At the Technical Faculty of IT and Design – Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology, Aalborg University Copenhagen – a PhD position is available within the general research programme Media, Architecture & Design.The PhD stipend in Narrative Cognition and Decision-making in Mixed Reality Systems is open for appointment for a 3-year period starting from April 1 2020 or soonest thereafter.

Job description

The position:

The PhD project is part of the multidisciplinary Marie-Sklodowska Curie Innovative Training Network – RHUMBO –, which aims at modelling and predicting human decision-making by characterizing subconscious brain processes using mixed reality technologies (MRT) and advance biometric signal processing. RHUMBO hosts 11 Early-Stage Researchers (ESR) to develop their PhDs at the frontiers of cognitive neuroscience, transparently immersive experiences and artificial intelligence with a focus on neuro-business. The network brings together seven European universities and three private companies that provide extensive support to the research and academic goals of the PhD fellows, providing opportunities for stays in several specialized research environments, courses, workshops and conferences.

The concrete PhD project:

With the rapid implementation of mixed reality technologies (MRT) such as virtual and augmented reality in different domains, there is an increase usage of narratives and interactive digital storytelling (IDS) techniques as rhetorical devices for persuasion (e.g. in advertisement, marketing, politics, pedagogics, sustainability, motivational strategies, etc.). Together with MRT and advanced biometric signals processing, IDS constitutes a powerful tool for investigating human decision-making processes in specific situations. The PhD candidate will investigate key aspects of narrative cognition that may have an implicit influence in decision-making processes when story elements are mediated through MRT with the purpose of advising, prompting or persuading subjects into particular courses of action, choices and decisions.

In particular, the candidate will investigate decision-making processes that may be related to cognitive “narrative faculties” such as hindsight, foresight, closure, emotional immersion and inference making, for instance. The interdisciplinary methodology will combine tools and techniques from MRT (VR and/or AR), interactive digital storytelling, and a suite of integrated psychophysiological methods (EEG, HR, GSR and eye tracking) in order to study key cognitive processes and affective states elicited by narrative rhetorical devices in immersive technologies.

The appointed candidate will benefit from the combined expertise of the RHUMBO network, and is expected to spend at least two or three short-term (1-2 months each) research stays at other partners’ research environments.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate has a Master of Science degree, and is either a media technology engineer with background in neuroscience and a strong interest in IDS/narrative, or a neuroscientist with strong interest in mixed reality technologies and good technical skills. In this direction, the candidate should possess a combination of overlapping skills, knowledge and/or interest in at least two of the following three main areas:

• Technical/Engineering skills (for example any combination of mixed reality and immersive technologies, programming, machine learning or multivariate statistics).
• Experience, familiarity or strong interest in cognitive sciences, neurosciences, psychology or affective sciences.
• Experience, familiarity or strong interest in narratology or interactive digital storytelling.

The applicant is required to document that the Master’s degree, skills and interests correspond to the profile for the post. The final degree needs to be confirmed by the time of appointment.

Given the conditions of the MSC-Innovative Training Networks, the candidate must be an Early-Stage Researcher (ESR) with less than four years of research career (counted from the date of culmination of the Master’s degree) and not having obtained a doctoral degree. By the time of recruitment, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Denmark for more than 12 months in the three years immediately prior to the recruitment date. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.

The application must include:

• A cover letter thoroughly explaining and elaborating on the motivations and qualifications for applying (1-3 pages).
• A Curriculum Vitae setting out your educational qualifications as well as any additional scientific achievements, publications and any relevant work experience.
• Proof of English language proficiency and writing skills (e.g. IELTS or equivalent, sample articles or academic work).
• A copy of the Bachelor and Master’s diploma (or equivalent) or certificate of graduation.
• An official transcript of the completed subjects and grades in the Bachelor and Master studies.
• Two academic references from researchers familiar with your academic activities, e.g. the advisor, supervisor, professor. The referees must e-mail their recommendations directly to spj@adm.aau.dk.

For more information please contact Associate Professor Luis Emilio Bruni, email leb@create.aau.dk or phone: +45 9940 2474.

The PhD will be carried out in the Augmented Cognition Lab, which is placed in the Copenhagen Section of the Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology – an innovative cluster of engineering-based environments for education and research, integrating creativity, engineering and technology within the fields of interactive media technology, digital design, architecture and industrial design. The Augmented Cognition Lab in particular conducts research on perception, cognition, affective states and aesthetic experience in multimodal, immersive and interactive media systems.

Furthermore, it is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1039 of August 27, 2013 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time. It is a prerequisite for continuation of salary payment that the previous progress is approved at the time of the evaluation. PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master’s degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years.

