Research Assistant/Associate

We are pleased to announce this opportunity to join the Northern Visualisation and Visual Analytics (NoVA) group within the School of Computing as a Research Associate for the Innovate UK project: Immersive Storytelling for a Spatial Retail Experience (ISSRE). The Research Assistant/Associate is full time, fixed term for 12 months and involves collaborators at Software Sunderland City in Newcastle and Cluster Inc in Tokyo Japan. The role sits within the Urban Science Building and the School of Computing at Newcastle University.

In this position, you would be expected to support the research including:
- Identification of user requirements
- Design and prototyping XR solutions
- Implementation of designs
- Completing evaluations of these designs

We are particularly interested in researchers with experience in extended reality (or virtual and augmented) to help us develop this technology and conduct human-centred evaluations of this research which will be integrated into businesses in Software Sunderland City and Cluster Inc. Experience in working in research that involves companies will be an asset to this position. Over the course of the project, we would develop high-quality research publications as we engage with our international and industrial partners.

The duration of the position will be for 12 months and would require one trip to Japan to engage with the researchers there.

Key Accountabilities — Research Assistant:
- Experience in extended reality (or virtual/augmented) relevant to this setting
- Experience in Human-centred evaluation methodologies in HCI
- Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes
- Co-ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s)
- Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project
- Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project's dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books)
- Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate

Key Accountabilities — Research Associate (in addition to the above):
- Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project
- Determine appropriate methodologies for research
- Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations
- Contribute to the writing up of the research and its dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications
- Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline
- Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding

Knowledge, Skills and Experience — Research Assistant:
- Knowledge of extended reality (or virtual/augmented) relevant to this setting
- Knowledge of Human-centred evaluation methodologies in HCI
- Attention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy
- Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences
- Proven ability to analyse data and write-up results
- Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues
- Excellent IT skills in all major office applications
- The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems
- Knowledge of visualisation techniques and methods (desirable)
- Research involving industrial partners (desirable)

Knowledge, Skills and Experience — Research Associate (in addition to the above):
- Awareness of the research environment
- High level of analytical and problem solving capacity
- Ability to communicate complex information with clarity
- Experience of presentations at conferences and/or in high quality publications

Attributes and Behaviour:
- Commitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team
- Ability to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines
- Commitment to continued professional development
- Understanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity

Qualifications — Research Assistant:
- Honours degree in Computer Science
- Working toward (close to completion of PhD) in extended/virtual/augmented reality

Qualifications — Research Associate (in addition to the above):
- PhD in extended/virtual/augmented reality

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.