PhD Position Cognitive Guidance in XR to Improve Independent Mobility for People with Disabilities

Are you passionate about human behavior, XR technology, and real societal impact? Join us in studying how people interact with complex environments and empowering individuals with disabilities with XR.

Job description

Navigating complex public transportation environments is an enormous challenge for many individuals with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive disabilities, limiting their independence and participation in society. Recent advances in immersive eXtended Reality (XR) using off-the-shelf head-mounted displays (HMDs), wearable sensing/actuation technologies, cognitive science, and AI offer unique opportunities to create personalized training and assistive systems that can support people with disabilities in developing and applying navigation skills in a safe and personalized manner. However, it is an open question how these technologies should be designed and tailored to the highly diverse, dynamic, and individualized needs of people with disabilities.

In this PhD project, you will design and evaluate immersive XR experiences that allow users to safely acquire navigation skills in realistic environments such as public transportation hubs, university campuses, and airports. You will focus on decision making and learning in challenging scenarios such as safely crossing a busy bike path or interacting with a passing vehicle. Specifically, you will investigate how modulated external stimuli, ranging from quiet, empty settings to highly crowded, noisy environments, influence user decision making and motor behavior, and how repeated exposure can modulate these processes over time. You will then develop XR applications that provide real-time guidance through visual, auditory, or haptic feedback in everyday situations. Using wearable devices, machine learning, and cognitive models you will investigate how behavioral, physiological, and cognitive data can be used to inform real-time guidance, personalize training, monitor progress, and adapt support to users' changing needs.

This highly interdisciplinary project involves close collaboration with researchers, accessibility organizations, technology developers, and lived experience experts. You will have the opportunity to conduct user studies, develop novel algorithms, build immersive/augmented realities, and validate your solutions in real-world settings.

This PhD is ideal for candidates interested in one or more of the following areas:

• Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality (VR/AR/MR)
• Cognitive Modeling and Decision Making
• Motor Learning
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Wearable Technologies and sensors
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Human Factors
• Accessibility and Inclusive Design

You will join a multidisciplinary consortium of academic, societal, and industry partners working towards one shared goal: enabling more independent, empowering, and accessible mobility for everyone.

Are you excited about combining cognitive science, AI, immersive technology, and societal impact? We would love to hear from you.

Job requirements

You are a highly motivated candidate with a MSc degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Rehabilitation Engineering, Industrial Design, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field.

Further, you have:

• Open-mindedness and strong motivation to embark on interdisciplinary research
• Solid programming skills
• Experience with experimental research involving human participants
• Interest or background in cognitive modeling, human decision-making, or behavioral data analysis
• Ability to take initiative and work independently
• Affinity with teaching and supervising students
• Proficiency in verbal and written English

Candidates with a strong track record in VR/AR/MR development, for example Unity or Unreal Engine, cognitive and movement sciences, AI and machine learning, human factors, or a combination of the above are especially encouraged to apply. In addition, experience with one or more of the following topics is considered a plus: accessibility and inclusive design, motor learning, decision making, user experience research.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.

At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional.

Working at TU Delft means joining an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months, followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel to help prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by candidates, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed.