CALL FOR TWO RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE FIELD OF MUSIC INFORMATICS
The TEMPO REALE Music Research, Production, and teaching centre, an Italian institution within the fields of music informatics and of sound research, is organising a selection procedure based on qualifications and an interview for the awarding of 2 scholarships for study and research activities related to the application of innovative technologies in the music field, to be carried out (even sporadically) at the headquarters of Tempo Reale in Florence, under the supervision of a tutor from the hosting institution.
DURATION AND BUDGET
The scholarships will last 6 months (which may possibly be extended). The starting date is yet to be established and will presumably be after December 15th, 2020. The gross amount of each scholarship grant is 6000€, inclusive of taxes and tax withholdings as per current laws, and will be paid in three deferred instalments, every two months.
REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION
The call is open to all researchers in the musical computer science field. The following conditions are required:
- a) to be an Italian citizen or a citizen of other nations but with a suitable knowledge of the Italian language;
- b) to be in possession of full civil and political rights;
- c) to not have criminal convictions nor to be in state of interdiction, nor to be the subject of preventive measures or other measures imposed as a result of infringements of obligations deriving from employment ad in any case affecting professionalism in relation to the role to be covered or other sanctions entailing a prohibition to contract with the public administration;
- d) to be over 18 years of age;
- h) the absence of any causes of incompatibility or conflicts of interest based on Legislative Decree 39/2013 and Legislative Decree 165/2001, within the limits of applicability.
The possession of a three-year or specialist degree, or a single cycle degree/diploma, obtained at Italian or EU conservatories, universities, or higher education institutions will also be considered for evaluation.
A good knowledge of written and spoken English is also required, at a level of at least B1. A certificate of competency is not mandatory, but will however represent an advantage.
These requirements must be held within the expiry date for the submission of applications established in this notice.
THEMES
Each of the two scholarships deal with different themes; candidates must specify their relative category in their application.
- Relational systems for the management of live events
For many years, Tempo Reale has been involved in research on the management of complex computational models for live concerts based on efficient and robust systems related to the formalisation of the indications in the scores for electronic parts. Within this context, the following can be some possible study topics:
- Update and development of the MEEG integrated system (further information on the current system is available in this article: An sql based control system for live electronics), also with the possibility of portability towards a new software platform which may include:
– a new data management platform;
– a new interface management system;
- Integration of the MEEG system in Ableton Live;
- Modularity of the MEEG system and macro management.
- Interactivity for performance and sound
For many years, Tempo Reale has been involved in research on interactive systems for performances, interactive artistic or museum installations, and digital musical theatre. Some examples of topics in this field may include:
- Motion capture and action tracking technologies;
- Video generation/management; the development of a system that will allow to integrate the management of the visual part with systems for the audio part, as already present in Tempo Reale;
- Lighting control systems via dmx; integration of video and lighting systems.
Proposals that integrate the aforementioned elements throughout all themes connected to the concept of interactivity are welcome.
Please note that research projects exclusively related to the arts or regarding the mere creation of musical works will not be considered.
RULES FOR PARTICIPATION
To participate in the selection, interested parties must independently develop the study and research project they intend to carry out; this must necessarily concern one of the two proposed themes and must contain the following information:
- Title, indication of the topic, and short summary of the activity’s theme (10 lines maximum);
- Detailed description of the Study and Research Project, highlighting its possible relevance to Tempo Reale as well as the expected short and medium term impact expected (2 pages maximum); this must contain:
– A general idea of the project;
– Indications on the platforms to be used and on their interaction;
– Time planning;
– Expectation of future extensions.
- Candidate profile, complete with a detailed curriculum vitae indicating their training and/or performed research. The CV must include authorisation to process personal data, as required by EU Regulation 679/2016 on the protection of personal data.
- Authorisation to process personal data as per GDPR 2016/679.
To apply, the interested parties must also include a request for participation containing all personal information, including those listed in the participation requirements.
The deadline for sending applications is set to September 20, 2020.
Applications must be sent to ricerca@temporeale.it within the aforementioned date.
THE SELECTION
Applications received will be evaluated according to their conformity with the requirements and their compliance with the themes described in this document. The evaluation will be made by a specific internal examination committee appointed by the Director of Tempo Reale, who will also take the chair. This commission will draw up a first ranking according to its own unquestionable judgement: researchers included in said ranking may then be called to Tempo Reale’s headquarters for an interview. For the purposes of this evaluation, rewarding elements that will be considered are the originality, innovation, and short-term applicability of the proposed topics.
All information sent by the interested parties for participation in this selection will be considered confidential and for exclusive internal use for the purposes of the selection. The person responsible for the processing of data is the privacy manager of Tempo Reale.
Winners of the scholarship will be contacted directly; the names of the winners will be published on the website www.temporeale.it.
OBLIGATIONS
An at least sporadic presence at the Tempo Reale headquarters is required; in any case, constant interaction with a tutor from Tempo Reale is mandatory, with methods and frequency to be defined.
Scholarship recipients will also undertake the duty to present their research publicly within the activities of Tempo Reale (conferences, articles, etc.).
The research developed within the scholarship will become part of Tempo Reale’s activities, and the related documentation will be included in the centre’s archive.
Tempo Reale can also make a budget available for purchasing dedicated technologies, to be defined in the project’s operational phase.
EXTENSIONS
The duration of the scholarships may be extended for a period of 3/6 months, according to the available monetary resources and on the basis of the presentation of an extension plan for the activity being carried out, to be assessed by the sole and absolute discretion of the dedicated committee of Tempo Reale.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information on the selection process and/or on how to present the Study and Research Projects, please contact ricerca@temporeale.it.
DATA PROCESSING
All personal data requested from candidates will be collected and processed within Tempo Reale’s office in compliance with EU Regulation 679/2016 on the protection of personal data provided only for the management of selection and for the development of eventual further connected documents. Failure to provide said data will result, according to the situation, with the exclusion from the Selection Process or the impossibility to evaluate any eventual professional titles held.
Download the call in pdf format
photo © Mario Carovani
