Research assistants (amanuens) at the Department of Computer Science

Description of the workplace

We offer up to three employments as research assistant (amanuens) in Computer Science in the division for Robotics and Semantic Systems, more specifically in the group focusing on human-robot interaction and interaction with (semi-)autonomous systems such as unmanned vehicles (cars), vessels (ships), or aircraft, at the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University, funded through the research project AISA (AI-powered situational awareness for man-machine interaction in shared autonomy).

AISA is a research project that investigates, how an autonomous vehicle can detect conflict situations, for example a lane marker detection that stops working properly, and then convey information about the problem at hand to its driver or operator in a way that supports situational awareness before the control of the vehicle is handed over to the human. To achieve this, the project is run in two tracks or work packages, with one track using current AI and Machine Learning techniques to detect conflict situations and reason about potential suggestions for solutions, while the other track focuses on how to convey the information needed in a suitable way to a human user through graphical and VR (virtual reality) based interfaces.

The project is conducted in collaboration between LTH (currently three employees involved) and researchers at Aalto University in Finland (currently two employees). The assistant positions are based in Lund. Certain tasks might need to be supervised remotely by the project partners in Finland. 

Work duties

As a research assistant (amanuensis) your duties can vary and should give an insight into academia at the faculty you are studying at.

Your duties for this position include:

• Assisting in designing and conducting research studies (user studies and evaluation of developed systems).
• Participating in the development of software, in particular focusing on user interfaces (in VR), but also including system integration of underlying ML-based methods to detect certain situations with these interfaces.
• Assisting in the preparation and presentation / publication of scientific results. 

Qualifications

Only those admitted to first or second-cycle courses and study programmes at the faculty may be employed as teaching or research assistants (amanuensis). The studies must not have been concluded, i.e. a degree certificate must not have been issued.

Required qualifications:

• Very good proficiency in programming
• Finished courses corresponding to 180 ECTS including the compulsory part of the respective study programme or a BSc degree 
• Good oral and written proficiency in English  
• Good ability to collaborate

Additional merits:

• Knowledge or documented experience (course credits or work certificate) within Machine Learning, preferably Deep Learning / LLMs
• Knowledge or documented experience (course credits or work certificate) within Computer Graphics and/or VR/AR systems 
• Knowledge or documented experience (course credits or work certificate) with simulators and/or game engines (Unreal, Unity)
• Knowledge or documented experience (course credits or work certificate) within computer game development

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. With an employment as a teaching or research assistant you can combine studies with work and complement your theoretical knowledge with practical work experience. Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee Work at Lund University.  

Further information

The position is a fixed term position for a maximum of one year at 10-50 per cent of full time (by agreement) and starting on 2025-04-01 or by agreement, although not later than 2025-05-01. The employment may not affect the assistants study efforts negatively and may not be combined with other employments. The employment as a Teaching/Research Assistant is regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 2017:284), 5 chapter 8-12 §§. The position follows the work time agreement (Flextidsavtal) for technical and administrative staff.

How to apply

Applications are to be submitted via the University’s recruitment system. The application should include a CV and a personal letter justifying your interest in the position and how it matches your qualifications. We ask you to attach documentation from LADOK certifying your eligibility. The application should also include a degree certificate or equivalent and any other document to which you would like to draw attention (copies of grade transcripts, details of referees, letters of recommendation, etc.) 

Welcome to apply!