PhD student in Computer and Systems Sciences, with focus on Adaptive Immersive Experiences

The Department of Computer and Systems Sciences. With over 200 employees and 4,500 students, the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences (DSV) is a strong and dynamic research and educational environment. The discipline of computer and systems sciences bridges the gap between technology and the humanities, social sciences, and behavioral sciences, with great relevance to our lives today and in the future. Our research addresses how new information and communication technology should be designed to benefit people, organizations and entire societies.

DSV offers a stimulating research community in an international environment. As a doctoral student at DSV, you study together with many other doctoral students, collaborate with senior research colleagues and get connected to other researchers in Sweden and abroad. DSV’s location is Stockholm University's campus in Kista, north of central Stockholm.

More information about us, please visit: the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences.

Project description

Immersive devices, from smart glasses to mixed reality headsets, are gaining the ability to sense the context surrounding a user, where they are, what they are doing, who they are with, and how the physical and digital environment is changing around them. This contextual awareness opens the door to experiences that adapt themselves in real time, rather than treating every user and every moment the same way. At the same time, it raises open questions about how much a system should infer, and how that inference should be built responsibly.

This PhD project investigates how immersive technologies can serve as a hands-free medium for enabling new kinds of interaction with digitally-enhanced physical spaces, and for adapting behavior based on contextual data. It involves the design, implementation, and evaluation of artifacts that integrate immersive experiences across the XR spectrum (augmented, virtual, and mixed reality) with real-time machine learning algorithms applied to interaction data.

This project will provide insights into:

• design principles and prototypes for context-aware, hands-free interaction in XR
• empirical evidence on how real-time machine learning on interaction data can support adaptive behavior in digitally-enhanced physical spaces
• frameworks for building such context-aware systems responsibly and transparently.

The position entails research and teaching activities at DSV's ExtralityLab, a dedicated space for immersive technologies, tangible interaction, and data science, with access to state-of-the-art XR hardware and infrastructure, a collaborative interdisciplinary research environment, and the opportunity to work alongside on real-world applications. The candidate will work closely with two senior researchers and one postdoctoral fellow.

The project is part of a vibrant academic community with a strong international network, offering opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, seminars, and scientific exchange within both academia and industry. In addition to a competitive salary and wellness benefits, the candidate is offered strong support for academic development, including funding for books, conference travel, and professional growth opportunities.

Qualification requirements

In order to be admitted to postgraduate education, the applicant must have the general and specific entry requirements. The qualification requirements must be met by the deadline for applications.

You meet general entry requirements if you have completed a second-cycle degree, or completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

Specific entry requirements are described in the general syllabus for doctoral studies in the field of Computer and Systems Sciences and state that the applicant must have completed courses at second-cycle level in Computer and Systems Sciences with a minimum of 60 higher education credits or equivalent. The applicant must also have completed a degree project (thesis) of at least 15 higher education credits. In addition, the applicant is required to have English language skills equivalent of Common European Framework of Reference for Languages Level B2.

Selection

The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their capacity to benefit from the training. The following criteria will be used to assess this capacity:

• Independence in the analysis and organization of the earlier scientific work
• Problem formulation and rigor in previous scientific work and in the research plan
• Previously shown ability to keep the specified time limits
• Methodological and scientific maturity
• Communication and cooperation skills
• Subject specific knowledge relevant to education. 

The following will be considered meritorious:

• Oral proficiency in English, demonstrating analytical thinking, initiative, creativity, and independence
• Relevant experience in research environments within the domain of computer science, digital media, HCI, or similar
• Technical skills to build of interactive media such as games, apps, or XR experiences with game engines
• Understanding of underlying mechanisms behind machine learning algorithms for time series and tabular data.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University.

About the employment

We offer a fixed-term employment as a doctoral student according to Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). The period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for four years. As a doctoral student, you should primarily devote yourself to your own doctoral education, but the employment may include work with education, research and administration to a limited extent (maximum 20 %).

A new employment as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, the employment is then renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact

For more information, please contact Associate Professor Donald McMillan, [email protected], and Associate Senior Lecturer Luis Quintero, [email protected], or Director of PhD studies, Åsa Smedberg, [email protected].

Application

Apply for the PhD student position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach a personal letter and CV as well as the attachments requested in the application form. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline. We recommend that the application, with associated documents, be written in English.

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

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