Call for applicants:

15 PhD positions in the EU Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Project CHARMING

Applications are invited for 15 PhD positions (“Early Stage Researchers”) to be funded by the Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network within the Horizon 2020 Programme of the European Commission. CHARMING is the “European Training Network for Chemical Engineering Immersive Learning”. CHARMING has pooled the interdisciplinary and intersectoral expertise of leading universities and companies in the fields of chemical technology, instructive psychology and immersive technologies, located in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, UK, Denmark and France. The 15 CHARMING ESRs will not only receive state-of-the-art science/technology training but will also benefit from a unique soft-skills training programme. This will kick-start their careers as highly employable professionals in the EU’s chemicals industry, games/VR/AR sector and the fields of e-learning and digital human resource management, as well as for teaching & scientific organisations and public bodies.

Key dates

• 30-6-2018: Launch 15 ESR positions

• 15-10-2018: Deadline for on-line application

• 30-10-2018: Circulation list “preselected candidates”

• 13-11-2018: CHARMING Recruitment Event

• 20-11-2018: Circulation list “recruited CHARMING ESRs”.

• 12-2018 – 04-2019: Targeted starting date for ESR contracts

Apply Here

Key background info

Number of positions available

15 PhD Positions

Research Fields

Interdisciplinary research on the bridges between
1) Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,
2) Instructional psychology and pedagogy, and
3) Immersive technologies like games, augmented reality and virtual reality.
Potential candidates should be proficient in one of these three fields and have a clear interest in the two others.

Keywords

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Education, Instructional Psychology, Pedagogical Technology, Gaming, VR/AR

Career Stage

Early Stage Researcher (ESR) or 0-4 yrs (Post Graduate)

Benefits and salary

The successful candidates will receive an attractive salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations for Early Stage Researchers. The exact (net) salary will be confirmed upon appointment and is dependent on local tax regulations and on the country correction factor (to allow for the difference in cost of living in different EU Member States). The salary includes a living allowance, a mobility allowance and a family allowance (if married). The guaranteed PhD funding is for 36 months (i.e. EC funding, additional funding is possible, depending on the local Supervisor, and in accordance with the regular PhD time in the country of origin). In addition to their individual scientific projects, all fellows will benefit from further continuing education, which includes internships and secondments, a variety of training modules as well as transferable skills courses and active participation in workshops and conferences.

On-line Recruitment Procedure (see Appendix 1)

All applications proceed through the on-line recruitment portal on the www.charming-etn.eu website. Candidates apply electronically for one to maximum three positions and indicate their preference. Candidates provide all requested information including a detailed CV (Europass format obligatory) and motivation letter. During the registration, applicants will need to prove that they are eligible (cf. ESR definition, mobility criteria, and English language proficiency). The deadline for the on-line registration is 15 October 2018. The CHARMING Recruitment Committee selects between 20 and maximum 30 candidates for the Recruitment Event which will take place in Leuven, Belgium (13 November 2018). The selected candidates provide a 20 minute presentation and are interviewed by the Recruitment Committee. Candidates will be given a domain-relevant peer-reviewed paper (prior to the recruitment event) by their prioritised Supervisor and will be asked questions about this paper during the interview to check if the candidate has the right background/profile for the ESR position. Prior to the recruitment event, skype interviews between the Supervisors and the candidates are recommended, along with on-line personality tests.

In order to facilitate their travel, preselected candidates (from outside Belgium) receive a fixed, lump sum of 250 euro (paid by the prioritised Supervisor). In order to avoid delays in reimbursements, candidates are asked to keep all invoices and tickets (cf. train, plane, hotel…). The final decision on who to recruit is communicated on 20 November 2018). The selected ESRs are to start their research as quickly as possible (December 2018 – April 2019).

Applicants need to fully respect three eligibility criteria (to demonstrated in the Europass cv):

Early-stage researchers (ESR) are those who are, at the time of recruitment by the host, in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers. This is measured from the date when they obtained the degree which formally entitles them to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the research training is provided, irrespective of whether or not a doctorate was envisaged.

Conditions of international mobility of researchers:

Researchers are required to undertake trans-national mobility (i.e. move from one country to another) when taking up the appointment. At the time of selection by the host organisation, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. Short stays, such as holidays, are not taken into account.

English language: Network fellows (ESRs) must demonstrate that their ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English is sufficiently high for them to derive the full benefit from the network training.

