The Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET) at the University of Twente has a vacancy for a PhD-student within the ambitious Stress in Action project.
The Interaction Design group at the University of Twente has a vacancy for a PhD -candidate within the ambitious Stress in Action project. For this position we will collaborate with University Medical Centre Groningen and the department of Psychology, Health and technology of the University of Twente.
PhD-student position: Measuring and intervening on stress in daily life
40 hours
Stress in Action project
In this project, 25 multidisciplinary scientists from six Dutch Universities collaborate around the theme ‘stress in daily life’. Divided over three Research Themes and three Support Cores, the Stress in Action consortium, we will validate daily-life stress assessments, examine which contextual factors contribute to the experience of daily-life stress, and examine how daily-life stress leads to the development of both mental and cardiometabolic diseases. The project is funded through the Dutch Scientific Organization under the Gravitation program. More details can be found here.
What will you be doing?
As the PhD-candidate, your main mission is to provide the Stress in Action community with standards for responsible design so that user diversity, values, and acceptance are broadly considered in working with and in designing apps and wearables for the continuous (and reliable) recording of the physiological stress response in daily life.
You will start out by reviewing current practices and experiences of measuring stress and understanding / intervening on stress. Followed by a review on current practices in value sensitive design and identification of the ethically salient aspects, you will define three cases (with user groups from the SiA network) for user involvement (variety in cases: health care workers / patient groups) and define their relevant value networks.
Using these insights, you will follow a research through design approach and (re-)design promising stress monitoring wearables and/or their interaction. During the design process you will work with user groups and other stakeholders. Subsequently, you will work on connecting the learnings from the value sensitive design process to standards for responsible design of stress monitoring and intervention.
Where will you be working?
The Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET) engages in education and research of Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering. We enable society and industry to innovate and create value using efficient, solid and sustainable technology. We are part of a ‘people-first’ university of technology, taking our place as an internationally leading center for smart production, processes and devices in five domains: Health Technology, Maintenance, Smart Regions, Smart Industry and Sustainable Resources. Our faculty is home to about 2,900 Bachelor’s and Master’s students, 550 employees and 150 PhD candidates. Our educational and research programmes are closely connected with UT research institutes Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Center and Digital Society Institute.
Requested profile:
- MSc-degree in industrial design engineering, interaction technology or a related discipline (also candidates close to graduating are encouraged to apply).
- Strong interest in wearable technology, design methodology and design ethics, human centred design, working with stakeholders.
- Affinity and preferably experience with writing research papers.
- An excellent command of English (C1; above IELTS 7 or equivalent). A good command of Dutch (B2 to C1) is preferable.
- Communication and social skills related to working in interdisciplinary environments
What will we offer?
- A dynamic and international environment, combining the benefits of academic research with a topic of high industrial relevance.
- Excellent working conditions in an exciting scientific environment and a green and lively campus.
- A fulltime four year PhD position.
- Excellent mentorship and facilities.
- A professional and personal development program within Graduate School Twente.
- A starting salary of € 2.541 in the first year and a salary of € 3.247 in the fourth year gross per month.
- A holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
- Minimum of 29 holidays per year in case of full-time employment.
- Full status as an employee at the UT, including pension and health care benefits.
Interested?
For more information about this vacancy, you can contact prof. dr. ir. Geke Ludden (g.d.s.ludden@utwente.nl) or dr. Armagan Karahanoglu (a.karahanoglu@utwente.nl).
Submit your motivation letter and a recent curriculum vitae until February 24, 2023 using the application link. For more information, see the UT website.
A first round of job interviews is planned for March 6, 2023.