We are looking for an enthusiastic and creative researcher to fill a 5-years PhD position (1.0 FTE) on Social Human-Robot Interaction. The position has 70% time allocated for research and 30% for teaching. This should allow candidates to start developing balanced academic careers as independent researchers and competent teachers.

The task of the PhD candidate is to perform research on social human-robot interaction, develop human-robot interaction scenarios, conduct well-designed research studies, publish the results at international conferences and in scientific journals, complete a PhD thesis, support teaching courses, and guide student projects. The starting date is negotiable, although a preferred start is during the Fall of 2019.

Research tasks
The candidate will join the Human-Centered Computing group of Prof. Judith Masthoff to conduct research in the field of social human-robot interaction. Socially intelligent robots are starting to penetrate our everyday lives. Increasingly, these robots are not only sharing our physical space but also hold joint goals and beliefs to achieve a common task through their interactions. Therefore, robots should be able to interact with us intuitively through speech, gestures, and facial expressions. Despite of various contributions to the field of human-robot interaction, designing social human-robot interaction remains a tangible challenge. The candidate is allowed to work on any relevant topic that would enhance our understanding of social human-robot interaction. They will therefore pioneer their own projects and investigate the cutting edge of the field of human-robot interaction. The candidate will work under the supervision of dr. Maartje de Graaf.

Teaching tasks
The candidate is expected to be involved in teaching activities within the department of Information and Computing Sciences. Teaching activities may include supporting senior teaching staff, teach practical classes, tutoring student projects, and supervising thesis students, which will contribute to the development of the didactic skills of the candidate.

The successful PhD candidate is an excellent student and holds a Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Information Science, Psychology, or a related field. Previous experience in human-robot interaction would be a plus. Strong written and oral communication skills in English and interest in research and teaching in information or computer science are required.

Candidates of all nationalities may apply. The university is striving for a more even gender balance in its research and teaching staff; hence, women are especially encouraged to apply for these positions. Applicants are encouraged to mention any personal circumstances that need to be taken into account in their evaluation, for example parental leave or military service.

This is an appointment of 1.0 FTE for the duration of 5 years. The gross salary starts with €2,325 per month in the first year and increases to €2,972 per month in the third year of employment (scale P according to the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities) for a full-time employment.

Besides that, you will receive a holiday allowance of 8 % and a year-end bonus of 8.3 %. Utrecht University also has an appealing package of terms of employment, including the choice for a good balance between work and private (a good arrangement for leave, among other things), possibilities for development and an excellent pension scheme. More information on working at Utrecht University can be found here.

We offer an exciting opportunity to contribute to an ambitious and international bachelor programme with highly motivated students and to conduct your own research project at a renowned research university. You will receive appropriate training, personal supervision, and guidance for both your research and teaching tasks, providing an excellent start to an academic career.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

The city of Utrecht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, with a charming old centre and an internationally oriented culture that is strongly influenced by its century-old university. Utrecht city has been consistently ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the Netherlands.

The Faculty of Science consists of six Departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information and Computing Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry and Mathematics. The Faculty is home to 6,500 students and nearly 1,500 staff and is internationally renowned for the quality of its research. The Faculty's academic programmes reflect developments in today's society. Read the overall impression 2018 of the Faculty of Science.

The Department of Information and Computing Sciences is nationally and internationally renowned for its research in Computing Science and Information Science. Current research groups are Algorithmic Data Analysis, Algorithms and Complexity, Decision Support Systems, Simulation of Complex Systems, Geometric Computing, Multimedia, Human-Centered Computing, Social and Affective Computing, Visualisation and Graphics, Interaction Technology, Process Management and Analytics, Organization and Information, Natural Language Processing, Intelligent Systems, Data Intensive Systems, Software Technology and Software Technology of Learning and Teaching. Relevant areas of interdisciplinary research include Game Research, Foundations of Complex Systems, Applied Data Science and Integrative Bioinformatics. The Department has, among others, close collaborations with the University Medical Center, the Departments of Physics and Mathematics, and the Faculties of Humanities and Geosciences.

The Department offers Bachelor programmes in Computer Science and Information Science, and four English language research Master programmes in Artificial Intelligence, Business Informatics, Computing Science, Human-Computer Interaction, and Game and Media Technology. The Department is developing Master programmes in Data Science. High enrolment figures and good student ratings make the education very successful.