PhD Position on Interaction Design for Human-robot Teamwork in Hospital Environments
University of Twente
State University (Netherlands), Browse similar opportunities
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State University (Netherlands), Browse similar opportunities
For the next 15 years, a greater demand for well-trained healthcare workers is expected. Yet, current trends identified by the World Health Organization indicate shortages of such workers. One of the key factors that contributes to this trend is the high rate of repetitive strain injuries sustained by healthcare workers due to ergonomic risks on the job. To support these workers, a robot for mobile manipulation could collaborate with the workers and possibly reduce some of the ergonomic risks of the job. For instance, by collaborating with workers during sorting tasks, and through the delivery of time-sensitive (bio) materials.
We are seeking a PhD student for the full-time 4-year project on “Interaction Design for Human-Robot Teamwork in Hospital Environments”. The goal of this PhD research project is to design and evaluate the physical shape, movement, and interaction of mobile collaborative robots, drawing upon the expertise of theatre actors. This will result in a set of guidelines for eliciting appropriate expectations, feelings of safety, intent communication and intuitiveness for mobile manipulation robots.
You will be responsible for:
You will be positioned in the Human Media Interaction (HMI) group of the University of Twente, the Netherlands, and you will be a part of a dynamic, multidisciplinary team. The HMI lab does research into multimodal interaction: from brain computer interfaces to social robots. It is a multidisciplinary group in which computer science meets social science to investigate and design and evaluate novel forms of human-computer interaction. In addition, the PhD student will be part of a larger European project called Harmony. This EU project aims to develop assistive robotic mobile manipulation technologies for use in hospital environments. The Harmony consortium is a partnership made up for various entities: six university research departments, two hospitals, and two companies. The PhD student is expected to work in close collaboration with these partners.
The applicant is a team player: cooperation in a multi-disciplinary project team is required for realizing the project objectives. We are looking for an applicant who works on the intersection of technology and social sciences. Ideally someone who is interested and has some experience working across disciplines, such as design, the social sciences, computer science, and the arts.
As a PhD student at the UT, you will be appointed on a full-time position for four years, with a qualifier in the first year, within a very stimulating scientific environment;
Please send your application before 01 March 2021 via the 'Apply now' button, and include:
For more information about the HMI group, click here.
If you have further questions, please contact Vanessa Evers (vanessa.evers@ntu.edu.sg) or Bob Schadenberg (b.r.schadenberg@utwente.nl)
The faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) uses mathematics, electronics and computer technology to contribute to the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). With ICT present in almost every device and product we use nowadays, we embrace our role as contributors to a broad range of societal activities and as pioneers of tomorrow's digital society. As part of a people-first tech university that aims to shape society, individuals and connections, our faculty works together intensively with industrial partners and researchers in the Netherlands and abroad, and conducts extensive research for external commissioning parties and funders. Our research has a high profile both in the Netherlands and internationally. It has been accommodated in three multidisciplinary UT research institutes: Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Centre and Digital Society Institute.
As an employer, the EEMCS Faculty offers jobs that matter. We equip you as a staff member to shape new opportunities both for yourself and for our society. With our Faculty, you will be part of a leading tech university that is changing our world for the better. We offer an open, inclusive and entrepreneurial climate, in which we encourage you to make healthy choices, for example, with our flexible, customizable conditions.
University of Twente (UT)
University of Twente (UT) has entered the new decade with an ambitious, new vision, mission and strategy. As ‘the ultimate people-first university of technology' we are rapidly expanding on our High Tech Human Touch philosophy and the unique role it affords us in society. Everything we do is aimed at maximum impact on people, society and connections through the sustainable utilisation of science and technology. We want to contribute to the development of a fair, digital and sustainable society through our open, inclusive and entrepreneurial attitude. This attitude permeates everything we do and is present in every one of UT's departments and faculties. Building on our rich legacy in merging technical and social sciences, we focus on five distinguishing research domains: Improving healthcare by personalised technologies; Creating intelligent manufacturing systems; Shaping our world with smart materials; Engineering our digital society; and Engineering for a resilient world.
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