Pieterjan Bartels

CGI Engineer and Researcher

I am a Belgian Computer Graphics Engineer and Researcher with two master degrees, one from the University of Leuven (BE) and one from Bournemouth University (UK). I have worked as a professional research and software engineer for high-end visual effects studios, including Weta Digital and Double Negative, as well as for the physically-based rendering research group of the University of Leuven, supervised by prof. Philip Dutré. I’m currently working on state-of-the-art light transport solutions for Disney Research Zurich as a freelancer.

Location
Johannalaan 23, 1050, Elsene, Belgium
Email
Phone
0032 476 99 60 70
Website
http://www.pieterjanbartels.be
LinkedIn
Pieterjan Bartels

Professional Experience

– present

Rendering Research Engineer at Disney Research Studios

Highlights

  • As a freelance research engineer, investigating and implementing cutting-edge path guiding techniques in Disney’s production path tracer, Hyperion.

–

Research Engineer at KU Leuven

Highlights

  • Investigating and implementing new usages for Deep Learning in Physically-Based Rendering.
  • Teaching responsibilities for Computer Graphics, the first-year Algorithms and Data Structures class as well as supervising master theses.
  • Spent three months at Weta Digital as a visiting researcher.

–

Embedded Software Engineer/Consultant & Trainer at ISY/Altran Benelux

Highlights

  • Developing & Maintaining the C & C++ codebase for a medical touch-screen device, both on an embedded linux platform and bare-metal platforms.
  • I also provided on-site C++ classes for clients.

–

RnD Programmer at Double Negative

Highlights

  • Developer on the Houdini R&D team, which provides pipeline tools and support for the FX department.
  • Maintaining and adding functionality to large existing codebases, generally written in Python using Houdini’s HOM.
  • Providing support for films such as ’Wonder Woman’, 'Avengers Infinity War', and ’Pacific Rim Uprising’.

–

Pipeline Engineer at uMedia VFX

Highlights

  • Short term contract as the sole developer in charge of creating a pipeline for the show ’I Kill Giants’.
  • Mostly entailed Python programming, using APIs like PySide(2), PyMel, houdini HOM, and the Shotgun API on a daily basis.

–

Research Engineer at Weta Digital

Highlights

  • As a LookDev researcher, my job was to research and implement new techniques in C++ to improve the shading and texturing pipeline. This included new material models (BRDFs), physical appearance acquisition, texture filtering, etc.
  • Performed research for ’the BFG’, ’War for the planet of the apes’, and ’Valerian and the city of a thousand planets’

Education

–

Master in Computer Animation & Visual Effects from Bournemouth University with grade Distinction

Courses

    –

    Master in Engineering: Computer Science from KU Leuven with grade Magna Cum Laude

    Courses

      –

      Bachelor in Engineering from KU Leuven with grade Cum Laude

      Courses

        Publications

        Adaptive LightSlice for Virtual Ray Lights by Short Paper Proceedings of Eurographics 2015

        We speed up the rendering of participating media with Virtual Ray Lights (VRLs) by clustering them in a preprocessing step.

        Volunteer

        Teacher at CoderDojo

        Global movement of free coding clubs for young people.

        Highlights

          Fundraiser at Mind, the mental health charity

          Raising funds for Mental health care through sponsored long-distance running

          Highlights

            Fundraiser at Alzheimer's society UK

            Raising funds against Alzheimer’s disease through sponsored long-distance running

            Highlights

              Skills

              CGI - Rendering
              Level: Master
              Keywords:
              • Global Illumination
              • Path Tracing
              • 3D Mathematics
              • OpenGL
              • Vulkan
              • Real-time Rendering
              Computer Science
              Level: Intermediate
              Keywords:
              • Algorithm Design and Analysis
              • Computational Complexity Analysis
              • Applied Mathematics
              Performance Engineering
              Level: Intermediate
              Keywords:
              • Parallel Programming
              • Intel TBB
              • Intel Vtune
              • CUDA
              CGI - Simulation
              Level: Intermediate
              Keywords:
              • Houdini HOM, HDK
              Software Engineering
              Level: Intermediate
              Keywords:
              • C++
              • Python
              • Qt
              • Linux
              • Git
              Artificial Intelligence
              Level: Intermediate
              Keywords:
              • Deep Learning
              • Neural Networks
              • Pytorch

              Languages

              Dutch
              Fluency: Native
              English
              Fluency: Fluent
              French
              Fluency: Fluent

              Interests

              Games & Movies
              Keywords:
                Sports
                Keywords:
                • Running
                • Basketball
                • Football
                Nature
                Keywords:
                • Wildlife
                • hiking
                • Scuba diving

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