Early-Stage Researcher ESR position (PhD candidate) for the ITN “Virtual Prototyping of Tactile Displays”. Project PROTOTOUCH

The post is a 3 year full-time position for a PhD candidate, termed 'Early Stage Researcher' (ESR)to study the multiphysics and multiscale modelling of tactile systems within the scope of the ITN PROTOTOUCH. It will be based in the company Centre for Computational Continuum Mechanics (C3M) in Ljubljana, Slovenia. It is expected that the successful candidate will enrol in a PhD program and submit the thesis within the period of employment. The PROTOTOUCH Network is coordinated by the University of Birmingham in the UK and comprises 10 other industrial and academic partners in the UK (Swansea University), Belgium (Université Catholique de Louvain), Sweden (Goeteborgs Univeriteit), Slovenia (C3M), Switzerland (Scuola Universitaria), France (Université  Pierre et Marie Curie, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille and ST Microelectronics) and Germany (Metec).

Description
The next generation of electronic user interfaces such as touch pads will have high definition haptic feedback since tactile displays enhance user performance, ease of use and user experience e.g. by the tactile illusion that onscreen buttons press and release for nonphysical keyboards. The main research goal of PROTOTOUCH is to exploit multiscale, multiphysics simulation software, supported by neurophysiological measurements, for the virtual prototyping and optimisation of tactile displays, which with the associated research activities, will lead to a radical understanding of the underlying design principles and hence to the development of future generation devices.
The research is biomimetic in nature, being based on an understanding of the cellular, neurological and psychophysical response to tactile experiences such as those associated with tactile displays. The inter-sectoral dimension of the consortium links fundamental and applied scientists and engineers in 7 universities, 3 multi-national companies and 4 SMEs. The research will catalyse greater commercial activity by European companies in the development of tactile displays. This will be facilitated by a key training target of PROTOTOUCH to develop a cohort of next generation researchers that has the appropriate expertise in tactile displays and the ability to communicate across disciplinary boundaries and value the synergistic benefits of solving problems across the engineering-life science interface. It will create an ambitious environment for supra-disciplinary cross-sectoral research training.
The post is an opportunity for an energetic post-graduate ESR with interests in finite element modelling and bio-mechanics to collaborate with researchers in internationally-leading academic institutions, multi-national companies and SMEs to create an exciting novel user interface. The start date would be April 2013. The Network will operate an Equal Opportunities recruitment policy and female candidates are encouraged to apply.

• At the time of recruitment, you must be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of your research careers and have not yet been awarded a doctoral degree.
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• At the time of recruitment, you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc) in Slovenia for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the date of your recruitment on the project.
• You may be of any nationality but you must have excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.    
Full-time equivalent research experience means the research experience measured from the date when you obtained your degree, which would formally allow you to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in Slovenia, irrespective of whether or not a doctorate is or ever was envisaged.
Nr of positions available: 1
Research Fields
A first degree in physical science, engineering or psychophysics.
Career Stage
Early stage researcher or 0-4 yrs (Post graduate)
Research Profile
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Contact for additional job details
For expressions of interest please contact Tomaz Rodic (prototouch@c3m.si)