PhD position on Human-Robot Interaction and AI For Health Coaching
Within the Human Media Interaction Lab of the University of Twente, we offer an exciting opportunity for a PhD researcher in Robots and AI for health coaching. This role will involve working on robotics, AI, and NLP, with a particular, but not exclusive, interest in socially and physically assistive robots. The candidate will have the chance to gain in-depth technological knowledge and pursue a self-driven research project in health(care), sports, and rehabilitation.
Due to the increasing demand for physical and mental support in healthcare, there is a growing need for multimodal interactive systems such as social robots, chatbots, and intelligent virtual avatars. These systems coach people to live healthy lifestyles and assist in patient care and rehabilitation. With the advancements in Large Language Models, natural language conversations with these systems have become smoother. However, these coaching systems must provide sensitive and personalized advice for vulnerable user groups and be aware of potential adverse effects.
While natural language interaction has significantly improved, the physical interaction capabilities of socially assistive robots still need enhancement. These improvements aim to achieve interactions similar to those with physiotherapists and caregivers, facilitating close social contact to boost rehabilitation adherence and enhance learning and exercise outcomes. Additionally, these systems must interactively adapt their behavior to users' coaching goals and preferences over time.
The goal is to enrich rehabilitation scenarios and create long-term, LLM-based coaching agents for health and well-being. The specific PhD research topic is open to the candidate's background and interests.
Information and application
Are you interested in this position? Please send your application via the 'Apply now' button below before February 8, 2025, and include:
* A cover letter (maximum 2 pages A4), emphasizing your specific interest, qualifications, motivations to apply for this position.
* A Curriculum Vitae, including a list of all courses attended and grades obtained, and, if applicable, a list of publications and references.
* An IELTS-test, Internet TOEFL test (TOEFL-iBT), or a Cambridge CAE-C (CPE). Applicants with a non-Dutch qualification and who have not had secondary and tertiary education in English can only be admitted with an IELTS-test showing a total band score of at least 6.5, internet. TOEFL test (TOEFL-iBT) showing a score of at least 90, or a Cambridge CAE-C (CPE).
For more information regarding this position, you are welcome to contact Sebastian Schneider via s.schneider@utwente.nl.
About the department
Human Media Interaction (HMI) is a diverse and interdisciplinary research group that studies and designs interactive systems that users can intuitively interact with, ranging from Brain-Computer Interfaces to Conversational Systems and Ambient Intelligence applications. In the area of Conversational Systems, HMI has expertise on speech technology, dialogue systems, embodied conversational agents and social robots. On the theme of e-Health, HMI has a strong tradition of contributing to a variety of coaching systems such as applications to increase physical fitness, advice on particular conditions (asthma, diabetes), or helping people to stop smoking or drinking. Research is conducted in coalitions with other research groups from inside and outside the University of Twente and with external stakeholders such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and elderly homes.
About the organisation
The faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) uses mathematics, electronics and computer technology to contribute to the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). With ICT present in almost every device and product we use nowadays, we embrace our role as contributors to a broad range of societal activities and as pioneers of tomorrow's digital society. As part of a people-first tech university that aims to shape society, individuals and connections, our faculty works together intensively with industrial partners and researchers in the Netherlands and abroad, and conducts extensive research for external commissioning parties and funders. Our research has a high profile both in the Netherlands and internationally. It has been accommodated in three multidisciplinary UT research institutes: Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Centre and Digital Society Institute.
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