This year’s UKAN+ ‘Summer School’ (UKANSS23), the third in the series, will be held from Tuesday 26th to Thursday 28th September 2023. This time the aim is twofold: to provide training (1) in Digital Signal Processing (DSP) with applications to Acoustics and (2) in preparing research fellowship applications. This combination will be particularly useful for people wanting to move into Acoustics or acoustical applications of their work and access a new source of funding. Alternatively you may be in Acoustics and want a ‘refresher’ course on DSP or to apply for a research fellowship. Providing this training is consistent with the goals of UKAN+ (1) to support the next generation of acousticians – including providing support to people entering Acoustics as a new research field – and (2) to facilitate cross-disciplinary research. The idea for the technical theme this year came from early career acousticians attending the second UKAN Summer School, who requested a school on DSP in a central location.
The opening address will be delivered by Prof. Philip Nelson, who holds the post of Professor of Acoustics in the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR) at the University of Southampton. From 2014-2018 he served as Chief Executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The closing address will be given by Prof. Kirill Horoshenkov, the Director of UKAN+, and Prof. Richard Craster, the Co-Director.
The training in DSP with applications to Acoustics with be provided by Prof. Jordan Cheer, Prof. Paul White and Prof. Filippo Fazi, also of the ISVR. The research fellowship application training will be a custom-designed course prepared and delivered by Dr Elaine Massung of Academic Smartcuts and Prof. Dan Allwood of Peak Writing. It will include the opportunity to do a mock fellowship interview; there are limited places available for this and places will be given on a first come, first served basis. Previous Summer School mock interview training was very well received and several individuals went on to be offered prestigious research and teaching positions in Academia. A large part of the research fellowship application training will be applicable to any research grant application.
Who should attend?
We are keen to receive applications from the widest range of backgrounds. We particularly welcome expressions of interest from female applicants and those from minority ethnic backgrounds.
The school is designed primarily for final year PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, and early career lecturers or engineers. Early career acoustical consultants and others in industry and government wanting to move into academia are welcome to apply. The only strict requirements are that you should be a member of UKAN+ and the Early Career SIG and you should consider yourself to be early in your career.
Location
This event will be held at 170 Queen’s Gate, Imperial College London. Unfortunately, while there is a disabled toilet in the venue, there is no disabled access. We encourage the use of public transport to reduce CO2 emissions. Venue terms and conditions are available here. In particular, please note that if you leave your belongings unattended it is at your risk.
Programme including schedule
The proposed programme and schedule is available here. Days will generally run from 9am to 5.30pm. On the second day, there will be an optional social event from 6.30pm at PJ’s Chelsea Brasserie, organised by Hasina and Richard.
Registration and Cost
The application procedure is now closed.
We will ask for a non-refundable registration fee of £150. The fee is to be paid by the successful applicants within two weeks through the link provided when your application is approved. This fee will cover all training and morning tea, lunch and coffee/tea and cakes on the three days of the event. Vegetarian, vegan, Halal (chicken) and pescatarian food is available on request.
Attendees are expected to arrange their own accommodation and travel to and from the venue. When applicants receive confirmation that they have been assigned a place, we will provide recommendations for accommodation in or near Kensington for which we have access to special rates. If you require recommendations before then, send an email to earlycareersgroup@gmail.com.
For those who are not EPSRC-funded PhD researchers or students, reimbursement of reasonable travel and accommodation expenses may be applied for via the early career travel grant program.
How do I prepare for the DSP training?
Please bring your laptop. You do not need to install MATLAB or Python in advance but please be aware that the DSP lectures will include examples in these languages.
How do I prepare for the Research Fellowship Application training?
Please bring one or more ideas for a research fellowship application and your laptop. Participants will receive a form for the mock fellowship interviews to guide them through thinking about their project and career before they take part in the interviews.
Sustainability efforts
We are trying to go ‘paperless’, so our programme this year will be online only. Please bring your own lanyard (your work one will do) and we can provide you with the insert. You are welcome to write your preferred pronouns on your name insert. Please bring your own pad, pen and water bottle.
Organisers
The organisers are Dr Simone Graetzer (Chair of the Early Career Executive Board and the Early Career Wellbeing Champion), Dr Hasina Begum (Early Career Champion for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion), Dr Aidan Hogg (Early Career Coordinator for Spatial Acoustics and Immersive Audio), and Dr Richard Colchester (Early Career Champion for Outreach and Public Engagement). We are grateful for assistance from the directors of UKAN+, Professors Kirill Horoshenkov and Richard Craster, UKAN+ Network Manager, Zoë Hunter, and the Executive Assistant to Prof. Richard Craster, Angela Richards.
Enquiries
Enquiries can be directed to Simone at earlycareersgroup@acoustics.ac.uk. If you have special dietary or other needs and are unsure whether you will be adequately provided for, please send us an email.