The IMAGE project is recruiting a fully funded PhD student to be located at Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Application Deadline: 10 March 2019
Start Date: 1 May 2019
Duration: 3 years
Bursary: £14,777 per annum (pro-rata into 12 monthly payments)
Fees: UK/EU Fees paid for a period of three years (see web link for non-EU).
For full details and how to apply, please visit: http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/the-graduate-school/research-degrees-at-leeds-beckett/studentships/computing-and-creative-technology-studentships/
PhD project description
This PhD research project will investigate how autistic students can best be involved in the conception, design and development of a digital toolkit that helps improve their employability skills. The toolkit will act as a companion to the student during the final stages of university study, helping to identify skills gaps and improve these, develop self-advocacy, provide useful tips, encouragement and training.
Through a participatory design approach, the PhD candidate will work with autistic students and graduates to discover what needs, aspirations and challenges they may have, how the toolkit can meet these needs, and how autistic strengths and weaknesses can best be utilised in the design process to ensure that the final product is fit for purpose and effective.
This PhD research is closely linked with the IMAGE project, an EU-funded 3-year initiative that aims to improve the support autistic students receive at university during the transition from study into the world of work. The research agenda will be determined by the objectives of the IMAGE project. The successful candidate will join the project team and take responsibility for specific project activities and outputs.
Travel within the UK to co-run co-design and usability workshops is required. Occasional travel to IMAGE meetings within Europe may also be required.
The successful candidate will also become a member of the Technologies for Health and Wellbeing research group, an interdisciplinary cluster that uses design, computational and engineering approaches to improve people’s health, happiness and quality of life in a wide range of settings, including at home, in education, in the workplace and in care.
Your background
- Eligible candidates will typically have obtained a Masters degree with Distinction in any of the following disciplines: Computing, Human-Computer Interaction, Digital Design or Games Design.
- Candidates will have either good web development skills, or experience of using a user-centred design approach – ideally both.
- A positive attitude towards working as part of a multi-disciplinary, inclusive research team.
- We particularly encourage autistic people to apply.
How to apply
Before you apply, it is highly recommended that you discuss your research proposal prior to applying. Please contact Dr Marc Fabri, IMAGE project lead, at m.fabri@leedsbeckett.ac.uk or 0113 81-23317
For full details and how to apply, please visit: http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/the-graduate-school/research-degrees-at-leeds-beckett/studentships/computing-and-creative-technology-studentships/