Postdoctoral Researcher in Speech Agent Interaction & Control

The research vision of ADAPT is to pioneer new forms of proactive, scalable and integrated AI-driven Digital Content Technology that empower individuals and society to engage in digital experiences with control, inclusion and accountability.

Concerned with personalised, immersive, multimodal digital engagement, from multiple perspectives — individual, algorithmic, enterprises and society — there is a long-term goal of a Balanced Digital Society.

This vision recognises that the growing power and sophistication of AI-driven Digital Content Technologies in delivering natural, targeted and persuasive online experiences has started to overwhelm nearly all parts of society.

In order to achieve this mission-oriented vision, the ADAPT II research programme looks to appoint a postdoctoral research fellow to lead the cutting edge research activities within the Interaction and Control Research challenge within ADAPT at UCD. This candidate would also join the HCI@UCD group at the School of Information & Communication Studies and would be expected to lead and engage in group level activities.

This is an academic research role, where you will conduct a specified programme of research supported by research training and development under the supervision and direction of a Principal Investigator.

The primary purpose of the role is to further develop your research skills and competences, including the processes of publication in peer-reviewed academic publications, the development of funding proposals, the mentorship of graduate students along with the opportunity to develop your skills in research led teaching.

In addition to the Principal Duties and Responsibilities listed below, the successful candidate will also carry out the following duties specific to this project:

Conduct quantitative and qualitative research exploring speech interface user experience, language production and voice agent interaction, identifying user experience based issues that needs to be addressed.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct a specified programme of research and scholarship under the supervision and direction of your Principal Investigator.

• Engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities as required by your Principal Investigator, your School or Institute, or the University.

• Engage in the dissemination of the results of the research in which you are engaged as directed by and with the support of and under the supervision of your Principal Investigator.

• Engage in the wider research and scholarly activities of your research group, School and Institute.

• Mentor and assist, as appropriate and as directed, the research graduate students in your School and Institute.

• Carry out administrative work associated with your programme of research.

Selection Criteria

Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post. Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Mandatory

• Completion or near completion of a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science or related fields

• Experience with informing speech user interface research through industry collaboration

• Experience of quantitative and qualitative methods to gather insights into speech interface user experience issues

• A demonstrated commitment to research and publications

• An understanding of the operational requirements for a successful research project

• Evidence of research activity (publications, conference presentations, awards) and future scholarly output (working papers, research proposals, and experience of writing a funding application).

• Excellent Communication Skills (Oral, Written , Presentation etc)

• Excellent Organisational and Administrative skills including a proven ability to work to deadlines

• Candidates must demonstrate an awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion agenda.

The PD1 position is intended for early stage researchers, either just after completion of a PhD or for someone entering a new area for the first time. If you have already completed your PD1 stage in UCD or will soon complete a PD1, or you are an external applicant whose total Postdoctoral experience, inclusive of the duration of the advertised post, would exceed 4 years, you should not apply and should refer to PD2 posts instead.

Desirable

• Experience in experiment design, questionnaire development and theory based language research

• Experience in setting own research agenda

Informal enquiries about the post can be made to Dr Benjamin Cowan ([email protected]).

Apply now