Research Fellow in Human Computer (Data) Interaction (Fixed term)

We seek a talented researcher with a background in Human-Computer (Data) Interaction and/or IoT Design to research and contribute to an exciting new 2-year £1.2m interdisciplinary research project funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council called “Fixing the Future: The Right to Repair and Equal-IoT”. In this project, we will investigate how the lack of repairability in the consumer Internet of Things(IoT) will adversely impact citizen inclusion, cybersecurity, and sustainability in the digital economy. We use theory and methodologies from Human-Computer Interaction(HCI), Design, and Law to anticipate the future impacts of a digital divide caused by redundant IoT devices. Our research programme is driven by stakeholder engagement and co-creation with citizens and our project partners : BBC, Canadian Government, The Making Rooms etc.

We will create prototype future user experiences and technical design architectures that showcase best practice on how Equal-IoT can be built to be more repairable and address inequalities posed by current IoT design. Our series of blueprints and frameworks will align needs of citizens, technical requirements and reflect constraints/opportunities manufacturers face, providing routes to improve design.  

We seek a postdoctoral researcher with a background in HCI who will bring a mix of IoT, design and empirical research expertise to the project. Furthermore, demonstrable interest in IoT design, designing for data sensitivity, sustainability, experience in human-centred design, useable privacy/ security or Human Data Interaction would set the candidate apart.

Key responsibilities would include conducting a systematic literature review of HCI literature, interviews with online repair communities, facilitating design sprints, rapid prototyping of user experiences, enabling evaluative studies and workshop sessions and disseminating findings by contributing to academic papers, theories, frameworks, research & impact activities.

The role holder would work with colleagues from the Universities of Nottingham, Lancaster, Edinburgh and Napier, along with any of the partners involved. The post holder will be expected to undertake independent research as well as working as part of an interdisciplinary team – this will include using approaches or methodologies and techniques appropriate to the type of research and being responsible for writing up their work in order to contribute to published outcomes.

The role holder will have the opportunity to use their initiative and creativity to identify areas for research, develop research methods and extend their research portfolio.

The post will be held at Horizon Digital Economy Institute (https://www.horizon.ac.uk) within the School of Computer Science.

This is a full-time (36.25 hours), fixed term post for 2 years. Arrangements for job share would be considered.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Professor Derek McAuley (derek.mcauley@nottingham.ac.uk). Applications must be submitted online via https://jobs.nottingham.ac.uk; please note that applications sent by email will not be accepted.

Our University is a supportive, inclusive, caring and positive community. We warmly welcome those of different cultures, ethnicities and beliefs – indeed this very diversity is vital to our success, it is fundamental to our values and enriches life on campus. We welcome applications from UK, Europe and from across the globe. For more information on the support we offer our international colleagues, see our Moving to Nottingham pages.

For successful international applicants, we provide financial support for your visa and the immigration health surcharge, plus an interest-free loan to help cover the cost of immigration-related expenses for any dependants accompanying you to the UK. For more information please see the our webpage on Financial support for visas and the immigration health surcharge.

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