[visionlist] PhD Positions on Optimizing Perception and Interaction in Augmented Reality

[Katharina Rifai]

PhD positions are available in a collaborative project of three labs:  
the ZEISS Vision Science Lab (Siegfried Wahl), the Perception  
Engineering lab (Enkelejda Kasneci), and the Cognitive Modeling lab  
(Martin Butz), at the University of Tuebingen, Germany.

The project focusses on perception and interaction with augmented  
reality. In a conjoint approach this joint project will develop and  
implement augmented reality technology that is tailored to the  
processing principles of human vision and behavior, evaluating their  
interplay. Augmented reality as well as simulations of AR in virtual  
reality (VR) scenarios will be used to optimally support human  
perception and behavior in manipulated environments.

The PhD candidates will benefit from the combined expertise of all  
three groups in the areas of vision, eye movements, manual  
interaction, eye-tracking methodology, real-time embedded data  
processing, statistical modelling, psychophysics, VR design, motion  
tracking, haptic and multisensory feedback, and cognition.

Further information about the labs of the three partners including  
their current list of publications are available at the following  
addresses:
   (http://www.eye-tuebingen.de/zeiss-vision-science-lab/)
    
(http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/fakultaeten/mathematisch-naturwissenschaftliche-fakultaet/fachbereiche/informatik/fachbereich/struktur/perception-engineering.html)
   (http://cm.inf.uni-tuebingen.de/)

Tuebingen is a vibrant university city in the south of Germany.  
Besides the Center for Ophthalmic Research, Technical Informatics, and  
a strong group and study program in cognitive science, Tuebingen is  
also home of the Center of Integrative Neuroscience, the Hertie  
Institute for Clinical Brain Research, the Bernstein Center for  
Computational Neuroscience, and several institutes of the Max Planck  
Society, among others. This allows for a tremendous exposure to the  
latest advances in vision/robotics, neuroscience, cognitive science,  
human-computer interaction, brain-computer interfaces, etc. There are  
also opportunities for collaborative projects across labs/institutes.

Prospective candidates are expected to have good programming skills  
and show interest in both, vision and interaction, and  
application-inspired approaches in virtual and augmented reality.  
Expertise in Unity 3D, psychophysics, gaze-contingency and real-time  
applications are welcome.

For the PhD position applications, eligibility for the PhD program is  
mandatory (MSc degree or equivalent). Positions are available from  
October, with funding for 3 years.

Interested candidates should send a CV, a summary of related interests  
as well as a statement about a potential project in the sketched-out  
framework, and the names of two or three referees familiar with the  
candidates’ backgrounds to Siegfried Wahl  
(siegfried.wahl at uni-tuebingen.de).

Additionally we are offering opportunities for bachelor theses, master  
theses, or internships in augmented and virtual reality projects.