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PhD Candidate in Interaction Design and Learning Technologies

Employer
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - NTNU
Location
Trondheim, Norway
Closing date
11 Oct 2022

About the position

For a position as a PhD Candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree. We have a vacancy for a PhD candidate in Interaction Design and Learning Technologies.

The successful candidate is expected to be a member of the Learner-Computer Interaction (LCI) lab. LCI provides an interdisciplinary playground for researchers and professionals across all areas of learning technologies, psychology, learning sciences and interaction design. More information about the LCI lab can be found here: https://lci.idi.ntnu.no/.

Designing the conditions for engaging in meaningful learning and supporting the students are vital but challenging processes. Contemporary learning systems utilize data such as keystrokes, log files, and clicks to interpret complex learning phenomena. In recent years, multimodal data’s potential to help us understand the world around us and interpret the complex learning processes in it led learning technology research to develop models that can process information from multiple modalities. Although the collection, interpretation, and visualization of multimodal data has been extremely challenging for researchers, recent technological developments and data science, and AI advancements have boosted the growth of non-invasive high-frequency multimodal-data collections.

This position is expected to contribute on designing the conditions and tools for engaging learning by taking into consideration the aforementioned advancements (e.g., multimodal data, AI/ML). The objectives and the research questions of this PhD project will be developed in consultation with the supervisor during the first months of the fellowship. 

The position reports to Head of the Department of Computer Science.

Duties of the position

The goal of this project is to explore the potential of multimodal data for understanding learners’ cognition, emotion, attention, information acquisition and more. This work will build on an interdisciplinary approach, bridging the domains of learning sciences, interaction design, and learning technology. We are seeking a highly motivated individual that wants to excel in a research environment.

Part of the main duties and responsibilities include conducting the following tasks:

  • Conduct a literature review
  • Plan and conduct empirical studies
  • Collect and analyze empirical data 
  • Write up reports and research articles

Required selection criteria

The PhD-position's main objective is to qualify for work in research positions. The qualification requirement is that you have completed a master’s degree or second degree (equivalent to 120 credits) with a strong academic background in interaction design, learning technology, learner/human-centered design or equivalent education with a grade of B or better in terms of NTNU’s grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you are unable to meet these criteria you may be considered only if you can document that you are particularly suitable for education leading to a PhD degree. You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's doctoral program.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with  Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant  

Preferred selection criteria

  • A solid knowledge on Human-Computer Interaction and Learning Technologies is essential, and a research-oriented master thesis within one of these or related areas is expected
  • Hands-on experience with conducting user studies and collecting, and analyzing data
  • A solid knowledge of research methods
  • Good programming skills
  • Good written and oral English skills. Applicants must provide evidence of good English language skills, written and spoken. The following tests can be used as such documentation: TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE). Minimum scores are:
    • TOEFL: 600 (paper-based test), 92 (Internet-based test)
    • IELTS: 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5 (only Academic IELTS test accepted)
    • CAE/CPE: grade B or A.
  • In extraordinary circumstances, formal documentation of language skills can be relinquished. In such cases the candidate’s language skills will be assessed in a personal interview

The following qualifications will be considered as an advantage:

  • Relevant experience as a research assistant in research projects
  • Published or submitted relevant research work

Emphasis will be put on personal qualities and potential as a researcher. High importance will also be attached to personal communication and cooperation skills.

Potential successful candidate will be interviewed via Skype or other means.

Personal characteristics

  • Excellent analytical skills
  • Ability to work independently as well as in teams
  • Result-oriented
  • Strong motivation to contribute to good working and social environment

We offer

Salary and conditions

As a PhD candidate (code 1017) you are normally paid from gross NOK 501 200 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 4 years with required duties.

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in Computer Science within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period. 

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.

After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution daily.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above. 

The application must include:

  • One-page cover letter including your motivation and how your background would fit the position
  • Information about education and relevant experience (academic CV)
  • Certified copies of academic diplomas and certificates
  • Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a or a similar document, which describes in detail the study and grading system and the rights for further studies associated with the obtained degree
  • The master thesis and any other work which the applicant wishes to be considered should clearly indicate the applicant's contribution
  • Names and contact information of at least two references

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both bachelor's and master's education, in addition to other higher education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well.

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal suitability.

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.

General information

Working at NTNU

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. 

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Assoc. Prof. Kshitij Sharma, e-mail kshitij.sharma@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR at the Department, e-mail hr@idi.ntnu.no.

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.  

Application deadline: 11.10.22

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Computer Science 

We are the leading academic IT environment in Norway, and offer a wide range of theoretical and applied IT programmes of study at all levels. Our subject areas include hardware, algorithms, visual computing, AI, databases, software engineering, information systems, learning technology, HCI, CSCW, IT operations and applied data processing. The Department has groups in both Trondheim and Gjøvik. The Department of Computer Science is one of seven departments in the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering .

Deadline 11th October 2022
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Campus Gløshaugen

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