PhD Position studying Human-Robot Interactions Among the Elderly

Applications are invited for a three-year fully funded PhD studentship under the supervision of Prof. Emily S. Cross within the School of Psychology, Bangor University. The student will be a member of the School’s thriving Social Neuroscience research group, which meets regularly to present and discuss planned and on-going projects as well as important developments in the field. The studentship will commence from October 2016 (with an option to start in Oct 2016 or January or October 2017). This studentship is funded by the European Research Council and is part of the ERC Starting Grant ‘Social Robots’, awarded to Prof. Cross, which runs between 2016 -2021. This appointment will remain open until filled by a suitable candidate.

Project
The broad aim of the ‘Social Robots’ project is to explore the brain and behavioural mechanisms underpinning experience-dependent plasticity during human-robot interactions. The advertised PhD projects may involve fMRI, TMS, EMG or fNIRS with healthy young adult, older adult, or child populations, as well as longitudinal training interventions with sophisticated humanoid robots. The individual PhD projects are flexible depending on candidates’ interest and expertise, but should broadly relate to how long-term experience with artificial agents shapes social perception and interaction.

Requirements: Applicants are expected to have a first or upper second-class degree in experimental psychology or neuroscience and a relevant Masters qualification (if European-based), and/or a strong GPA from a 4 year undergraduate degree with some research experience (if North American/Australasian-based). Applicants should have excellent organizational skills, be highly motivated and creative, enjoy working in a vibrant collaborative research environment, and be able to communicate effectively, with evidence of strong scientific writing skills particularly important. Moreover, experience with human neuroscience techniques (fMRI, TMS, EEG) and programming skills (e.g. Matlab) are desirable, especially if interested in pursuing fMRI-based studies during the PhD.

Further information: Please visit the Social Brain in Action Laboratory website (www.soba-lab.com) for more information about the lab, as well as links to publications. More specific information about the Social Robots project can be found at www.so-bots-com. Informal enquiries should be directed to e.cross@bangor.ac.uk

Residency requirements: This studentship is open to UK, EU and International students. Interested students from outside the EU should contact Prof. Cross to discuss conditions for funding of International students.

The studentship covers the fully cost of tuition fees for Home/EU/International PHD Students, plus a maintenance stipend per annum for 3 years and a research allowance of £500 per annum for 3 years.

General information: PhD students are expected to contribute to teaching in the department. The initial appointment for both positions will be for a period of one year, with an extension of 2 years after positive evaluation of capabilities and compatibility. Each appointment must lead to the completion of a PhD thesis.

General enquiries: For administrative advice about how to apply and eligibility, please contact Julie Boulton: j.a.boulton@bangor.ac.uk

The online application form is available here: https://apps.bangor.ac.uk/applicant/

Closes: 11.59pm, Monday 8^th August 2016