Laboratory of Informatics of Grenoble Équipe Ingénierie de l'Interaction Humain-Machine

Équipe Ingénierie de l'Interaction
Humain-Machine

PhD position in Skill transfer between interfaces

A full-time doctoral research position is open in co-supervision in the IIHM group of LIG lab, in Grenoble (France) and in the ESTIA-Recherche team, in Bidart (France).

The fellowship is co-funded by Carnot LSI and Carnot ARTS institutes for 36 months. The position will start before the end of 2022. Gross salary is approximately between 20K€ et 23K€ brut per year. The doctoral research will be co-advised by Céline Coutrix and William Delamare.

Scientific Context

The student is expected to integrate both the IIHM and the ESTIA-Recherche research groups (around 18 months each).

The IIHM group is concerned with the design, implementation, and evaluation of interaction techniques that are effective, usable, and enjoyable. The group is present in the main Human-Computer Interaction conferences: CHI, UIST, AVI, Interact, EICS, etc. It has long-lasting connections to other research groups in France and abroad, and is well connected to the industry. IIHM is part of the LIG lab, which is equipped with the latest machines for physical fabrication of prototypes.

ESTIA-Recherche mobilizes multiple disciplines to address the concept of intelligent and empowering interfaces for the engineering of complex systems. The multidisciplinary team focuses on scientific, technological, and societal themes to respond to cross-functional projects. ESTIA-Recherche hence studies and designs Human-Human, Human-System, and System-System interactions to contribute to energy and digital transitions and to the evolution towards the industry of the future.

Research Plan

The PhD’s objective is to imagine novel ways to interact with augmented objects that best leverages users’ expertise with the existing objects in their environment.

The Internet of Things (IoT) started to replace our traditional objects, both personal (e.g., smart home) and professional (e.g., smart office), with connected objects including augmented capabilities. Users are already able to use voice or direct touch to interact with these objects. Yet, users already developed extensive expertise with their traditional objects’ current physical interfaces.

The PhD student will explore how users’ expertise can transfer from the UI of traditional objects to novel remote UIs (deformable tangible interaction, or mid-air inputs for instance).

In this context, the PhD student will:
1. Conduct preliminary user studies,
2. Design interaction techniques,
3. Prototype them,
4. Compare their performance to existing techniques,
5. Be in charge of writing scientific papers and presenting results in national and international conferences

Candidate

We seek candidates with profound interest in Human-Computer Interaction, strong motivation, and creativity. A successful candidate:
- Has a strong master’s degree in computer science or another area related to Human-Computer Interaction,
- Has excellent written and oral communication skills,
- Has excellent software and/or hardware skills.
Curiosity toward cognitive sciences, statistics, and fabrication are not mandatory, but are a plus.

Application

We start reviewing applications in May 2022, but applications will be considered until the position is filled. Applicants should submit:
1. a full CV,
2. copies of their university degree and/or study transcripts,
3. name and contact information of at least one reference, and
4. a brief description of their research interests.

Please send your application via e-mail to Céline Coutrix and William Delamare.

If you have any further questions, please contact Céline Coutrix and William Delamare

Contact

Céline Coutrix