Postdoctoral Fellow in Human-Computer Interaction

Ref. No. SU FV-4761-23

at the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences . (Closing date: 29 February 2024) Prolonged application time  - new closing date: 31 March 2024. 

The Department of Computer and Systems Sciences (DSV) is one of Sweden’s oldest IT departments and the largest department at Stockholm University, with about 200 employees and 5,000 students. DSV offers a stimulating research environment and a strong research group in the area of Human-Computer Interaction with well-established national and international connections to leading industrial and academic institutions.

Project description
The postdoctoral position is within Sustainable Human-Computer Interaction (SHCI), with a focus on design and the regulatory aspects that shape digital innovation for environmental care, more specifically waste management.

The successful candidate will work on a three-year project with Associate Professor Chiara Rossitto (Stockholm University, DSV), Associate Professor Rob Comber (Royal Institute of Technology - KTH), and Associate Professor Stanley Greenstein (Stockholm University, Department of Law).

The project draws on a view of design as socially, contextually, and politically produced. Within the case of waste management, the goal is to develop design methods and toolkits to explore the relations between values mandated by the law, specific design features, and multi-stakeholders’ perspectives. Connecting to contemporary societal and research challenges – e.g., the ethics of AI, the digitalization of essential urban services, or tensions between regulation and digital innovation – the project will examine design for environmental sustainability, taking into account regulatory frameworks for environmental protection. The position involves the development of new design methods, practical expertise, and scientific knowledge to include regulatory aspects early on, when digital technologies are designed.

The postdoctoral position will entail design work that, resisting technological solutionism, will explore ways to engage with the complex ethical, political and regulatory aspects that underpin the design of technologies for urban services.

Main responsibilities
The ideal candidate has a PhD in HCI, Computer Science, or equivalent.

We are looking for a candidate who has excellent experience with participatory, critical and speculative design methods, and with approaches to explore the relations that make design historically and politically produced. The candidate is expected to teach 20% of their time at a bachelor or master level in the area of Interaction Design.

It is expected that the postdoctoral fellow will present their work at international conferences and journals, and collaborate across disciplines, with colleagues at Stockholm University and KTH.

Qualification requirements
Postdoctoral positions are appointed primarily for purposes of research. Applicants are expected to hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country.

Assessment criteria
The degree must have been completed at latest before the employment decision is made, but no more than three years before the closing date. An older degree may be acceptable under special circumstances. Special reasons refer to sick leave, parental leave, elected positions in trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances as well as clinical attachment or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

In the appointment process, special attention will be given to research skills. The following criteria will be used for assessing candidates: 

• Research expertise: A track record demonstrating excellence and experience with Sustainable HCI and speculative design methods
• Demonstrated experience of publishing at high level Human-Computer Interaction or other relevant venues. Publications related to SHCI are required, work drawing on ecological and relational perspectives will be considered as a merit
• Independence: Ability to plan, conduct and report research independently
• Collaborative abilities: Ability to collaborate with others and work in a multidisciplinary team including legal experts. Demonstrated past involvement in collaborative research projects
• Communication skills: Excellent written and spoken English. Demonstrated ability to present research both written and orally at top, international conferences
• Awareness of diversity and equal opportunity issues, with specific focus on gender equality.

Preferred qualifications

• A track record in the area of Sustainable Human-Computer Interaction, speculative design methods, and in supervising student work. Good teaching experience within these areas will also be considered
• Great emphasis will be placed on personal competency.

Terms of employment
The position involves full-time employment for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. Start date 2024-04-01 or as per agreement.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
Further information about the position can be obtained from the Head of the Department, Professor Jelena Zdravkovic, telephone: +46 8 16 49 94, [email protected] and Associate Professor Chiara Rossitto, Principal Investigator, telephone: +46 736 746278, [email protected]

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, [email protected] , Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/OFR), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, [email protected] , and [email protected] (SEKO).

Application
Apply for the position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
• Research proposal (no more than 3 pages) describing:
  – why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
  – why and how you wish to complete the project
  – what makes you suitable for the project in question
• Copy of PhD diploma
• Letters of recommendation (no more than 3 files)
• Publications in support of your application (no more than 3 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position .

You are welcome to apply!

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.

URL to this page
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