PhD student Computer science, specialization “HCI and eHealth”

Background
“Human‑Computer Interaction and eHealth” is a research group in Hasselt University, building on more than 25 years of experience in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research, and research in interdisciplinary topics. The group hosts people from different nationalities and with different backgrounds, and closely collaborates with other research groups in UHasselt and elsewhere.
The (interdisciplinary) research topics are approached from an HCI/ computer science perspective, with innovation in HCI as well as innovation for stakeholders in application domains such as Health/Rehabilitation/Wellbeing in mind.
 
 
Some background info on the research group and its research lines can be found at:
 
https://www.uhasselt.be/en/research/research-groups/detail/14700-human-computer-interaction-and-ehealth
 
 

Job content
You will perform research in the domain of “Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and eHealth”, more specifically on HCI in the context of neurological rehabilitation.
One of the research lines of the research group “HCI and eHealth ” focuses on rehabilitation, for which a long lasting collaboration with the research group UHasselt-REVAL exists. Applications for persons with neurological disorders are part of this research spectrum, and a variety of concepts and applications is investigated. One of the research topics was rehabilitation robotics, with haptic interaction and serious games, for persons with MS or after a stroke. Telerehabilitation (with technology-supported rehabilitation at home) and “dual tasking” (cognitive tasks in combination with physical exercise) were also explored for the same target groups. Mobile applications enhancing the motivation to perform sufficient physical activity at home, and thus increasing the rehabilitation effect, were designed and evaluated in clinical studies.
Your PhD topic will align with the research on neurological rehabilitation, with a focus on applications in a home-based setting for diverse neurological disorders. We are particularly looking for a candidate who is keen on collaborating with domain experts and stakeholders, and who comes up with innovative concepts.
 
You will integrate “wearable devices” in mobile applications, and explore different sensors and “in-context” interactive questionnaires (ecological momentary assessment, EMA), both in a home-based setting and in a rehabilitation center (e.g. to detect fatigue in a certain context and provide therapy). Based on the collected data, you will design, develop and evaluate innovative applications.
 
The details of the PhD topic in HCI, resulting in a PhD in computer science, are defined in agreement between the advisor and you, with input from involved domain experts. This PhD can be appealing for researchers with interest in HCI and eHealth, wearable devices, behaviour change, motivational and persuasive HCI techniques, personalization techniques, decision support systems / recommendation approaches, AI algorithms working on collected health data etc.
 
Concrete research activities in the context of this PhD will include individual as well as team efforts, and involve identification of research problems in the aforementioned research line, coming up with creative concepts, designing and developing solutions (e.g. advanced software prototypes of mHealth applications), and evaluating the realizations from the perspective of users. Furthermore, you will contribute to the evaluation of their (medical) effectiveness in collaboration with other members of the team.
 
During the PhD you will successfully complete the doctoral program of the “Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology”.
 
You will also engage in a (limited) amount of educational tasks, in the bachelor and/or master computer science (informatics).

Profile

• You hold a master degree in computer science (informatics), or a master degree in an engineering discipline with specialization in IT/computer science. (or equivalent)
  Final-year students are (likewise) encouraged to apply.
• You can provide evidence of excellence based on your study results, and provide evidence of very good technical skills.
• Preferentially, you are strongly interested in and are proficient in software development, because the envisioned HCI research in this PhD is strongly software oriented.
• Experience in software development for web sites and mobile applications is desirable.
• Prior experience with the integration of wearable devices (smartwatches, sensors and trackers,…) in software applications is an advantage.
• Preferentially, you are specialized in Human Computer Interaction, via an educational program or additional training or experience. You can demonstrate these skills by mentioning projects that you performed, a thesis, experience in design and evaluation, methodological skills (e.g. participative / user-centered methodology).
• You have a fascination for HCI research, and you are able to work autonomously but also in a multidisciplinary team.
• You appreciate interaction with the stakeholders of the envisioned research, such as researchers with a background in relevant disciplines, patients and medical staff.
• You have excellent communication skills, both for oral and written communication in English, which is essential to function well in the context of the multidisciplinary research team. Communication skills in Dutch are considered an advantage in the context of educational tasks, but are not obligated at the start of the PhD.

Offer
You will be appointed and paid as PhD student.
We offer a PhD scholarship for 2 years, which is renewable for another 2 years after positive evaluation.

Selection procedure
You can only apply online up to and including 29 May 2024.
The selection procedure consists of a preselection based on application file and an interview.

Further information
Prof. dr. Karin CONINX, +32-11-268027, karin.coninx@uhasselt.be

For questions about the selection procedure, please email jobs@uhasselt.be.