Postdoctoral position in Software Engineering & Continuous Experimentation - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Description of the workplace
The position is in collaboration with senior lecturer Elizabeth Bjarnason (https//cs.lth.se/elizabeth_bjarnason) in the research group for Software Engineering (SERG, https://serg.cs.lth.se) within the Department of Computer Science of Lund University’s Faculty of Engineering. SERG has a strong focus on empirical research through close collaboration with industry. Research areas include Software Startups, Requirements Engineering, Software Testing, Continuous Deployment and Experimentation, Cognitive aspects of software development, and Software Processes.

The department and the research group have strong connections to the Swedish research programmes WASP (Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program, https://wasp-sweden.org) and ELLIIT (https://elliit.se) and is well connected also internationally with leading institutions in the field.

We offer
Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave, and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee Work at Lund University

You will join an international team of researchers, with regular internal seminars, occasional guest lecturers, and events within our industry collaboration network. The Department of Computer Science strives to maintain a positive working atmosphere and invites to regular activities like breakfast seminars and semester kick-off days with social activities.

Subject description
Continuous Experimentation uses field experiments to steer software product development based on user feedback and commonly relies on large amounts of user data. This project focuses on how to benefit from this approach with limited user data, and specifically when developing in-house software products and tools. Solutions can include combining different types of user data (qualitative and quantitative), identifying suitable statistical methods, re-using existing user bases. For more information, see https://portal.research.lu.se/en/projects/wasp-continuous-experimentation-with-limited-user-data

Work duties
The main duties involved in a post-doctoral position is to conduct research through empirical studies of industrial practice, designing novel solutions and empirically evaluating these in collaboration with industrial partners. Teaching may also be included, up to 20% of working hours. The position includes the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning. The purpose of the position is to develop the independence as a researcher and to create the opportunity of further development.

This post-doc project will explore how the practice of continuous experimentation (CE) can be applied in a context with limited user data. The research approach includes empirical studies of industrial practice, designing novel solutions and empirically evaluating these in collaboration with industrial partners.

The position includes some travelling, in particular for coordination meetings with the project partners at Aalto University, Finland.

Detailed description of the work duties, such as:

• Research within the subject area.
• Teaching in the second and third cycles of studies including supervision of degree projects and doctoral students, when relevant to your research.
• Collaboration with industry and wider society.
• Administration related to the work duties listed above.

Qualification requirements
Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within the subject of the position. The certificate proving the qualification requirement is met, must be received before the employment decision is made. Priority will be given to candidates who have graduated no more than three years ago before the last day for application. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• Experience of industrial software engineering practice, or research collaboration with practitioners.
• Knowledge and experience within the subject including experimentation setups and statistical methods.
• Good ability to work in a structured and independent manner.
• Good collaboration and communication skills.

Assessment criteria
This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers. Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills within the subject.

For appointments to a post-doctoral position, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• A good ability to develop and conduct high quality research.
• Teaching skills.

Other qualifications:

• Experience of multiple research methods and ability to manage mixed-method research.
• Openess for a human-centered focus on methods and tools for software engineering.
• Good programming skills.

Consideration will also be given to how well the applicant’s interests and ideas (expressed in the application) align with the project description and how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the research group.

Further information
This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of two years. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”).

How to apply
Applications shall be written in English. Please draw up the application in accordance with LTH’s Academic qualifications portfolio – see link below. Include a description of how your experiences and interests align with the project description. Upload the application as PDF-files in the recruitment system. Read more: http://www.lth.se/english/working-at-lth/to-apply-for-academic-positions-at-lth/

Welcome with your application!