Postdoc candidate for a MSCA IF in hyperspectral imaging in the SWIR - Luxscan

Luxscan is interested in hosting a postdoctoral fellow within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship programme. 

Project idea: 

"Some defects from the wood material are hard to detect within images from the visible spectrum. For this reason, LuxScan started to investigate the usage of hyperspectral imaging in the SWIR (Short-Wave Infrared).

A first project has demonstrated interesting results to identify defects that could not be detected properly with a standard color camera. However this first project has also raised additional challenges that need to be addressed.

By definition, a Hyperpectral image contains a large amount of information; in our case, the camera provides an image of 640 pixels, each pixel comprising 230 spectral bands, at a frame rate of 670Hz.

Consequently, the applicant will have to solve some problems:

• Image analysis: how do we find the relevant information within such a large amount of information? One solution would be
  • our company is currently developing a real know-how in image processing by Artificial Intelligence. We believe that advanced multi-spectral image processing for defect detection & classification, based on machine learning and/or Deep learning, would probably be a good approach
     
• Image processing: which algorithm is efficient enough to process these images in real time (670 images / second)?
  • We are willing to investigate solutions based on fast computers and GPU
     
• Industrialization :
  • Stability of the imaging system (camera + light) with temperature variation
  • Sensibility of the system to moisture content variation within the air and within the wood
  • Repeatability, robustness
  • Needed processing power and availability of training data
  • Stability of the lighting and lighting technology (Halogen vs Leds)

The candidate will be a bridge between pure research activities (bibliography, evaluation) and the development of an industrial prototype (software development, tests). He/she will have substantial technical resources at its disposal to validate the developments carried out. He/she will thus be able to apply the experience acquired during his PhD to an industrial project. Taking into account the expertise of his colleagues in the R&D department, as well as other departments, the candidate will have the freedom to propose and evaluate his own ideas.

Offer Requirements

• Our objective, through this project, is to develop a hyperspectral vision solution, able to meet the needs of our customers. We expect the candidate to be curious, motivated, ingenious, but also pragmatic and realistic.
• He/she will also demonstrate scientific rigor to qualify/evaluate the prototype that he/she will have designed and developed.
• A good experience in at least one of the following areas would be an advantage : machine vision, image processing or machine learning.

Institute description: 

LuxScan Technologies is a world-wide leader in the design, development and installation of industrial scanners for timer industry. Our Company is part of the German Weinig Group, which is producing machines and systems for solid wood and panel production. Luxscan Technologies currently employs 52 employees of 15 different nationalities, including 15 in the R&D department. This team, composed of engineers and doctors from different specialties, designs our systems 100% in-house. Our current research focuses on the use of AI -Deep Learning - for our applications, as well as on the use of high-performance cameras, including hyperspectral imaging.

More information on our products, as well as on the Weinig group, available on : https://www.weinig.com/en/solid-wood/scanner-systems.html

Benefits

• Luxscan markets its products in more than 35 countries. If the prototype developed by the candidate is functional, he/she will be able to conduct on-site tests at one of our reference customers.
• This work constitutes a real opportunity for a PhD student to gain a first experience related to industrial research.
• Finally, this project may lead to a job within our R&D team.

About Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellowship:

The MSCA IF are postdoctoral fellowships, financed through the European Commission for 2 year positions, covering salary and research costs of the researchers, who can come from anywhere in the world. The evaluation process of these programmes is more about the project and the career development of the candidate, than his/her publication record. The organizations in Luxembourg that want to host such talented researchers include large public research organizations as well as private companies that offer interesting job perspectives after completion of the fellowship.

Minimal eligibility criteria

• Individual: applicant applies together with host institute
• PhD at the deadline or Masters plus 4 years of full time equivalent research experience
• Not working or living in Luxembourg for longer than 12 months before the call deadline
• For rules see here or contact your NCP

How to apply

Please submit your CV to Charles Betz, Advisor - European R&D and Innovation Support at Luxinnovation, until May 15^th 2020 and refer to which position(s) you are applying for; you can also send several finetuned CVs if you are interested in multiple positions. Make sure you address the text and requirements mentioned by the respective hosts. 

Please note that applications are made through Luxinnovation, your contact point for Horizon 2020 in Luxembourg, before being handed over to the host company.

Luxinnovation, the Luxembourgish Innovation agency and National Contact Point for MSCA, will support both you and your future host institute during your application phase. For all applicants coming to Luxembourg we offer guidance documents, webinars, training in proposal writing and we will review your proposals if you wish so (depending on our availability). In 2019, MSCA IF proposals from Luxembourg had an average success rate of 28.5%, and proposals reviewed by our service 42%.

More information can be found on our website.