PhD Studentship (5th June)
Reducing the travel ‘footprint' of music and sports events using user-centred design approaches
Ergonomics and Safety Research Institute (ESRI), Loughborough University
(October 2008 start)
Jobs.ac.uk weblink: http://www.jobs.ac.uk/jobs/ZJ263/PhD_Studentship/
PhD applications are sought from highly motivated students who have, or expect to gain, at least a 2:1 in a relevant degree. The research will apply a user-centred design approach to develop design concepts for reducing the ‘travel footprint’ of events such as music festivals and football matches. These design concepts might include new web-based or mobile services for users.
Project background
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) are supporting a major research and innovation initiative entitled ‘Future Intelligent Transport Systems’ (FITS). The Ergonomics & Safety Research Institute (ESRI) is involved in one of the three projects funded under this initiative. The project is titled ‘User Innovation’ and is examining what happens when people and technology are creatively combined to address the transport challenges faced by individuals and society. There are four organisations involved: University of the West of England (lead partner); ESRI at Loughborough University; Ito World Ltd and Ordnance Survey. As part of the project, EPSRC and DfT are supporting two PhD studentships – one based at UWE and one at Loughborough University.
The student would be closely associated with the User Innovation project team at ESRI. ESRI is one of the world's leading centres for human factors research, with a strong track record in transport and mobile technologies. ESRI's mission is the application of research based knowledge to solve real world problems and the study of real world problems to inform our understanding of the underlying science.
Research topic
One of the aims of the User Innovation project is to develop methods that can support the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) industry in exploiting innovations that have stemmed from end users. This PhD will involve close collaboration with end users in order to: (a) develop design concepts based on user-driven innovation; (b) apply and develop appropriate methods for identifying and developing these new products/services.
It is expected that the student will work as the ‘designer’ amongst users in the initial stages of the research to develop novel product concepts that will then be evaluated as low fidelity prototypes within real and/or simulated contexts of use.
Objectives
Provisional objectives for the PhD, to be agreed in due course with the successful candidate, are as follows:
o To use user focussed methods to create, with users, innovative intelligent transport system product/service concepts that could reduce the carbon footprint of events
o To assess and develop a user-centred design approach as a way of creating successful user-driven innovations
o To assess the value of using a Participative Design approach as a process for creating successful user innovations
o To identify how the ITS industry could apply these methods to promote and support user innovation
Applications
This is an exciting opportunity for a creative individual who is highly motivated, and who would welcome the opportunity to work in collaboration with the existing User Innovation project team. The post would suit a graduate in Ergonomics, Psychology, Human Factors, Product Design or related discipline, especially those with experience of User-Centred Design. However, graduates from other disciplines would be considered if they could demonstrate significant appropriate research experience.
The studentship will include fees at the UK/EU rate and a stipend of £12,940 per annum.
Before applying, potential applicants are encouraged to contact Tracy Ross (t.ross@lboro.ac.uk), who leads the ESRI contribution to the User Innovation project.
Applicants should complete the standard PhD application form available from: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/prospectus/pg/apply/index.html. Your application form should be accompanied by a brief statement (one page maximum) describing your motivation for applying for this studentship and some initial thoughts on how you may begin to approach the research.
Closing date for applications is Friday 20th June 2008.
Further information about ESRI is available at: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/esri/