About Malmö University

Since its inception in 1998, Malmö University has grown into the country’s eighth largest institution of higher education with 25 000 students. Its education and research programmes are distinguished by their multidisciplinary, problem-oriented approach and social relevance. The university offers students a range of educations in five faculties: Culture and Society, Education and Society, Health and Society, Odontology, and Technology and Society.

The Department of Computer Science at the Faculty of Technology and Society

The Faculty of Technology and Society has two departments and offers several subjects based in technology. Many of the subjects are part of multidisciplinary programs with the goal of integrating technology, science and social science perspectives. The faculty has about 2,500 students and about 90 employees. For more information, please see www.mah.se/ts

The Department of Computer science conducts research and education in computer science that is relevant to the society and in close collaboration with industry and the public sector. The focus is on how IT and software can improve our society, including effective software development. The department offers six bachelor’s and engineering programs, two advanced level programs and several single subject courses. Courses are offered in fields such as application development, systems development, information architecture, business systems, embedded mobile systems, game development, and digital media. For more information about the department, please see www.mah.se/dv.

Job description and responsibilities – IoTaP research profile

The position is part of the Internet of Things and People (IoTaP) research profile, a seven-year project which is a collaboration between Malmö University and the following industrial partners: Axis Communications, CyberCom, Data Ductus, E.On, Sigma Connectivity, Sigma Technology, Sony Mobile, TerraNet, Verisure, Wireless Maingate and ÅF Technology.

The Internet of Things (IoT) enables the objects in our environment to sense, act, and share information. In order to develop successful products and services that are meaningful and useful, the perspective of the users must be integrated in IoT research. The research profile focuses on three areas that are crucial for the advance of the Internet of Things:

• interaction technology; how users interact with the connected devices,
• user-centred development; how users can be involved in the development of new IoT services and products, and
• embedded intelligence; how intelligence embedded in the devices can improve the usability and functionality of IoT services and products.

The research in these areas will be carried out in application areas that are of interest for the industrial partners, such as energy, transportation, health, and home automation.

This position concerns mainly research on methods for the collection and analysis of user feedback and data throughout the development process of Internet of Things products and services. The research will focus on how these can (1) be adapted to better address the complexity of the IoT context, (2) be efficiently combined to improve IoT product and service development, and (3) help usidentify and predict emerging user behaviours and needs in an IoT context.

Read more about the IoTaP research profile: iotap.mah.se

Employment as a doctoral student

The student employed as a doctoral student shall primarily devote time to his/her own research. Decisions regarding employment of doctoral students can be found in Higher Education Ordinance 5 Chap. 1-7 §§. The doctoral student is expected to actively participate in the research and teaching environment.

The doctoral programme’s aim is to develop the knowledge and skills required for the doctoral student in order to independently conduct research and thereby contribute to the development of knowledge within the chosen subject area. The doctoral programme is worth 240 higher education credits (equivalent to four years of full-time studies) and is completed when the doctoral student publicly defends his/her doctoral dissertation.

Qualification requirements: PhD position in Computer Science (User-centered development)

The general requirements for third-cycle (doctoral) education are that the student has:

1) received a second-cycle higher education degree,
2) completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits are second-cycle, or
3) in some other way, within or outside the country, acquired equivalent knowledge.

Applicants who met the basic eligibility requirements for doctoral studies prior to 1 July 2007 shall thereafter be considered to have completed the general requirements for admission to the doctoral studies. This exception applies up until the end of June 2015.

Assessment criteria

Initial assessment concerns the general and specific eligibility requirements (above).
Further, according to Higher Education Ordinance 5 Chap. 5 §, importance is placed on the student’s ability to appropriate the advanced learning of the third-cycle doctoral programme. The previously written material and portfolio pieces and the dissertation plan are important indicators of this ability. (Refer to instructions on the form of the application, below.)

Selection from applicants who have basic and special eligibility “shall be made with regard to their ability to proifit from the studies (HEO Chapter 7 section 41).

The following general criteria will be used:

• independence of analysis and presentation in previous work
• issue formulation and rigour in previous work
• methodological and scientific maturity
• communication skills and cooperation skills

In addition, the following criteria specific to this position will be used:

• demonstrated ability to contribute to projects in the fields of Internet of Things and/or Software engineering
• demonstrated ability to contribute to applied projects together with industrial partners

Additional information

The PhD position is five years, starting in March 2015. The position will be placed at the Faculty of Technology and society. The positions normally consist of 80% research in the IoTaP research profile and 20% teaching. The research is carried out in collaboration with some of industrial partners participating in the IoTaP research profile.

Information

Paul Davidsson, professor of Computer Science, paul.davidsson@mah.se, +46 (0)40 665 86 18
Jan Persson, Head of Department of Computer Science, jan.a.persson@mah.se, +46 (0)40 665 71 68

Application

Send applications by e-mail to registrator.ts<στο>mah.se . The application deadline is February 1st  2015. Mark your application with the given reference number.

The application shall be accompanied by (where applicable):

1. Signed Curriculum Vitae
2. Certified copies of diplomas and transcript
3. List of scientific and educational work
4. A description of relevant research projects
5. References

Candidates may document credentials by following the guidelines of the Malmö UniversityQualification portfolio for teachers/researchers at Malmö University. See also Malmö University’semployment regulations.

Local union representatives

SACO, Stefan Gustafsson, tel +46 (0)40-665 76 79

ST/OFR Naser Eftekharian,  tel +46 (0)40-66 57649