PhD Project in Human-Computer Interaction for Behaviour Change in Extended Reality

This PhD project focuses on human-computer interaction (HCI) with an emphasis on behavior change within extended reality (XR) environments. Candidates should have a strong foundation in HCI principles, user experience design, and behavioral science to effectively design and evaluate interactive systems that influence user behavior. Expertise in extended reality technologies—including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR)—is essential, along with proficiency in relevant development platforms and programming languages commonly used in XR applications, such as Unity or Unreal Engine, and languages like C#, C++, or Python. The role requires skills in experimental design, data collection, and quantitative and qualitative analysis to assess behavioral outcomes and system usability. Familiarity with psychological theories of behavior change and methods for measuring behavioral impact will be advantageous. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to conduct interdisciplinary research combining computing, psychology, and design. Strong communication skills are important for disseminating findings through academic publications and presentations. The project is suited for candidates pursuing doctoral-level research, indicating a high level of education and commitment to advancing knowledge in HCI and XR. Overall, this role demands a blend of technical expertise in XR development, research proficiency in HCI and behavior change, and the capacity to innovate within emerging interactive technologies to create impactful user experiences.