The Department of Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences (IE&IS) has several BSc and MSc programs in two separate schools. The School of Innovation Sciences focuses on the development and use of new technologies in a broad societal context. Research is multi-disciplinary, based on fundamental scientific insights and methods. Main areas of interest are economics and sociology of technological developments, sustainable innovation policy, human-technology interaction, and the history and philosophy of technology.

The Human-Technology Interaction (HTI) Group of the School of Innovation Sciences concentrates expertise in both social sciences and engineering, studying technology and its relations to humans and human well-being, within the broader context of a socially and ecologically sustainable society. The HTI group has a strong track record in education at the TU/e, running the BSc program Psychology and Technology and a (international) Master program in Human-Technology Interaction. Current research topics at the Human-Technology Interaction group include data science, affective computing, persuasive technology, virtual environments, digital gaming, recommender systems, online behavior, interactive lighting, robotics, embodied interfaces, and smart environments.

Project description
A postdoctoral Researcher position is available within the context of the NWO funded VIDI project 'Increasing the Reliability and Efficiency of Psychological Science'. The candidate will conduct research on meta-science, studying the interface between experimental design, statistical inferences, and reward structures in science. The goal is to examine how research can be performed most reliably and efficiently, taking into account the goals and resources of individual researchers. The project focuses on examining how statistical decision theory can be applied to develop guidelines for real-life decisions by individuals or larger collectives of scientists who perform lines of research. Proposed guidelines will be examined through multi-agent simulation models, which will be developed based on realistic parameters about financial and time constraints, and the expected rewards of the performed research. These parameters will be based on information derived from the scientific literature, and based on questionnaire research collected from scientists. An overview of the underlying VIDI-project can be requested by email from Dr. D. Lakens (D.Lakens@tue.nl).

The selected applicant will work within the Human-Technology Interaction Group in the department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Science at Eindhoven University of Technology under the supervision of Dr. D. Lakens. Findings will be presented at (international) conferences and written up for publication in scientific journals. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with other team members of the VIDI project, as well as in collaboration with international scholars working on meta-science. The Postdoctoral Researcher/Assistant professor will contribute to teaching obligations within the department (to a maximum of 0.25 fte; lectures are taught in English), which can include contributing to Bachelor or Master courses, and supervision of Bachelor and Master theses (see https://www.tue.nl/universiteit/faculteiten/industrial-engineering-innovation-sciences/onderzoek/research-groups/human-technology-interaction/education/).

We are looking for applicants passionate about improving the way we do science, and who enjoy working in an extremely collaborative environment. The applicant should have:

A completed PhD in psychology, statistics, economics, or a closely related field. The candidate should show a demonstrable interest in the topics of the project.

Strong programming skills. Experience with R and Git is appreciated.

An excellent understanding of applied statistics.

Experience with performing scientific research in the social sciences.

Demonstrable teaching skills

Fluency in written and spoken English.

Part-time employment can be negotiated. We strongly encourage applications from members of groups underrepresented in science, and value a research group with diverse perspectives. The desired starting date is August/September 2018, but a later starting date can be negotiated.

We offer:

a challenging job in a dynamic and collaborative group and department;

a full-time appointment for 4 years, starting August or September 2018

a gross monthly salary between € 3.111,- and € 4.084,-, based on a full-time appointment and depending on experience and knowledge;

a yearly holiday allowance of 8% of the yearly salary;

a yearly end-of-year allowance of 8.3% of the yearly salary; and

a broad package of fringe benefits (including an excellent technical infrastructure, moving expenses, savings schemes, and excellent sports facilities).