PhD Research Fellowship in Informatics University of Oslo, Department of Informatics

One position as PhD Research fellow is available at the Design of Information system (DESIGN) group at the Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Norway (Norway's largest university department for education and research in Computer Science and related topics, see http://www.mn.uio.no/ifi/english), as a part of the Research Council of Norway funded project Multimodal Elderly Care Systems (MECS). The project aims at working with extending the capabilities of robot companions (in sensing, learning and prediction of future events) to be applied in elderly care at home. The fellowship will be for a period of 3 years, possibly with an option for extension of the employment period by 4 months depending background and qualifications for additional duty work which typically includes work on courses (lecturing, preparation and organizing of exercises etc). No one can be appointed for more than one fixed-term period at the same institution. The MECS project encourages a stay of up to 6 months with one of the international project partners. The starting date is no later than 20 August 2016. Project description The Design of Information Systems group focuses on research in human-computer interaction and participatory design. The MECS project links to the Design group's current research on "welfare technology": technical solutions aimed at assisting people to participate in the welfare state and make use of public services (like health care, tax). The research fellow will be a part of ongoing research in the group contributing to making welfare technology that can be integrated into the Internet of things in the home, in particular for elderly people living independently at home. The research applies a participatory design approach, working with the users in designing the solutions, hence the applicant should be fluent in a Scandinavian language (preferably Norwegian). The focus of the fellowship is tailoring of interaction mechanisms to elderly people. As a start, we would explore how robots can replace or add to existing technologies for safety and communication in the home, e.g., stationary sensors (stove alarm, fall detector) and wearable technologies (safety alarm). Will a moving "safety robot" be able to replace or enhance these technologies? A robot may feel more controllable than almost invisible sensors, and may also increase the privacy of the user. Can a "safety robot" also address other challenges for elderly users, like medication, nutrition or fluid balance? An additional challenge for the project is to make the robot robust enough to be usable in the homes of elderly people, who have no knowledge or interest in the technical solution. People's homes are often cluttered with furniture and things; hence the robot needs to be designed for difficult physical environments. In this project we are interested in equipping robot companions with complementary sensor systems to be able to sense the state of humans and their environment. Furthermore, by modeling the normal behavior of the human, we want to explore the possibility for predicting future non-normal behavior and events. This would be undertaken by an autonomous mobile robot not compromising the privacy of the human or the quality of the measurements. The fellow will have the main responsibility for exploring the functionality of such a home robot, potential interaction mechanisms, and for designing and evaluating the robot for and with users in real use settings. S/he will work with two other MECS fellows, who will have the main responsibility for programming the robot and for realizing the wanted movements and functioning in the home. Qualifications The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition of being a leading research faculty. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials. Applicants must hold a Master's degree or equivalent in Informatics, preferably including interaction design as well as user-oriented design methods (participatory design). Experience in programming will be an advantage. The applicant must be fluent in Norwegian or a Scandinavian language. Candidates without a Master's degree have until 30 June, 2016 to complete the final exam. The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. The fellowship requires admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The application to the PhD programme must be submitted to the department no later than two months after taking up the position. For more information see: Organized research training: PhD Research education: The PhD programme Salary: Position code 1017, Pay grade: 50 - 57 (NOK 430 500 – 483 700 per year) The application must include: Application letter CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications) Copies of educational certificates, transcript of records and letters of recommendation Documentation of English proficiency The most relevant and important publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee (maximum 5) Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number) Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please remember that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language. In accordance with the University of Oslo's equal opportunities policy, we invite applications from all interested individuals regardless of gender or ethnicity. UiO has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results a.o. If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Computeroxy

One position as PhD Research fellow is available at the Design of Information system (DESIGN) group at the Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Norway (Norway's largest university department for education and research in Computer Science and related topics, see http://www.mn.uio.no/ifi/english), as a part of the Research Council of Norway funded project Multimodal Elderly Care Systems (MECS). The project aims at working with extending the capabilities of robot companions (in sensing, learning and prediction of future events) to be applied in elderly care at home.

The fellowship will be for a period of 3 years, possibly with an option for extension of the employment period by 4 months depending background and qualifications for additional duty work which typically includes work on courses (lecturing, preparation and organizing of exercises etc). No one can be appointed for more than one fixed-term period at the same institution. The MECS project encourages a stay of up to 6 months with one of the international project partners. The starting date is no later than 20 August 2016.

Project description

The Design of Information Systems group focuses on research in human-computer interaction and participatory design. The MECS project links to the Design group's current research on "welfare technology": technical solutions aimed at assisting people to participate in the welfare state and make use of public services (like health care, tax). The research fellow will be a part of ongoing research in the group contributing to making welfare technology that can be integrated into the Internet of things in the home, in particular for elderly people living independently at home. The research applies a participatory design approach, working with the users in designing the solutions, hence the applicant should be fluent in a Scandinavian language (preferably Norwegian).

The focus of the fellowship is tailoring of interaction mechanisms to elderly people. As a start, we would explore how robots can replace or add to existing technologies for safety and communication in the home, e.g., stationary sensors (stove alarm, fall detector) and wearable technologies (safety alarm). Will a moving "safety robot" be able to replace or enhance these technologies? A robot may feel more controllable than almost invisible sensors, and may also increase the privacy of the user. Can a "safety robot" also address other challenges for elderly users, like medication, nutrition or fluid balance? An additional challenge for the project is to make the robot robust enough to be usable in the homes of elderly people, who have no knowledge or interest in the technical solution. People's homes are often cluttered with furniture and things; hence the robot needs to be designed for difficult physical environments.

In this project we are interested in equipping robot companions with complementary sensor systems to be able to sense the state of humans and their environment. Furthermore, by modeling the normal behavior of the human, we want to explore the possibility for predicting future non-normal behavior and events. This would be undertaken by an autonomous mobile robot not compromising the privacy of the human or the quality of the measurements.

The fellow will have the main responsibility for exploring the functionality of such a home robot, potential interaction mechanisms, and for designing and evaluating the robot for and with users in real use settings. S/he will work with two other MECS fellows, who will have the main responsibility for programming the robot and for realizing the wanted movements and functioning in the home.

Qualifications
The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition of being a leading research faculty. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

Applicants must hold a Master's degree or equivalent in Informatics, preferably including interaction design as well as user-oriented design methods (participatory design). Experience in programming will be an advantage. The applicant must be fluent in Norwegian or a Scandinavian language.

Candidates without a Master's degree have until 30 June, 2016 to complete the final exam.

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree.

The fellowship requires admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The application to the PhD programme must be submitted to the department no later than two months after taking up the position. For more information see:

Organized research training: PhD

Research education: The PhD programme

Salary:

Position code 1017, Pay grade: 50 - 57 (NOK 430 500 – 483 700 per year)

The application must include:

Application letter
CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
Copies of educational certificates, transcript of records and letters of recommendation
Documentation of English proficiency
The most relevant and important publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee (maximum 5)
Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please remember that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language.

In accordance with the University of Oslo's equal opportunities policy, we invite applications from all interested individuals regardless of gender or ethnicity.

UiO has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results a.o.

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Computeroxy