An assessment committee will assess the qualifications of the applicant. Selected candidates may be invited for an interview. Based on the recommendations of the assessment committee, the Dean of the Technical Faculty of IT and Design will make a decision for allocating the stipend.

For further information about stipends and salary as well as practical issues concerning the application procedure contact Ms. Sofie Pia Jensen, The Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design, email: spj@adm.aau.dk, phone: +45 9940 3478

For more information of The Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design: www.phd.tech.aau.dk

The application is only to be submitted online by using the “Apply online” button below.

AAU wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background or belief.

Agreement

Appointment and salary as a PhD fellow are according to the Ministry of Finance Circular of November 10, 2015 on the Collective Agreement for Academics in Denmark, Appendix 5, regarding PhD fellows, and with the Ministry of Finance current circular on the employment structure at Danish Universities.

Deadline: 29 February 2020
Unit:
Read the job description and apply online

Post expires on Saturday February 29th, 2020

At the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Civil Engineering, Section of Water and Environment, a PhD stipend is available within the PhD programme of Civil Engineering. The stipend is open for appointment from July 1, 2020 or soon hereafter. The position is available for 3 years.<p>The PhD position is a part of the MONPLAS project: “MONPLAS – The training of early stage researchers for the development of technologies to monitor concentrations of micro and nanoplastics in water for their presence, uptake and threat to animal and human life”. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 860775, <a href=”https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/464658″>https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/464658</a></p>

Job description

The PhD student addresses the development of fast and accurate chemometric methods for automated microplastics quantification based on spectroscopic analysis techniques (μFTIR imaging, μRaman imaging) and for interpretation of pyrograms from PY-GC-MS analysis (micro- and nanoplastics). Chemical analysis of micro- and nanoplastics in water creates a very large amount of highly complex data. For example, the number of spectra for FTIR or Raman imaging can go well into the millions per sample. The interpretation of these large datasets is labour intensive and subject to interpretation bias. Both are aspects that hamper the validity of micro- and nanoplastics analysis by increasing the costs. The PhD student shall develop chemometric methods that help overcoming these issues, allowing a data analysis that is faster, more reliable and cheaper. This entails that the PhD student works on the following aspects: Develop novel FTIR and Raman spectra interpretation algorithms that are targeted to identify microplastics and their material from the huge spectra datasets that μFTIR and μRaman imaging create. Develop algorithms that are targeted on water matrixes to identify particle boundaries, dimensions, and shapes based on μFTIR and μRaman spectra maps. Optimize the algorithms towards detection speed and accuracy. Integrate the developed algorithms in a public domain stand-alone software for automated microplastic interpretation based on μFTIR and μRaman imaging. Develop methods for automatized interpretation of pyrograms from PY-GC-MS on natural water matrixes that are targeted micro- and nanoplastics. Identify which substances commonly interfere in pyrograms of water samples. Develop algorithms for automatized interpretation that compare the targeted plastics and the commonly interfering substances. Develop algorithms for a non-targeted analysis that identifies which part of the pyrograms are not explained by known substances. Integrate the developed algorithms in a public domain stand-alone software for automated micro- and nanoplastic interpretation based on PY-GC-MS.

We seek a young scientist with a strong background in chemistry and chemometrics with focus on quantification of pollutants. You must

• Hold a Master degree in Chemistry, or a similar field.
• Have experience with chemometrics and have good programming skills
• Be in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of your research career
• Have not been awarded a doctoral degree
• Have not resided in Denmark for more than 12 months in the last 3 years (except refugees)
• Enjoy working independently and well-structured together with an interdisciplinary team contributing to a highly topical and socially relevant field.
• Show outstanding commitment, high flexibility, can cope with a higher workload and you are team-oriented.
• Have excellent communication as well as organizational skills and are willing to engage in international, interdisciplinary collaborative research, workshops and secondments.
• Have very good command (written and spoken) of English language.

Previous research experience within the research topic is desirable.

You may obtain further professional information from Professor Jes Vollertsen (jv@civil.aau.dk ).

PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master’s degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Engineering and Science in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1039 of August 27, 2013 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed every six months. It is a prerequisite for continuation of salary payment that the previous progress is approved at the time of the evaluation.

The qualifications of the applicant will be assessed by an assessment committee. On the basis of the recommendation of the assessment committee the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Science will make a decision for allocating the stipend.

For further information about stipends and salary as well as practical issues concerning the application procedure contact Ms. Lisbeth Diinhoff, The Faculty of Engineering and Science, email: ld@adm.aau.dk ,  phone: +45 9940 9589.

