htm