Postdoctoral Researcher in Human-Centered Design

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is consistently ranked as one of the world's leading universities. There are approximately 47,000 students and more than 8,800 employees in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We unite in our efforts to understand, explain, and improve our world and the conditions of people.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Equality, equal opportunities, and diversity are fundamental principles for all parts of our operations.

Workplace Description

The postdoctoral position is located at the Department of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology at LTH, Lund University.

The Ergonomics Group at LTH studies and strives to improve the interaction between people and the products, systems, and environments they use. Our goal is to contribute to a better society, especially in an increasingly digitalized world. We place great emphasis on gender issues and ethical aspects and work to create inclusive and context-adapted solutions. Through close collaborations with practice, a user-centered research approach, and strong community engagement, we work to improve people's daily lives and promote sustainable and inclusive digital development.

Specific Subject Description

Human-Centered Design (HCD) is an iterative design method that places users' needs, expectations, and limitations at the center of the entire development process. The purpose is to create solutions that are both functional and meaningful for those who will use them. HCD is based on a deep understanding of users' contexts – their goals, experiences, habits, and challenges – and actively involves them in all phases of design, from needs analysis to testing and further development. The method is characterized by a cyclical process where design ideas are continuously tested, evaluated, and improved based on user feedback. By combining qualitative methods such as interviews, observations, and user testing with creative techniques like prototyping and scenario creation, we ensure that the final product is usable, accessible, and tailored to real needs.

Job Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the postdoctoral researcher include conducting research. Teaching may also be included in the responsibilities, but no more than one-fifth of the working time. Within the framework of the employment, there is an opportunity for three weeks of higher education pedagogical training. The purpose of the employment is to develop independence as a researcher and create conditions for further qualification.

The postdoctoral position is located at the Department of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology at LTH, Lund University.

The job responsibilities include:

• Participating in two research projects that explore the future interface between humans and machines in different ways:
• The first project investigates how wearable sensor-motor interfaces and robotic arms can be designed to support physical ability and independence for individuals with disabilities. Through a speculative design perspective, we not only test what is technically possible today but also what future bodies and relationships may become possible and desirable.
• The second project looks forward to a labor market where automation and robots have an increased presence. We explore what may define meaningful work in such a future. What do we want work to be and for whom? Through future design, scenario building, and participatory methods, we engage various stakeholders in exploring alternative futures where the role of humans is not replaced but renegotiated in new, value-creating ways.
• Participating in teaching within interaction design at undergraduate and advanced levels and supervising master's students.
• Participating in activities to communicate and disseminate project results at national and international conferences, among others.

Within the projects, you will:

• Conduct future and speculative design workshops to highlight design, ethical, gender perspectives, and social aspects related to assistive augmentation and robots in rehabilitation as well as robotization in the automotive industry.
• Investigate and analyze gender and equality aspects and ethical issues related to the solutions developed within the projects. Translate identified design, ethical, gender, and social factors into concrete requirements.
• Provide recommendations for the future development of assistive augmentation and robots in rehabilitation as well as meaningful work in a robotized automotive industry.

For the full advertisement, please see Lund University's website. LTH – Lund University of Technology – is the technical faculty at Lund University. At LTH, we educate people, build knowledge for the future, and work hard to develop society. We create space for brilliant research and inspire creative development of technology, architecture, and design. Nearly 10,000 students study here. Every year, our researchers – many of whom work in world-leading profile areas – publish around 100 dissertations and 2,000 scientific findings. A number of research results and student projects are refined into innovations. Together we explore and create – for the benefit of the world.

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