UCD Post-doctoral Research Fellow Level 2 # 014155

The School of Computer Science at University College Dublin invites applications for a full-time, 2-year fixed term position as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow with the HCI@UCD research group and ADAPT SFI Research Centre. The overall vision of ADAPT is to pioneer new forms of proactive and integrated AI-driven Digital Technology that empower individuals and society. This position is in the area of Human Computer Interaction and will focus on the issue of user autonomy in interactions with intelligent systems.

Autonomy is considered fundamental to human motivation and wellbeing. It is a complex experience, and becomes more complex still when interacting with intelligent computer systems that have the potential to become co-actors. As a phenomena autonomy be can approached from diverse perspectives and within different timeframes. We can for example consider users’ sense of agency or control in their moment-to-moment interactions with multimodal or predictive interfaces. Equally autonomy can be expressed through the choices we make, and are empowered to make, in using digital health technologies and interacting with recommender systems. On occasion we may even choose to cede autonomy to a machine, e.g. a self-driving car.

Research undertaken in this post will contribute to the our understanding of how to design interactive systems that support and respect human autonomy, whilst also maximising the potential of human-computer collaboration. The successful candidate will be expected to design and evaluate interactive probes or prototypes, and undertake user studies that explore the human experience of autonomy is specific interaction contexts. The exact context in which autonomy will be addressed is open to discussion and will be based on the joint interests of the research team and post-doctoral researcher. As such the post-doctoral research will be expected to both drive an individual research agenda and contribute to the broader agenda of the HCI@UCD research group.

HCI@UCD is an interdisciplinary research group bringing together designers, computer scientists, social and cognitive scientists. We have core research interests in areas including digital health technology, conversational user interfaces, user autonomy, and ethical aspects of design for HCI. We publish regularly at conferences including the ACM CHI and seek to develop technologies that have a positive impact on society.

The successful candidate will be expected to play a full role in the HCI@UCD group, e.g. by helping to mentor PhD students, collaborating with other post-doctoral researchers, and by actively participating in group meetings and seminars. As a member of the ADAPT Centre the successful candidate will also be expected to assist in identifying future funding opportunities and in preparing funding proposals at both a national and international level, and with industry partners.

This is an advanced research focused role, building on your prior experience as a post-doctoral fellow, where you will conduct a specified programme of research supported by research training under the supervision and direction of a Principal Investigator.

The primary purpose of the role is to develop new or advanced research skills and competences, on the processes of publication in peer-reviewed academic publications and scholarly dissemination, the development of funding proposals, and the supervision and mentorship of graduate students along with the opportunity to develop your skills in research led teaching.

Competition closes:  16th February 2022

Apply Below (Ref: 014155)

https://www.ucd.ie/workatucd/jobs/