Job Advertisement for two positions at University of Hertfordshire:
Research Fellow in Human-Robot Interaction and Research Assistant in Rehabilitation Robotics

University of Hertfordshire
http://www.herts.ac.uk/home-page.cfm
Adaptive Systems Research Group
http://adapsys.feis.herts.ac.uk/

***RESEARCH FELLOW IN HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION***

Full-time position, salary 20226-27999  GBP per annum (depending on qualifications and experience), ref. Number EN8942
Fixed-term 2-year contract (starting date: 1 September 2009)

Closing date: 23/07/2009

A postgraduate/postdoctoral Research Assistant/Research Fellow position is available in the EU funded project LIREC (LIving with robots and interactive companions). This full-time research post will allow you to pursue research into human robot interaction as part of a European Integrated Project. This multidisciplinary project consists of several European partners in Germany, UK, Hungary, Belgium, Sweden, Portugal and Poland. The University of Hertfordshire.s research within LIREC relevant to this post concerns a .Robot Home Companion. Scenario, whereby robots are being used to provide assistance to users in a home environment. One aspect of specific relevance is how the robot approaches people and maintains appropriate social distances from them (proxemics research). You will conduct research into human-robot proxemics, based on an existing conceptual framework that needs to be implemented, tested and revised in human-robot interaction studies in the Robot House. This framework will allow the robot to adopt appropriate social distances towards its user, and to learn and adapt to the user.s individual references and long-term changes. You will also contribute to the development of the Robot House Showcase at UH which is one of the key showcases for the LIREC project.
You will be a member of the Adaptive Systems Research Group (http://adapsys.feis.herts.ac.uk/) at University of Hertfordshire in the School of Computer Science which includes 30 research staff members (postdocs and PhD students). The University of Hertfordshire ranks 27th in England for post-2008 RAE-funding in Computer Science and Informatics. The highly active and multidisciplinary research group has an excellent international research track record including research in human-robot interaction, social robotics and robot learning.

You should have a strong postgraduate degree (MSc, MPhil or PhD) in Robotics, Computer Science, or a related area. You are also expected to have strong qualifications and practical experience in robotics programming and robot learning. Experience with robotics hardware and experience in human-robot interaction are desirable. You are expected to work independently, but under guidance of and in close collaboration with other team members at UH and other project partner institutions.

The position is full-time. Work will be based at University of Hertfordshire and may include short stays at European partner institutions.

More details of the job description and person description can be found here:
http://web-apps.herts.ac.uk/uhweb/apps/hr/research-vacancies.cfm

All applications must be made via the Human Resource Department at University of Hertfordshire (see URL above).


***RESEARCH ASSISTANT IN REHABILITATION ROBOTICS***

Full-time position, salary 20226 GBP per annum, ref. Number EN8941
Fixed-term contract (starting date: 1 September 2009, end date: end of June 2012)

Closing date: 23/07/2009

A Research Assistant position is available in the EU funded project LIREC (LIving with robots and interactive companions). This full-time research post will allow you to pursue research into human robot interaction as part of a European Integrated Project. This multidisciplinary project consists of several European partners in Germany, UK, Hungary, Belgium, Sweden, Portugal and Poland. The University of Hertfordshire.s research within LIREC relevant to this post concerns a .Social Mediator. Scenario, whereby a robot remotely mediates communication and interaction between two people. Relevant for this post is the use of robots as aid in communication, interaction and rehabilitation. Specifically, the development of different assistive and interactive applications for a PHNAToM omni in the context of the Social Mediator scenario is a central part in the research relevant for this specific post. This involves software development, interface design, as well as experimental testing, including human-robot interaction and user studies in a rehabilitation context, analysis of data and documentation of results.

You will be a member of the Adaptive Systems Research Group (http://adapsys.feis.herts.ac.uk/) at the University of Hertfordshire in the School of Computer Science which includes 30 research staff members (postdocs and PhD students). The University of Hertfordshire ranks 27th in England for post-2008 RAE-funding in Computer Science and Informatics. The highly active and multidisciplinary research group has an excellent international research track record including research in human-robot interaction, social robotics and assistive and rehabilitation robotics.

You should have a strong undergraduate or postgraduate degree (BSc or MSc) in a relevant discipline (i.e. Computer Science, Robotics, Cybernetics, or Engineering).  Potential candidates must have excellent understanding, and preferably previous experience, in several or all of the areas:
-programming robots and haptic interfaces
-interface design
-master/slave approaches in control of robotic tools
-assistive and rehabilitative robotics
-human-robot interaction

You are expected to work independently, but under guidance of and in close collaboration with other team members at UH and other project partner institutions. A postgraduate successful applicant will have the opportunity to pursue research in the same area towards a PhD.

The position is full-time. Work will be based at University of Hertfordshire and may include short stays at European partner institutions.

More details of the job description and person description can be found here:
http://web-apps.herts.ac.uk/uhweb/apps/hr/research-vacancies.cfm

All applications must be made via the Human Resource Department at University of Hertfordshire (see URL above).