Post-Doc in Sustainable and critical methods in robotic research

Project description
As a PostDoc researcher in the Applied Robotics in Gothenburg group, you will be part of a team of researchers with a focus on critical methods within Human-Robot Interaction. The candidates will benefit from our many ongoing collaborations with academia and industry and the opportunities for further professional development.

In this project we seek to bridge the epistemological gaps between design and engineering to establish a critical and sustainable view of robots in society. The group is currently involved in a WASP-HS funded project on Social Drones with two ongoing PhD students. In connection to this project, we propose continued work in the methods necessary for the critical and sustainable development of robots taking in consideration society and whether the risks outweigh the benefits of their application. Simultaneously, there is an ongoing collaboration project with the healthcare organisation in Gothenburg (Västra Götalands Regionen – VGR) on the development of automated delivery drones for medicine out to the remote islands on the archipelago of the region.

The results of the research will provide insight on the ethical and sustainability risks and benefits of such applications of drones. The successful candidate is expected to be experienced with field work, STS theory, and the capacity for addressing municipality and regional stakeholders as real demand owners and to research, develop and incorporate their needs into ethnographic methods.

Major responsibilities
We see as a role for this Post-Doc to research which methods (e.g. ethnographic, interviews, research through design) bring to the table sensitive, ethical, and sustainability discussions between all stakeholders, and in particular those approaching the work from an engineering perspective. The focus of this post-doc project would be to find how critical and ethical issues can be weaved into the work at early stages – particularly when working with automated robotics in social environments. The Post-Doc would also be expected to be part of future proposal writing.

Qualifications
To qualify for this position you must hold doctoral degree, awarded no more than three years prior to the application deadline, connected to areas such as Design, Science and Technology Studies (STS), Human Computer Interaction (HCI), or Human Robot Interaction (HRI) and related areas. Preferable you have experience in ethnographic, design, ethics and qualitative methods and are comfortable with interdisciplinary knowledge. It would be beneficial to have good engineering competences in automated systems, and strong interest in human factors and openness to critical and ethical perspectives.

Contract terms
This postdoc position is a full-time temporary employment for two years, including 20% teaching.

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20230730 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.

CV: (Please name the document as: CV, Surname, Ref. number) including:
• CV, include complete list of publications
• Previous teaching and pedagogical experiences
• Two references that we can contact.

Personal letter: (Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, Ref. number)
1-3 pages where you:
• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous research fields and main research results
• Describe your future goals and future research focus

Other documents:
• Attested copies of completed education, grades and other certificates.

Use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form.

Application deadline: January 22nd 2024 

For questions, please contact:
Sara Ljungblad, Division of Interaction Design and Software Engineering
sara.ljungblad@chalmers.se

Mafalda Gamboa Samuelsson, Division of Interaction Design and Software Engineering
Mafalda.gamboa@chalmers.se

Birgit Penzenstedler, Division of Interaction Design and Software Engineering
Birgitp@chalmers.se


*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. *** 





Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, technology-related mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society. The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our six Areas of Advance; Energy, Health Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Materials Science, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!