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 Context
In the past, cyberattacks would be largely limited to cyberspace, but since the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) they now routinely extend to the physical world, with smart homes, cars, wearables and other highly computerized and networked systems becoming victim to cyberattacks. In the European project 'Cocoon: Emotion psychology meets cyber-physical security in IoT smart homes' the focus is on smart homes. The home ought to be a safe haven where the occupant can experience a sense of privacy and control, of personal autonomy, and the integrity of one's self and one's family members. These qualities are at stake when the IoT network security is compromised. This project is a collaboration between TU/e,  University of Reading, University of Greenwich, Gent University, and ETH Zurich.

Goal of the project
The project combines technological research in the domain of cybersecurity and psychological research on users' reactions to IoT or smart home related cyberattacks, including, for example, their risk perceptions, their appraisals of the situation, and their emotional reactions. By taking such interdisciplinary approach, the project aims to better understand the risks and possible long-terms consequences of cyberattacks, but also to develop and test novel tools for intrusion detection that include the user as a central part of the intrusion detection system. A large part of the research will be conducted in naturalistic field trials involving households in the participating countries. The HTI group will be actively involved in setting up these field trials and conducting psychological research, both qualitative and quantitative, aimed at explaining the short- and long-term effects of cyberattacks on occupants' well-being, and the possible role of moderating personal variables.

The candidate should have a PhD in environmental psychology, social psychology, human-technology interaction, or a related discipline. We are looking for candidates with an interest in developing and conducting psychological research in the context of smart homes, and to inform the user-centered design of IoT security tools. Candidates who are knowledgeable of or have an affinity with people-place relations and place attachment are in particular invited to apply. Candidates should have proven track record in managing, designing and conducting field research, and have solid experience with empirical research methods and the analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data. Successful candidates have excellent writing and documentation skills, good analytical and research capabilities, and excellent communication and organization skills, in particular in the context of multidisciplinary and international research projects.

We offer:

a challenging job in a dynamic and ambitious University;

full-time employment as a Postdoctoral research for a period of 22 months;

gross salary is in the range of € 43.417 - € 56.996 per annum (on a full-time basis), this includes 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end of year allowance;

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