Sunday, October 16, 2011

Research Vacancy in the school


Research Associate in Smart Textiles for the Smart Costumes Research Project

Vacancy details

  • Ref no: 112/11/W
  • School/Section: School of Textiles & Design, School of Mathematical & Computer Sciences
  • Grade/Salary: Grade 7 £29,099 - £35,788
  • Closing date: 21 Oct 2011
  • Duration: Fixed Term 18 months
  • Location: Edinburgh Campus

Job description

School of Textiles & Design
Research Associate in the area of Smart Textiles for the ‘Smart Costumes: smart textiles and wearable technology in pervasive computing environments’ research project
Grade 7 £29,099 - £35,788 (18 months)  
The ‘Smart Costumes’ research project has initial funding from Heriot-Watt Universities ‘Creativity, Innovation and Design’ theme : http://cdi.hw.ac.uk/. The aim of the theme is to increase collaborative multidisciplinary research within the University and beyond. The focus of the ‘Smart Costumes’ project is to bring together textile design, computer science and electronics in order to explore the the interfaces and interaction between smart textiles and smart – or pervasive – environments for performance.
Applicants should ideally have either:
1.     A background in textile design having completed a PhD in practice–based research dealing with an area of research broadly relevant to the Smart Costumes project, which could include, smart/interactive textiles, wearable technologies, digital pattern design, or costume design. Additionally, they will also have a strong interest in computer science, be willing to learn aspects of programming and work within a multidisciplinary team.
2.     A background in computer science having completed a PhD in an area dealing with research broadly relevant to the Smart Costumes project in multi-modal interaction, which could include gestural or postural interaction, intelligent tracking, wearable computing. Additionally, they will also have a strong interest and knowledge of research in the area of smart textiles, costume or performance/performance environments. The applicant will be required to work closely with designers as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Applicants should have strongly developed research skills and be excellent all round communicators. They will be acting as the key researcher in the ‘Smart Costumes’ project taking the project forward through development of prototype pieces, publications and developing funding proposals for appropriate research councils to extend the research project.  The position will require a self-motivated creative thinker that can turn research ideas into reality. They should be innovative in their approach to research and bring their own ideas to the project. The applicants should have highly developed design/computer science skills to allow them to produce research outputs of the highest quality, combining textile design, computer science and electronics. The successful applicant will be joining a multidisciplinary research team split between the School of Textiles and Design, the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences and the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences.
For further information contact Dr Sara Robertson s.robertson@hw.ac.uk or Prof Ruth Aylett ruth@macs.ac.uk  

How to apply

Completed application forms may be returned by e-mail to hr@hw.ac.uk or by post to Heriot-Watt University, Human Resources, Edinburgh EH14 4AS. Tel. +44 (0) 131 451 3022 (24 hours), Minicom +44 (0) 131 451 8212.
Please quote the vacancy reference no. in any correspondence.

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