PhD student in Ergonomics Design, Comfort and Car Passenger Safety

Project description
This PhD position at the Department of Industrial and Materials Science is about Ergonomics Design, Comfort and Car Passenger Safety. In the PhD project, you will focus on issues related to sitting postures, seat belt positions and comfort for passengers in today's and in future cars from an ergonomics and safety perspective for all passenger groups. This concerns for example how attitudes, comfort, activities and seat belt design influence choice of sitting postures and seat belt positions, and also how the seat, lap- and shoulder belt is perceived by people in different ages, anthropometric measures and body constitutions. Furthermore, a central issue is which are the influencing factors that relate sitting comfort to safety, as well as how perceived discomfort can be transformed to objective measures useful for crash simulations.

The project is associated to "Safer Vehicle and Traffic Center" at Chalmers and will be run in collaboration with Volvo Cars, Autoliv and the Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences at Chalmers.

Information about the department and the division
The main competencies at the Department of Industrial and Materials Science are found in the areas of: Human-Technology Interaction | Form and Function | Modelling and Simulation | Product Development | Material | Production and in the interaction between these areas. The research develops the industrial process, from need to finished product while creating added value. To combine skills throughout the whole chain distinguishes the department both nationally and internationally. Here we gather internationally prominent researchers, in dynamic and outstanding research environments, as well as in national and international research networks.

The vision of the division Design & Human Factors is that all products, services and workplaces will be designed to enable users to live and work in a meaningful and sustainable way. With a system approach the Division's research aims to adding knowledge about the relation between humans and technical artefacts, and the activity centred design process. Also developing methods and tools for studying the human-artefact relation, as well as for designing and evaluating safe, sustainable and satisfying products, services and workplaces. The Ph.D. project addresses questions related to two research areas of the division: "Safe and Efficient Human-Machine Systems" and "Healthy Works Systems and Ergonomics".

Major responsibilities
As a PhD student your major responsibility is to pursue doctoral studies in relation to the specific research aim. PhD studies include studying topics such as theory of science, research methodology, and academic writing; designing research studies; collecting and analysing empirical data; and reporting research results at scientific conferences and in journal papers. Research results are also to be communicated at seminars and international conferences. In addition, you will be involved in teaching bachelor and master students and supervising student projects in the area of ergonomics/human factors/industrial design engineering, and/or other departmental tasks.

Contract terms
The position is full-time, temporary employment, limited to a maximum of five years. You will spend approximately 80% of this time on your Ph.D. training and research and maximum 20% on teaching and other departmental tasks. You will be inscribed into the postgraduate programme and the research school Human-Technology-Design. The employment is tied to successful completion of department evaluations after one and three years respectively.

Our offer to you
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the dynamic city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Application procedure
To apply, please go to: https://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/Working-at-Chalmers/Vacancies/Pages/default.aspx?rmpage=job&rmjob=8966

Application deadline: 15 December, 2020