Co-design for inclusive mobility - digital interfaces for disability.
We are recruiting new Doctoral Researchers to our EPSRC funded Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) PhD studentships starting 1 October 2024. Applications are invited for the project title ‘Co-design for inclusive mobility - digital interfaces for disability’.
Successful applicants will receive an annual stipend (bursary) of £21,237, including inner London weighting, plus payment of their full-time home tuition fees for a period of 42 months (3.5 years).
You should be eligible for home (UK) tuition fees - there are a very limited number (no more than three) of studentships available to overseas applicants, including EU nationals, who meet the academic entry criteria including English Language proficiency.
You will join the internationally recognised researchers in the Department of Brunel Design School research and PhD programmes | Brunel University London
The Project
Co-design for disability poses significant methodological challenges, and little research has so far targeted accessibility in the digital and digital-physical space. This project will design novel digital interfaces, powered by state-of-the-art machine learning capabilities, to enhance accessibility of digital services (websites and mobile applications), including mobility services (e.g., public transport booking and payment) for disabled users. The interdisciplinary research across design and computer science will deliver high-quality wireframes and user experience blueprints, co-designed with impaired users, for the next generation of inclusive digital services. The doctoral researcher will work towards a methodological framework to underpin digital and digital-physical co-design for disability. The project will be implemented in collaboration with a business (CityMaaS) – that will facilitate access to user groups – and with the Brunel Centre for AI.
Please contact Dr Federico Colecchia at federico.colecchia@brunel.ac.uk for an informal discussion about the studentship.
Eligibility
Applicants will have or be expected to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree in an Engineering, Computer Science, Design, Mathematics, Physics or a similar discipline. A Postgraduate Masters degree is not required but may be an advantage.
Skills and Experience
Applicants will be required to demonstrate the following skills:
- A self-directed proactive attitude combined with excellent time and project management skills.
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
- Excellent knowledge of and experience working with user-centred design processes and modern UX/UI methods.
- Knowledge of and experience working with (or willingness to learn about) machine learning methods.
- Ability and motivation to work on an interdisciplinary research project to be implemented in collaboration with an industry partner.
Applicants must be available to commit full time to the research for the duration of the project. The research will take place on the Brunel campus.
How to apply
There are two stages of the application:
1.Applicants must submit the pre-application form via the following link_ https://brunel.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/epsrc-dtp-24-25-pre-application-form-brunel-university-lon
by 16.00 on Friday 5th April 2024.
2.If you are shortlisted for the interview, you will be asked to email the following documentation in a single PDF file to cedps-studentships@brunel.ac.uk within 72hrs.
- Your up-to-date CV;
- Your Undergraduate degree certificate(s) and transcript(s) essential;
- Your Postgraduate Masters degree certificate(s) and transcript(s) if applicable;
- Your valid English Language qualification of IELTS 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in each section) or equivalent, if applicable;
- Contact details for TWO referees, one of which can be an academic member of staff in the College.
Applicants should therefore ensure that they have all of this information in case they are shortlisted.
Interviews will take place in April/May 2024.