Predoctoral contract in AI and computer vision for marine ecosystems - BlueOcean DC5

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)- BarcelonaTECH; España; Presencial; EUR 36.000 - 44.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) – BarcelonaTECH is offering a 36‑month MSCA BlueOcean doctoral position in AI and computer vision. The candidate will develop methods to classify marine organisms using 2D hyperspectral data, 3D spectral images, and PyTorch‑based models.

The fellowship includes a gross annual salary of about €39,903, with mobility support and UPC health coverage; English proficiency is required and experience in Python is expected.

Formación

• AI & CV focus for the doctoral role.
• Experience with deep learning for image analysis is desirable.
• Knowledge of hyperspectral or multispectral imaging and 3D vision is valued.

Responsabilidades

• Develop AI methods to classify marine organisms and particles.
• Integrate morphological analysis into AI models.
• Apply models to 2D hyperspectral data and 3D spectral images.
• Publish results and participate in network training and dissemination.
• Program in Python and use PyTorch or similar libraries.

Conocimientos

AI

Computer Vision

Deep Learning

Python

PyTorch

Image Processing

Hyperspectral Imaging

Herramientas

Python

PyTorch

Deep Learning Libraries

Descripción del empleo

Organisation/Company Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)- BarcelonaTECH Research Field Computer science Engineering » Communication engineering Engineering » Electrical engineering Engineering » Electronic engineering Mathematics » Applied mathematics Physics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 30 Nov 2026 - 23:00 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37.5 Offer Starting Date 11 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Reference Number BlueOcean DC5 Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101312043 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Mission:

Develop AI methods to classify and quantify marine organisms and particles in hyperspectral and 3D images, within the framework of the BlueOcean DC5 doctoral thesis.

Functions to be developed:

• Combine multispectral and spatial data to classify and quantify marine objects.
• Integrate morphological analysis of shapes and structures into AI models.
• Applying the models to a 2D hyperspectral camera to classify benthic species and estimate their abundance.
• Extend the methods to 3D spectral images of zooplankton, phytoplankton and microplastics, and validate them with partners.
• Publish and present results and participate in training and dissemination of the network.
• Programming in Python and use of PyTorch or other similar deep learning libraries.

Specific Requirements

Professional Specialty:

Artificial intelligence and computer vision

Knowledge:

• Deep learning for image analysis.
• AI models: implementation and analysis of results.
• Image processing and model evaluation.
• Hyperspectral or multispectral imaging, 3D vision or morphological analysis.
• It will be assessed:
  • Knowledge of marine organisms will be valued as an additional merit, not a requirement.

Professional Experience:

• No prior research experience is required. Academic projects, internships or experience related to the topic will be valued.

Other requirements to consider:

• Not having a doctorate degree.
• Not having resided or carried out the main activity in Spain for more than 12 months in the previous 36 months, with the applicable MSCA exceptions.
• Availability for research stays and international training activities.

Languages CATALAN Level Basic

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Languages SPANISH Level Good

Research Field Computer science Engineering Communication engineering Electrical engineering Electronic engineering Mathematics Applied mathematics Physics Years of Research Experience None

Additional Information

The doctoral candidate will be hired by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) for a period of 36 months, with a gross annual salary of approximately €39,903.14 (which includes the mobility allowance, but excludes other supplements subject to the candidate's requirements, such as the family supplement or supplements for special needs), in accordance with current Spanish legislation. The gross annual salary is received in 14 payments (12 monthly payments plus two extraordinary payments, in June and December). Likewise, if applicable, an annual family supplement of €5,796.35 will be received, depending on the researcher's family situation. All UPC contracts within the framework of the MSCA program include health coverage and insurance against work accidents through the Spanish Social Security, which guarantees access to the Spanish public health system.

Eligibility criteria

All the candidates who cannot prove the required academic degree will be immediately withdrawn from the selection process.

The CVs will be assessed according the following general criteria:

• The maximum score for the candidates who accomplish all the eligibility criteria stated in the job offer will be 10 points.
• Threshold: 5 points.
• The maximum score (10 points) will be distributed as follows:
• 1 point for required speciality.
• 2 points for required academic training.
• 2 points for technic competences.
• 1 point for organisational competences.
• 3 points for professional experience.
• 1 point for any aspect of the candidate’s professional profile to be determined as specially relevant by the Selection committee.

If the selection committee decide to include a personal interview as additional step of the selection process, only the candidates scored 5 or above for their CV will be retained for the interview step.

The interview will be assessed according the following criteria:

• Threshold: 3 points.
• The maximum score will be distributed according the following criteria:
• 2 points for adequacy to functional competences of the job.
• 2 points for adequacy of professional experience.
• 1 point for any aspect of the candidate’s professional profile to be determined as especially relevant by the Selection committee.

The eligible candidates will be ranked from highest to lowest score, being this the selection criteria.

Selection process

The planned selection process is as follows:

• The members of the selection committee will decide for each case what the selection process will be, if an assessment is made only for the curriculum vitae or any other procedure is planned: interview, tests, etc ...
• Each phase of the selection process will be reported on the website where the offer is published. If applicable, indicate your request.
• Finally, the name of the person selected will be published on the same website where the offer is published.

Additional comments

CoDAlab, Department of Mathematics, UPC.

BlueOcean: 13 doctoral students, DTU coordination.

Two two-month stays, at FPAqua and CNR, and joint training of the network.

Remember that the resume should not include any personal data or photographs.