The Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) has the following vacancy
a PhD “End-User Development of Tangible Interaction”(V51.073)
at the User Centered Engineering (UCE) research group of the Department of Industrial Design

The department of Industrial Design of the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (TU/e), founded in 2001, is a rapidly growing department with over 400 students, both Bachelor and Master, and around 80 staff members. With a strong emphasis on research the ID department focuses on the design of intelligent products, systems, services and networks. These innovative products enable people to interact with their environment in an optimal and flexible way. The TU/e ID engineer, who has developed a wide range of competencies during his/her education, is capable of integrating technology, user aspects, design and business/marketing insights. This MSc-program is practice oriented, capable to deal with and aware of relevant issues as formulated by industry and society at large. Ambient Intelligence and Ambient (health) Care draw special attention within the TU/e and ID particular, and is an important research and application field. ID encompasses four areas in the near future: Technology covered by the Designed Intelligent (DI) group, User aspects, covered by User Centered Engineering (UCE) group, Design and Business.

The User Centered Engineering (UCE) research group studies human aspects of the interaction between people and intelligent systems, e.g., privacy, trust, persuasion, fun, aesthetics of the user experience, with the aim to create societal value by designing systems that match people’s needs, abilities and desires. UCE researchers have diverse backgrounds in computer science, engineering, psychology and design. UCE research focuses on two (broad) classes of intelligent systems:

Awareness systems that support sustained interaction between individuals or groups and that aim to allow people to build up and maintain with little effort an understanding of the activities of each other. In this way, awareness systems can, for example, support coordination, social presence, connectedness, and persuasion.

Systems that support Co-located Mediated Interaction, i.e., systems that support people who are in the same location to interact with each other and with physical artefacts, to work, play, or socialize.

Tasks

This PhD is part of a collaborative project called WikiTherapist which aims to enable therapists to develop technology-based therapy programs, on non conventional platforms like tangible user interfaces and robots. The project will be staffed by 2 PhD students and 2 Post-docs.

This vacancy concerns the design, development and validation of an end-user development environment for tangible interfaces that is tailored to the needs and capabilities of therapists. The PhD student will be placed in the User Centred Engineering Group, Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology. The student will spend up to 24 months in placements at industry participating in the project.

The project will follow a user centred design approach in which therapists will be involved in all stages. Particularly interesting for this project is to enable the operation of a community of innovation in which therapists and technology providers can pool resources and capabilities. The project will have a strong focus on validation of the concepts through field studies especially with a view to develop generalizable knowledge about how to structure and facilitate this type of co-development process.

Requirements

A Master in Computer Science, ideally in an area related to human-computer interaction. Affinity with the topics of end-user programming, graphical user interfaces, open/evolutionary development processes, or technology based rehabilitation are valued. Also valued is prior experience of the candidate with field studies and with setting up and executing user tests.

Appointment and Salary

The appointment is for 4 years. As an employee of the university you will receive a competitive salary as well as excellent employment conditions (including excellent sport facilities and child care). The research in this project must be concluded with writing a PhD thesis. A salary is offered starting at EUR 2,042 per month (gross) in the first year and increasing up to EUR 2,612 per month (gross) in the last year. Moreover 8% bonus share (holiday supplement) and 8.3% bonus share (end-of-the-year allowance) are provided annually. Assistance for finding accommodation can be given.

Information

Further information about the project, including a full project description, can be obtained from Dr. Panos Markopoulos, Dept of Industrial Design, phone +31 (0)40 247 5247,please mail:
P.Markopoulos@tue.nl

General information about the organization and the hiring process can be requested from Ms. Julma Braat, personnel department, Dept of Industrial Design, phone +31 (0)40 247 5883, e-mail:
j.a.c.l.braat@tue.nl

Application

Applications are due by 1 September 2009. Please send a written application or e-mail, including a letter explaining your specific interest in the project and extensive curriculum vitae, to the following address:

Technische Universiteit Eindhoven
Department of Industrial Design
Attn. Ms. JA.C.L. Braat, room HG 3.93
P.O. Box 513
5600 MB Eindhoven
The Netherlands

Or by e-mail to:
j.a.c.l.braat@tue.nl

Please include vacancy code V51.073

You can apply for this job before 01-09-2009

Official announcement can be obtained at:
http://vacatures-v2.tue.nl/vacature.aspx?vacaturenummer=V51.073&Taal=EN

Please kindly mention Scholarshiponline.info when applying for this scholarship