For more information of The Doctoral School of Engineering and Science: www.phd.engineering.aau.dk

The application is only to be submitted online by using the “Apply online” button below.

AAU wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background or belief.

Agreement

Appointment and salary as a PhD fellow are according to the Ministry of Finance Circular of November 10, 2015 on the Collective Agreement for Academics in Denmark, Appendix 5, regarding PhD fellows, and with the Ministry of Finance current circular on the employment structure at Danish Universities.

Deadline: 29 February 2020
Unit: Department of Civil Engineering
Read the job description and apply online

Post expires on Saturday February 29th, 2020

At the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Civil Engineering, Section of Water and Environment, a PhD stipend is available within the PhD programme of Civil Engineering.The stipend is open for appointment from July 1, 2020 or soon hereafter. The position is available for 3 years.The PhD position is a part of the MONPLAS project: “MONPLAS – The training of early stage researchers for the development of technologies to monitor concentrations of micro and nanoplastics in water for their presence, uptake and threat to animal and human life”. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 860775, https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/464658 https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/464658

Job description

The PhD student addresses the release of micro- and nanoplastics in drinking water treatment and distribution systems. The materials shall be followed from source to consumer and research done on how the plastic materials of these systems age, deteriorate, and shed micro- and nanoplastics.

Microplastics have been shown to occur in drinking water, although the sources of the plastic particles are poorly understood, which could include the raw water supply, the water treatment plant, the public water distribution network, and the private networks inside buildings. In addition, it is poorly understood how many of the quantified microplastics come from contamination during the sampling and analysis itself. The PhD student will investigate where the main sources for micro- and nanoplastics are, and which mechanisms contribute to their formation in the drinking water supply systems. The PhD student will work on quantifying the occurrence of micro- and nanoplastics in drinking water sources (lakes, streams, aquifers). Investigate its fate in water treatment plants and how it is retained. Study the release of micro- and nanoplastics from plastic parts of the water infrastructure (water treatment plants, water distribution systems, household connections). The PhD student will develop, refine, and apply various analytical techniques based on for example μFTIR imaging, μRaman imaging, pyrolysis-GC-MS, single-particle ICP-MS. Analytical methods to quantify nanoplastics (<1 μm) are explored. Methods and equipment for sampling and sample preparation suitable for very small particles are developed and refined. The de-facto detection limits of micro- and nanoplastics analysis is a function of the contamination during the work-flow, and methods for quantifying contamination for all addressed sizes and a range of polymers are developed. Methods to quantify recovery of the sample preparation process are developed for all addressed sizes and a range of polymers.

We seek a young scientist with a strong background in chemistry or environmental science and engineering with focus on chemistry. You must

• Hold a Master degree in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Chemistry, or a similar field.
• Be in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of your research career
• Have not been awarded a doctoral degree
• Have not resided in Denmark for more than 12 months in the last 3 years (except refugees)
• Enjoy working independently and well-structured together with an interdisciplinary team contributing to a highly topical and socially relevant field.
• Show outstanding commitment, high flexibility, can cope with a higher workload and you are team-oriented.
• Have excellent communication as well as organizational skills and are willing to engage in international, interdisciplinary collaborative research, workshops and secondments.
• Have very good command (written and spoken) of English language.

Previous research experience within the research topic is desirable.

You may obtain further professional information from Associate Professor Asbjørn H. Nielsen (ahn@civil.aau.dk).

PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master’s degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Engineering and Science in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1039 of August 27, 2013 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed every six months. It is a prerequisite for continuation of salary payment that the previous progress is approved at the time of the evaluation.

The qualifications of the applicant will be assessed by an assessment committee. On the basis of the recommendation of the assessment committee the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Science will make a decision for allocating the stipend.

For further information about stipends and salary as well as practical issues concerning the application procedure contact Ms. Lisbeth Diinhoff, The Faculty of Engineering and Science, email: ld@adm.aau.dk ,  phone: +45 9940 9589.

For more information of The Doctoral School of Engineering and Science: www.phd.engineering.aau.dk

The application is only to be submitted online by using the “Apply online” button below.

AAU wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background or belief.

Agreement

Appointment and salary as a PhD fellow are according to the Ministry of Finance Circular of November 10, 2015 on the Collective Agreement for Academics in Denmark, Appendix 5, regarding PhD fellows, and with the Ministry of Finance current circular on the employment structure at Danish Universities.

Deadline: 29 February 2020
Unit: Department of Civil Engineering
Read the job description and apply online

Post expires on Saturday February 29th, 2020