Agents, Interactions & Complexity

Location:  Highfield Campus
Salary:   £31,406 to £38,587 per annum
Full Time Fixed Term for 36 months
Closing Date:  Thursday 21 October 2021
Interview Date:   To be confirmed
Reference:  1512521FP

Want to make 'normal better?'

We are giving you the opportunity to be involved in internationally leading research to explore (1) where the innovative design of interactive computational technology (2) using the inbodied interaction design approach (3) can help #makeNormalBetter for all, at scale, so that (4) everyone can feel better, perform better, create better, live better. 

Consider - how would you design computational, interactive systems to help “make normal better” for all, at scale? How would you create those tools that will work for individuals, groups and infrastructure?  

Just imagine: How your neighbourhood would look like if it supported healthful living for all? How would food shopping be different? Transportation? The built environment?  

What if we designed systems to enable us to optimally access the “in5” of Move, Eat, Engage, Cogitate and Sleep (MEECS), and the “c4” of Gravity, Air, Microbiome, and Light (GAML)?

How could a workplace be re-imagined, so that people weren’t sitting all day? Where we designed for doses of natural light or encounters with diverse microbiota?  Or where people with two jobs, with little time to make meals, had ready access to tasty, healthy foods? What if a “mobile office” was a way of working, rather than another name for a laptop?  

What might you build? How would you co-design it?  

You can help us to #makeNormalBetter?  

If these challenges are motivating to you, come join us, and help us advance our internationally leading research. The WellthLab needs your input to drive our research

To be successful, you will need to have research interests in human performance, around health and wellbeing, and hold a PhD* in a relevant area for example Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction or equivalent professional qualifications and experience.. Ideally, but not exclusively, a Computer Science PhD in Human Computer Interaction. You’ll also need a working knowledge of Inbodied Interaction research, and be able to explain how you would use this approach to help make normal better. You can find background information on our research and theory on the WellthLab website.

As part of our computing-based approach, you’ll also need the skills to prototype and test ideas a using at least Javascript and React – for iOS and Android - as well as having knowledge of mixed-methods research and experience running user studies. You will be comfortable analysing study data using statistics, and complementing quantitative analysis with qualitative methods. Having qualifications in some motor learning activity such as acoustic instrument performance, or team or individual sport would be a benefit. Interest in physiological signal processing from EEG to breathing is welcome as well.

If these challenges are of interest to you, if these ideas set your hair on fire, and if have the drive to do the hard work to succeed as an international researcher apply. We’ll help you build your career while you help us all #makeNormalBetter.  

Prior to putting in your application, please visit the WellthLab website - in particular the Primer on Inbodied Interaction Design. If you are selected for interview you will be required to articulate how you Inbodied Interaction Design can be applied to a design problem.

If you have any questions, please contact prof m.c. schraefel directly at hrit-rf@nopain2.org

Equality, diversity and Inclusion is central to the ethos in the School of Electronics and Computer Science. We particularly encourage women, Black, Asian and minority ethnic, LGBT and disabled applicants to apply for this position. We are committed to improving equality for women in science and have been successful in achieving an  Athena SWAN bronze award in April 2020.   We give full consideration to applicants that wish to work flexibly including part-time and due consideration will be given to applicants who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy**, onsite childcare facilities

The University of Southampton is in the top 1% of world universities and in the top 10 of the UK’s research-intensive universities. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and being a globally responsible university and has recently been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.  Our vision is to embed the principles of sustainability into all aspects of our individual and collective work, integrating sustainable development into our business planning, policy-making, and professional activities.  This commits all of our staff and students to take responsibility for managing their activities to minimise harm to the environment, whether this through switching off non-essential electrical equipment or using the recycling facilities.

 **subject to qualifying criteria

*Applications for Research Fellow positions will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification. The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon successful completion of the PhD. Prior to the qualification being awarded, the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.

You should submit your completed online application form at https://jobs.soton.ac.uk. The application deadline will be midnight on the closing date stated above. If you need any assistance, please call Lizzie Cessford (Recruitment Team) on +44 (0) 23 8059 2750, or email recruitment@soton.ac.uk. Please quote reference 1512521FP on all correspondence.