Research Assistant – AI Assistant for Hand‑Drawn Animation

About the role

The School of Art, Design and Media at NTU is looking for a Research Assistant to help build a local, privacy‑safe AI assistant for a hand‑drawn animation artist. You will work closely with Professor Raimund Krumme during his two‑month residency, translating his analogue ink‑and‑brush workflow into an easy‑to‑use AI‑driven pipeline.

Key responsibilities

• Set up and optimise open‑source AI models (Stable Diffusion, ComfyUI) on high‑end workstations without cloud services.
• Train local LoRAs and ControlNets using a curated archive of the artist’s sketches and scans.
• Package the ComfyUI workflow into a simple, runnable format (presets, node groups, or a lightweight Gradio front‑end).
• Provide on‑site technical support throughout the residency (14 Sept – 13 Nov 2026).
• Document system architecture and user‑testing feedback for the final research report.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Animation, Film Studies, Media Studies or a related discipline.
• Hands‑on experience with ComfyUI and local AI deployments (e.g., Automatic1111, Forge).
• Understanding of GPU/VRAM optimisation for high‑performance workstations.
• Ability to create simple user interfaces (e.g., Gradio) without formal UX/UI training.
• Patience and communication skills to translate artistic intent into technical parameters.

Required skills

• ComfyUI
• Stable Diffusion
• Automatic1111
• Forge
• LoRA training
• ControlNet training
• GPU/VRAM management
• Gradio front‑end development

What we offer

• Opportunity to work on cutting‑edge AI tools in a creative research environment.
• Collaboration with a world‑renowned animator and NTU’s interdisciplinary community.
• Access to high‑end workstation hardware and research resources.