Research Fellow (Multimodal Interaction)

Interested applicants are invited to apply directly at the NUS Career Portal. Please note your application will only be processed if you apply via NUS Career Portal.

NUS Career Portal link: https://careers.nus.edu.sg/job/Research-Fellow-%28Multimodal-Interaction%29/32892-en_GB/

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Job Description

We NUS Immersive Reality Lab are seeking a highly motivated Research Fellow to join our multidisciplinary team developing next-generation multimodal interactive systems, with a strong emphasis on tangible systems, haptic interfaces, and wearable devices.

The successful candidate will contribute to the full pipeline of interactive system research, including device design, embedded implementation, user evaluation, and top-tier academic dissemination.

Key Responsibilities
Research & System Development
. Conduct independent and collaborative research projects aligned with the lab's strategic directions.
. Design and implement novel multimodal interaction techniques, particularly involving touch, vibration, thermal, or wearable feedback.
. Contribute to interdisciplinary research bridging HCI, haptic actuating and sensing, and immersive reality.

Hardware Prototyping & Engineering
. Develop functional prototypes of interactive devices, including: wearable haptic systems, tactile sensing surfaces, IoT-enabled interactive platforms, embedded multimodal interfaces
. Design and integrate hardware components such as sensors, actuators, and microcontrollers.
. Build and iterate prototypes using rapid fabrication tools (e.g., 3D printing, laser cutting, soft-material prototyping).
. Implement embedded firmware and real-time control pipelines for interactive feedback.
. Interface hardware with VR/AR software environments (e.g., Unity, real-time streaming, device drivers).

User Studies & Evaluation
. Plan and conduct rigorous user-centered evaluations, including usability studies, psychophysical experiments, and deployment-based validation.
. Analyze experimental data and translate findings into design insights and improved system iterations.

Academic Output & Mentorship
. Publish research results in leading international venues and present work at major conferences.
. Supervise and mentor undergraduate student teams working on multimodal interaction and prototyping projects.
. Support the lab's research culture through brainstorming, technical discussions, and collaborative development.

Qualifications

PhD degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, IoT Engineering, or a closely related discipline.

Research focuses on one or more of the following areas:
. haptic devices and tactile interfaces
. wearable computing
. embedded/IoT interactive systems
. multimodal HCI and immersive interaction

Strong programming skills, with proficiency in C++ / C# / Python. Demonstrated hands-on experience in hardware prototyping, including:
. microcontroller platforms (e.g., Arduino, ESP32, STM32)
. sensor/actuator integration
. circuit design and debugging
. embedded firmware development

Familiarity with rapid prototyping and fabrication workflows.
Expertise in real-time interactive system integration (Unity, VR hardware)
Open to Fixed Term Contract.