Research Associate
Department: Computer Science
Salary: Starting from £37,099, rising to £44,263
Contract Type: Full Time, Fixed Term
Closing Date: Sunday 22 February 2026
Interview Date: Monday 02 March 2026
Reference: SS13369
MyWorld Project
As part of the £35m MyWorld programme, we are searching for two motivated individuals to create the next generation of content, bringing together and creating tools for the creative industries across film, TV, games, and immersive Virtual and Augmented/Mixed Reality. This work will make use of the latest advances in Machine Learning technology, e.g. generative AI, trained on datasets of world-leading quality obtained via our unique CAMERA Studio facilities.
Project Focus
We have one position available, ending 31/03/2027, across a range of activities, but there is great scope for input in specific projects from candidates, and the project is intended as a collaborative undertaking alongside the other half of our MyWorld team at the University of Bristol.
Topics of focus include:
- Beyond SMPL: Building Anatomically Accurate Digital Human Models
- Next generation virtual production with light-fields
- Creating data-driven 3D human representations that combine the fidelity of implicit models with explicit controls preferred by animators
CAMERA and MyWorld Partners
There are many collaboration opportunities with our external partners across the CAMERA centre and the wider MyWorld programme. Examples include the Foundry, a world-leading provider of tools to the Visual Effects (VFX) and Post-Production industry and DNEG, the internationally acclaimed Post-Production house with numerous accolades, including Academy Awards for Dune, Tenet, First Man, Blade Runner 2049, Ex Machina, Interstellar, and Inception.
About You
In addition to working with the CAMERA centre in Bath, the MyWorld research project will include regular collaboration with researchers at the Universities of Bristol, Bath Spa, and the West of England (UWE), including technical and creative collaborations. You will also join the vibrant Visual Computing and Machine Learning, and AI groups at Bath. The VC group comprises around 30 doctoral students, 10 post-doctoral researchers, and 8 academics, and presents many opportunities for collaborative work and shared publications.
In addition to the standard duties of performing research and the dissemination of research through publications and demonstrations (e.g. SIGGRAPH, FMX, and CVPR), you will also be expected to be involved in the supervision of projects and PhD students, as well as undertaking some teaching duties at undergraduate or graduate level.
Further Information
We are working to improve the gender balance within the departments population, and particularly welcome applications from women.
For an informal discussion relating to this vacancy, please contact Rebekah Hole.
We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected, and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality, receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students and encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from underrepresented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment.
We're very proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, an accredited Disability Confident Leader, and an autism friendly university, committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff.
What we can offer you
We're continually expanding our benefits package to better support you and enhance your experience with us, and the below is just an example of some of the many great benefits we offer:
- Free counselling services through Health Assured
- Cycle to work scheme
- Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
- Staff discount at Team Bath gym
- Staff discounts on postgraduate tuition fees
- Staff discount on language courses
- Generous employer contributory pension schemes
- Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work-life balance
- A wide range of personal and professional development opportunities, including Apprenticeships, LinkedIn Learning, and more
- Free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath
- Local discounts and more
- A family-friendly workplace
- An excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
- Relocation allowance
- Visa reimbursement and Interest-Free Loan to help with the cost of some immigration expenses
Find out more about our benefits and watch the video on our website to hear from our staff about what makes the University of Bath a great place to work, as well as following us on X and LinkedIn.
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