PhD position: natural haptic interactions for augmented and virtual reality.

We are seeking a highly-motivated PhD candidate to work in the Perceptual Intelligence Labs, Department of Industrial Design Engineering, at the TU Delft, within a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, engineers, physicists, and designers. The PhD position is part of a Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Horizon2020 project (H-Reality) focused on creating contact and contactless haptic virtual reality experience. The position involves conducting research on haptic interactions in everyday environments, identifying their salient features and, in collaboration with the partners in the project, translating these into virtual reality. The work will primarily involve designing paradigms and conducting experiments to measure and evaluate haptic experiences. The PhD candidate will be encouraged to spend time with both the other academic and industry partners at different stages of the project.

We are interested in candidates with possible expertise in several potential areas, including any of the following:

- Experimental psychology

- Signal processing

- Probabilistic and computational models of behaviour

- Mechanical engineering

Consideration will be given to candidates with strong quantitative skills and a recent completion of their masters (or equivalent) in a related field (e.g., haptic or auditory science, experimental psychology, computer science, mechanical engineering, neuroscience, physics). An interest in virtual or augmented reality systems, perception, psychophysics and data analysis is desirable, as well as the ability to communicate scientific ideas, both in written and oral form, and an ability to learn new skills.

Fixed-term contract: Temorary.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. An International Children’s Centre offers childcare and an international primary school. Dual Career Services offers support to accompanying partners. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment; an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor; and a Doctoral Education Programme aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. Please visit www.graduateschool.tudelft.nl for more information.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands is a modern university with a rich tradition. Its eight faculties and over 40 English-language Master programmes are at the forefront of technological development, contributing to scientific advancement in the interests of society. Ranked among the top universities of technology in the world (20th in 2017 QS world ranking Engineering & Technology), TU Delft’s excellent research and education standards are supported by outstanding facilities and research institutes. TU Delft maintains close links with inter- and national industry, a strategic alliance contributing to the relevance of its academic programmes and career prospects for its graduates. TU Delft is also a member of the IDEA league of five leading engineering universities in Europe, as well as CESAER, the association of European schools of technology and engineering.

https://www.tudelft.nl

Faculty Industrial Design Engineering

The faculty of Industrial Design Engineering is the largest and broadest scientific design institute in the world, with over 2,000 students, more than 6,000 alumni and 300 staff (researchers and lecturers, including designers from industrial practice). The faculty aims to contribute to a better living environment and respond to social challenges by combining human values and desires with technological feasibility and economic viability. We are excellently placed to do so, as we ground design methods and skills in scientific knowledge from a wide range of disciplines, leading to concrete solutions.

The Perceptual Intelligence lab (π-lab) is a multidisciplinary task-force collaboration with 7 staff members, headed by prof. Pont. The lab is unique for its applied cross-disciplinary approach to real-world perception problems and ecological optics of light, exploration of natural haptic interactions and materials. Facilities include unique, partly custom-built, state-of-the-art photographic and photometric equipment, goniometer, photographic studio, several custom-built lighting setups, stereoscopic imaging, mechanical and electrical workshops with full-time staff. In addition, we have custom-built highly deformable PMDS thimble sensors for haptic interaction measurements, two Futek load cells (FUTEK L2357+JM-2A, 45N max), among a range of other sensors and 3D scanning and printing facilities.

The i-Touch lab haptics group was established in 2017 as part of the Perceptual Intelligence lab as part of a Delft Technology Fellowship awarded to Dr. Hartcher-O'Brien. Dr. Hartcher-O'Brien has built her international reputation working on haptic perception, sensory augmentation and compuational touch, as well as mechanisms and models of multisensory integration.

https://www.tudelft.nl/en/ide/