Extended reality for design engineering (PhD scholarship)

This scholarship is for exceptional students to complete a PhD on human-centred design applications of augmented and mixed reality. The scholarship is part of QUT’s engagement with the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub (ARM Hub).

A scholarship, tax exempt and indexed annually $28,092 per annum for a period of three years will be provided to the successful applicant.
Paid leave is provided equivalent to QUTPRA scholarships. The scholarship does provide a student travel allowance but does not cover relocation expenses or paid extensions.

International students will also receive either:

• an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Fees Offset (International)
• a QUT research degree (HDR) tuition fee scholarship.

As the scholarship recipient, you will have the opportunity to work with a team of leading researchers, to undertake your own innovative research in and across the fields of Design and Extended Reality, and to gain an internationally recognised postgraduate qualification.
The scholarship will be governed by QUTPRA rules. Attribution of Intellectual Property (IP) are governed by the project agreement between the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub (ARM Hub) and QUT.

To apply for this scholarship, you must meet the entry requirements for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) , including any English language requirements for international students.

You must also:

• have recently completed a first-class Honours degree, a research masters degree, or a coursework masters degree with a significant research component from a recognised institution and in a cognate discipline
• be able to take up the scholarship and begin full-time study preferably by February 2021, but before the 1st July 2021
• have a strong interest in undertaking a three-year research project on human-centred design and augmented and mixed reality
• develop a research proposal that responds to and aligns with the scholarship topic, that demonstrates your knowledge and understanding of the topic area, and that clearly articulates the contribution your research will make
• demonstrate excellent capacity and potential for research.

Ideally you will also have (not necessary but preferred):

• Demonstrated knowledge in the fields of Extended Reality (VR/AR/MR), Experience with Human-Centred Design (e.g. Interaction Design , Industrial Design, Architecture) and participatory design processes.

This scholarship will utilise a two part application process:

Part One
Interested applicants must submit an EOI for consideration prior to applying for this scholarship. The EOI must include:

• an up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV), including recent IELTS or equivalent score for international applicants
• a two-page research proposal addressing the scholarship topic
• a writing sample (e.g. copy of an article/essay/thesis you have completed).

The EOI should be sent via email to Dr Ross Brown: [email protected] no later than Sunday 20 September 2020.

Part Two
On review of the EOI selected applicants will then be invited to submit a full application in the QUT Annual Scholarship Round that closes on 30 October 2020.

Applicants will be contact directly after the Scholarship Round closing date of 30 October 2020.
For details about QUT's application process please go to the QUT Scholarships Website .

The scholarship will be governed by QUTPRA rules

There is a growing need to explore advanced manufacturing possibilities in response to complex architectural designs. Extended reality is a technology that had seen significant uptake across diverse industries in architecture and engineering. Extended reality allows for the creation of a digital pipeline ranging from design to simulation and fabrication. Extended reality allows users and designers to examine and reflect upon decisions within a cognitively enhanced environment, supporting key engineering tasks.

This PhD project explores the use of extended reality in combination with architectural computer systems to create a usable approach to generating large scale structures via user interfaces and linkages to engineering modelling and simulation. The PhD project will be carried out in an applied industry setting with a strong focus on user centred interaction approaches for engineering aspects of large structure design and manufacture.

The scholarship is situated with the Advanced Robotics Manufacturing Hub a world-leading applied research facility dedicated to the adoption of future manufacturing capabilities such as robotics by small and medium enterprises.

Applicants are sought for this scholarship that have an interest in:

• Strong skills in Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality
• Understanding of computational large structure modelling
• Understanding of engineering modelling software APIs
• Carrying out mixed-method user-centred design research
• Prototyping new augmented environment content & interactions

The ARM Hub is an agile world-leading technology centre in robotics and design-led manufacturing. We accelerate industry’s digital transformation. Headquartered in Brisbane, the ARM Hub provides access to the most tightly woven network of research institutions, facilities and smart commercial companies in the region. Uniquely positioned to service all major industries, we are geographically centred in the fast-growing South-East Asia region without sovereign risk, and with access to global supply chains, a highly skilled global workforce and quality universities.

The ARM Hub is a not-for-profit with a mission to accelerate industry’s uptake of advanced manufacturing technologies. We provide the skills and resources needed to scale-up and prove-out high value manufacturing technologies. The Hub offers space with the facilities and expertise to enable businesses and experts to collaboratively solve key problems and develop new products and services on a commercial scale.

The ARM Hub's mission is to:

• Take ‘Australian Made’ to the world, using Australia’s reputation for high-value manufacturing and robotics.
• Drive economic growth through new ways of doing business, especially for small and medium enterprises.
• Lower technical, operational and economic barriers to the adoption of Industry 4.0.
• Help industry prepare for the future and employ more Australians.

The CLEVAR (Cognitive and Learning Environments in Virtual and Augmented Reality) Research Group is a division of the GRIDLAB which is within the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Queensland University of Technology. Our research involves an analysis of people and their behaviours, particularly within engaging situations and contexts. We are interested in understanding people’s perceptions and their experiences as they interact with Virtual and Augmented Reality Technology.

We apply principles, concepts and theories from psychology, cognitive science, sociology, HCI, computer science and interaction design in this process. From a design perspective, our research employs novel methods, tools and technologies to create new, engaging experiences.

We develop and evaluate applications and systems that have been designed to engage, motivate, educate and rehabilitate. Much of our research is conducted within a digital gaming context.

CLEVER Research Group