PhD Candidate in the Field of Human-Computer Interaction

The Luxembourg National Research Fund is funding a collaborative research project between the University of Luxembourg’s Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) group, the Interdisciplinary Research Group in Socio-Technical Cybersecurity (IRISC) at the SnT, the Luxembourg Centre for Educational Testing (LUCET) and research partners in France. Together they will address the security challenges in electronic test and assessment systems (e-TAS). The framework project includes several PhD and post-doc positions and will advance coordinated research on various dimensions of security so as to improve e-TAS in Luxembourg and worldwide: 1. define threat models and security properties for e-T&AS (including privacy, variability, auditability, accountability, but also security usability of e-T&AS and their procedures, e.g., for dispute resolution); 2. extend existing tools for a formal analysis of them; 3. develop and deploy run-time monitoring to detect cheating and support accountability; 4. develop new usable secure protocols and implement them in a significant use cases.

The specific PhD project advertised here will research the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) aspects of security in e-TAS, investigating in particular usability and UX challenges.

Your Role

You will conduct empirical research and follow a UX design process contributing to the development of secure and usable assessment systems with a particular focus on the human aspects in the interaction with an assessment system. Your research will allow to design systems that support users in their assessment tasks while improving their security through e.g., cheating detection, results verifiability. You will develop your PhD project around this objective, and define the precise outline and research questions in conjunction with all researchers involved in the project. An interdisciplinary research team, access to existing systems and use cases and possibilities for exchange with industry are just some of the opportunities provided.

As part of the https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__hci.uni.lu_&d=D... rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Human-Computer Interaction Group, you will conduct research for a doctoral thesis positioned in the area of psychology / human-computer interaction, supervised by Prof. Vincent Koenig. The HCI team will actively support you throughout the project, and you will benefit from the University’s state-of-the-art facilities.

• Conduct original and interdisciplinary research in human-computer interaction


• Implement a UX design process and the relevant associated methods


• Publish research results and present them at international conferences


• Collaborate with the partner institutes


• Participate in joint research group activities (e.g., colloquia, creativity sessions, teaching)


• Write a cumulative PhD thesis

Your Profile

• Master’s degree in human-computer interaction, psychology, social sciences or a related discipline


• Well familiar with HCI concepts and methods


• High interest and proficiency with ICT


• Prior experience (industry or research) with electronic assessment systems is an asset


• Team-oriented and able to work autonomously


• At ease connecting with people


• Written and spoken proficiency in English is mandatory; proficiency in French or German is a plus


• Coding skills are a plus

In Short

• Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract 36 Month - extendable up to 48 months if required


• Work Hours: Full Time 40.0 Hours per Week


• Location: Belval


• Internal Title: Doctoral Researcher


• Job Reference: UOL04039

Further Information

Applications should be submitted online and include:

• Curriculum Vitae


• Digital copy of University diploma certificates and a transcript of results


• Motivation letter detailing why the candidate intends to undertake a PhD


• A brief research proposal, stating how the applicant intends to advance the state-of-the-art in the research topic


• Contact information of three references


• List of publications (if applicable)


• Portfolio (if applicable)

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

The selection process starts from 30 April 2021 on.

Please apply formally through the HR system. Applications by email will not be considered.

The University of Luxembourg embraces inclusion and diversity as key values. We are fully committed to removing any discriminatory barrier related to gender, and not only, in recruitment and career progression of our staff.

About the University of Luxembourg

The University of Luxembourg aspires to be one of Europe’s most highly regarded universities with a distinctly international and interdisciplinary character. It fosters the cross-fertilisation of research and teaching, is relevant to its country, is known worldwide for its research and teaching in targeted areas, and is establishing itself as an innovative model for contemporary European Higher Education. The University`s core asset is its well-connected world-class academic staff which will attract the most motivated, talented and creative students and young researchers who will learn to enjoy taking up challenges and develop into visionary thinkers able to shape society.

Further information

For further information, please contact Prof. Vincent Koenig (mailto:vincent.koenig@uni.lu rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">vincent.koenig@uni.lu).

For the same project, we are also looking for an additional PhD candidate specialized in computer science. For further information, please contact Prof. Gabriele Lenzini (mailto:gabriele.lenzini@uni.lu rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">gabriele.lenzini@uni.lu).