PhD position in “Design Research on physical and social play”(V51.077)
at the User-Centred Engineering group Department of Industrial Design
The department of Industrial Design of the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (TU/e), founded in 2001, is a rapidly growing department with over 550 students, both Bachelor and Master, and around 200 staff members. With a strong emphasis on research the ID department focuses on the design of intelligent products, systems, services, and networks. These innovative products enable people to interact with their environment in an optimal and flexible way. The TU/e ID engineer, who has developed a wide range of competencies during his/her education, is capable of integrating technology, user aspects, design, and business/marketing insights. Ambient Intelligence and Ambient (health) Care draw special attention within the TU/e and ID particular, and is an important research and application field. ID encompasses four research areas: Technology covered by the Designed Intelligence (DI) group, User aspects, covered by User-Centred Engineering (UCE) group, Design, covered by the Designing Quality in Interaction (DQI) group, and Business, covered by the Business Process Design (BPD) group.
The User-Centered Engineering group (UCE) focuses on advancing the understanding of the user experience and developing innovative concepts for the interaction of humans with intelligent systems, for example in the domain of play and collaboration.
Fontys University of Applied Sciences
Fontys University of Applied Sciences offers more than 200 Bachelor programs, some 40 Master programs, PhD opportunities and non-degree courses in the following sectors: Fine Arts, Management, Education, Health Care and Social Studies, Transportation and Logistics, Applied Science and Technology. It is the largest educational institute in West Brabant. The lectorate Serious Game Design is part of Fontys School of ICT, with about 1900 students and 200 staff and offers education in Game Design for around 300 students. Its research focuses on gaming, open-ended play and curiosity-driven interaction for education and sports especially in smart environments (Ambient Intelligence).
Tasks
This PhD is part of a collaborative nationally funded project called ‘PLAYfit’ which aims to create playful solutions that stimulate secondary school students to be more physically active. The main goal of the project is to explore whether and how teenagers can be activated by translating aspects of gaming into physical concepts. You will work on the design, development and validation of a physical gaming environment that is tailored to the needs and motivations of secondary school children.
The project is a collaboration between the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and the Fontys University of Applied Sciences (Fontys Hogeschool). You are jointly supervised by the User-Centred Engineering group of the Department of Industrial Design, TU/e and the Serious Games lectorate of the Fontys Hogeschool. Other stakeholders in the project are the Physical Activity and Health lectorate of the Fontys Hogeschool and various companies.
The project will follow a user centred design approach in which various stakeholders, such as secondary school students, gaming experts and physical education teachers will be involved in all stages. The project will have a strong focus on validation of the concepts through design research and field studies especially with a view to develop generalizable knowledge about how to structure and facilitate this type of co-development process.
You will be participating in education, e.g. by supervising student projects on topics related to the PLAYfit project.
Requirements
- A Master in Industrial Design, Information Sciences, Media Studies, with a strong background in human-computer interaction and/or gaming.
- Affinity with the topics of persuasion and tangible or graphical user interfaces are valued.
Also valued is prior experience with design research and with setting up and executing user tests.
Excellent social and communicative skills and affinity with teaching are expected.
The candidate should be fluent in Dutch; good knowledge of English is required.
Appointment and Salary
The appointment is for 4 years, starting January 1, 2010, subject to finalizing funding arrangements. As an employee of the university you will receive a competitive salary as well as excellent employment conditions (including excellent sport facilities and child care). The research in this project must be concluded with writing a PhD thesis. A salary is offered starting at EUR 2,042 per month (gross) in the first year and increasing up to EUR 2,492 per month (gross) in the last year. Moreover 8% bonus share (holiday supplement) and 8.3% bonus share (end-of-the-year allowance) are provided annually. Assistance for finding accommodation can be provided.
The PhD position will be carried out within the research group User-Centered Engineering (Industrial Design, TU/e) and the lectorate Serious Game Design (Fontys Hogeschool).
About TU/e
TU/e is one of Europe's leading research universities. The Eindhoven area, in the southern part of the Netherlands, is one of Europe's top ‘innovation ecosystems', with many high-tech companies and institutes, such as Philips, ASML, NXP, DAF, OCE, and TNO. TU/e is closely intertwined with many of these companies and institutes, and research at TU/e is characterized by a combination of academic excellence and industrial relevance.
Information
Further information about the project, including a full project description, can be obtained from:
• Dr. Ben Schouten, Lector Serious Game Design, phone: +31 (0)87 787 7742, e-mail:
ben.schouten@fontys.nl
• Dr.ir. Tilde Bekker / Dr. Janienke Sturm, Dept. of Industrial Design, phone: +31 (0)40 247 5239 / 5298, e-mail:
M.M.Bekker@tue.nl /
J.Sturm@tue.nl
General information about the organization and the hiring process can be requested from:
• Ms. Julma Braat, HR officer, Department of Industrial Design, phone: +31 (0)40 247 5883, e-mail:
j.a.c.l.braat@tue.nl
• Mr. Robbert Pas, personnel department School of ICT, phone: +31 (0)87 787 0184, e-mail:
r.pas@fontys.nl
Application
Please send a written application or e-mail, including a letter explaining your specific interest in the project and extensive curriculum vitae, to the following address:
Eindhoven University of Technology
Department of Industrial Design
Attn. Ms. J. Braat, room HG 3.93
P.O. Box 513
5600 MB Eindhoven
The Netherlands
Or by e-mail to:
j.a.c.l.braat@tue.nl
Please include vacancy code V51.077
You can apply for this job before 23-11-2009
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