PhD position Illustrating Mathematics for Research and Education

The Computer Graphics and Visualization (CGV) group at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS), TU Delft invites applications for full-time doctoral candidates in the area of Illustrating Mathematics for Research and Education. The successful candidate will work together with an international team of researchers to identify best practices and quality criteria for mathematical illustrations. Illustrations play a role of growing importance when it comes to mathematical research. They guide experimental efforts of researchers and help communicate findings to other researchers, but also to the general public. In this regard, the candidate will be able to create and provide a toolbox for practicing mathematicians to enhance their research and communication. When it comes to education, benefits of illustrations are well understood on the primary level, but research is scarce in the realm of higher education. Here, the candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to a growing field of illustration research in order to improve mathematics education.

For this project, we will work with various research methods. With regard to the aforementioned toolbox, it will be important to identify best practices in current illustrations on a qualitative basis. Lighthouse projects to be considered include, e.g., the Penrose project [1], 3D printing for mathematics[2], or Hyperbolica [3]. From these, a quality metric will be derived that speaks to the effectiveness of a specific illustration. This will likely follow previous research in the field of (abstract) data visualization as well as the creation of scientific illustrations. Elements to be considered are perception, understanding, and intuitiveness. The research will be executed in collaboration with the PRogramme of Innovation in Mathematics Education (PRIME) [4].

In terms of teaching effectiveness, the project has two aspects. The first is a qualitative collection of successful interventions in the classroom based on illustrations. Several such interventions have been presented, for instance at the Bridges conference [5], at the International Congress on Mathematical Education (ICME) [6], or in the Journal of Mathematics and the Arts [7]. While these interventions contribute to a more inclusive, effective, and motivating learning environment, they have not been systematically reviewed with regard to these effects. The second aspect will be the development of a new classroom intervention, based on the findings from the first part. This intervention will help to establish illustrative methods in the classrooms, thus contribute to adding the artistic element to STEM education, furthering the STEAM movement.

Computer Graphics and Visualization are key elements in several domains. In these contexts, The CGV group investigates realistic, perceptual, and expressive rendering, visualization of scientific and medical data, interaction and game technologies, and modeling of 3D content. Our goal is to develop methods to produce virtual worlds and provide high-quality display solutions efficiently and effectively. We aim for solutions to produce instructive illustrations with real-world applications (e.g., medical visualization, or flooding simulations) and make use of perceptual findings to increase the effectiveness of the displayed information. Our work is often multi-disciplinary and combines aspects of various fields, such as physics, parallel programming, algorithms, perception, or numerical methods.

https://penrose.cs.cmu.edu/

http://www.3dprintmath.com/

https://codeparade.itch.io/hyperbolica

https://www.tudelft.nl/ewi/over-de-faculteit/afdelingen/applied-mathematics/studeren/prime

https://www.bridgesmathart.org/

https://www.mathunion.org/icmi/icme/icme-international-congress-mathematical-education

https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tmaa20/current

Applicants must have the following qualifications:

• Master’s degree in computer science, mathematics, or related; alternatively Psychology, Teaching, or Art & Design.
• Strong knowledge background and academic performance in visualization/visual analytics.
• Very good illustration skills in 2D (Vector graphics, Drawing, or similar) and 3D (Blender, Rhino, or similar).
• Good programming skills in at least one language, knowledge in development for virtual reality is appreciated.
• The ability to work collaboratively in a group/team.
• Good English communication and writing skills, and international English test qualification, e.g., IELTS (>=7.0) and TOEFL (>100).
• Self-driven and passionate in learning new knowledge.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements .

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.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2770 per month in the first year to € 3539 in the fourth year. 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. 

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service . This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme  for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values  and we actively engage  to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three scientific disciplines. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we all use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make completely sustainable and future-proof. At the same time, we are developing the chips and sensors of the future, whilst also setting the foundations for the software technologies to run on this new generation of equipment – which of course includes AI. Meanwhile we are pushing the limits of applied mathematics, for example mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. In other words: there is plenty of room at the faculty for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1000 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Click here  to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Martin Skrodzki, email: [email protected].

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before January, 31, 2024, via the application button and upload your motivation letter (1 page) and CV including thesis title, publications and links to published work, grade overview from your studies, and names and contact information for two references.      

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.