Adaptive Technologies in Physiological Computing

The School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, in partnership with the Department of Computer Science and General Engineering Research Institute, are working on adaptive technologies in the area of physiological computing. This studentship is co-funded by Emteq Ltd: emteq.net

Applications are invited for a three-year full studentship in this field of research. The studentship includes tuition fees (currently £4,100 per annum) plus a tax-free maintenance stipend (currently £14,296 per annum). Applicants must be UK/EU nationals.

The programme of research is concerned with automatic recognition of emotional states based on measurements of facial electromyography (fEMG) and autonomic activity. The ability of these measures to successfully differentiate positive and negative emotional states will be explored by developing mood induction protocols in virtual reality (VR). Successful applicants will conduct research into the development of adaptive/affective VR scenarios designed to maximise the effectiveness of mood induction.

Applicants are expected to hold a good undergraduate (2:1) or postgraduate qualification in a related discipline, e.g. affective psychophysiology, human-computer interaction, or computer science. A demonstration of competency, experience or awareness of machine learning and digital signal processing techniques, including real-time data processing, would be advantageous as successful candidates will primarily be working in Matlab. Similarly, an interest in VR and psychophysiology would also be an advantage.

The starting date for the PhD studies is negotiable but all successful candidates would be expected to commence as soon as possible and no later than June 2017.