The 15 available PhD positions

ESR1: Chemistry and chemical-engineering concepts for kids

Host: KU Leuven (Belgium)

Lead Supervisor: Prof. Ilse Smets (KU Leuven, ilse.smets@kuleuven.be)

Duration: 36 months

Required profile: Chemical engineer or Chemist with interest in games and pedagogy

Objectives: To translate fundamental chemical-engineering concepts and mechanisms into intuitive activities embedded in a game environment. To develop generic game concepts, game scenarios and one specific paper prototype for an educational game for 8 to 14 year old kids.

ESR2: Stimulating chemistry curiosity through virtual experiences

Host: LuGus Studios (Belgium)

Lead Supervisor: Kevin Haelterman (LuGus Studios, kevin@lugus-studios.be), Prof. Ilse Smets (KU Leuven, ilse.smets@kuleuven.be)

Duration: 36 months

Required profile: Game developer with interest in technology and pedagogy

Objectives: To develop a comprehensive set of realistically implementable design and production guidelines for a “curiosity lab”, an interactive virtual environment that can function in a domestic context. To allow children to experiment safely, freely, and in a home atmosphere, in order to encourage experimentation and curiosity at an early age as a foundation for more formal education at older age.

ESR3: Chemistry and chemical engineering interest development

Host: Utrecht University (The Netherlands)

Lead Supervisor: Prof. Liesbeth Kester (Utrecht University, l.kester@uu.nl)

Duration: 36 months

Required profile: Educational scientist, Educational/ developmental psychologist or Pedagogist with interest in STEM and learning technology

Objectives: To investigate how interest for chemistry and chemical engineering can be stimulated at an early age in a diverse target group and how it can be sustained during the transition from primary to secondary school education.

ESR4: Educational game design for intuitive chemical engineering

Host: IT University of Copenhagen (Denmark)

Lead Supervisor: Prof. Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath (ITU Copenhagen, dace@itu.dk)

Duration: 36 months

Required profile: Game designer, with additional demonstrated interests in chemistry, media studies, pedagogy and/or psychology

Objectives: To create an educational game to interest children in chemistry and chemical engineering. To use popular platforms and social networks with features of team-play, co-location, high replayability, open learning and accommodating different popular playing styles in the chemical-engineering discipline, allowing equal access.

ESR5: An AR lab for general and technical chemistry

Host: KU Leuven (Belgium)

Lead Supervisor: Prof. Peter Van Puyvelde (KU Leuven, peter.vanpuyvelde@kuleuven.be)

Duration: 36 months

Required profile: Chemical engineer, Bio-engineer or Chemist with interest in games and pedagogy

Objectives: To develop AR concepts to couple theoretical chemical concepts with practical chemical experiences.

ESR6: Playing process intensification with external energy forms

Host: KU Leuven (Belgium)

Lead Supervisor: Prof. Tom Van Gerven (KU Leuven, tom.vangerven@kuleuven.be)

Duration: 36 months

Required profile: Chemical engineer, Mechanical Engineer or Physicist with interest in games and pedagogy

Objectives: To apply CFD models and databases for chemical-model based AR/VR design. To develop AR/VR concepts, scenarios and paper prototypes for a sono- and photoreactor case. To develop generic guidelines for the integration of reactor models in an AR/VR environment.

ESR7: Playing process intensification with multifunctional reactors and hybrid separators

Host: KU Leuven (Belgium)

Lead Supervisor: Prof. Tom Van Gerven (KU Leuven, tom.vangerven@kuleuven.be)

Duration: 36 months

Required profile: Chemical engineer with interest in games and pedagogy

Objectives: To apply flow sheet models and databases for chemical-model based AR/VR design. To develop AR/VR concepts, scenarios and paper prototypes for a reactive and hybrid separation case. To develop generic guidelines for the integration of flow sheet models in an AR/VR environment.

ESR8: Instructional psychology for pupils and students

Host: Utrecht University (The Netherlands)

Lead Supervisor: Prof. Liesbeth Kester (Utrecht University, l.kester@uu.nl)

Duration: 36 months

Required profile: Educational scientist, Educational/ developmental psychologist or Pedagogist with interest in STEM and learning technology

Objectives: To investigate how interest, enjoyment and learning can be fostered by finding the balance between representational learning content and engaging gameplay in a game-based learning environment for chemistry and chemical engineering in secondary school education with attention for different learner characteristics.

ESR9: A learner’s game making strategy for ChemEng students

Host: IT University of Copenhagen (Denmark)

Lead Supervisor: Prof. Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath (ITU Copenhagen, dace@itu.dk)

Duration: 36 months

Required profile: Game designer, with additional demonstrated interests in chemistry, media studies, pedagogy and/or psychology

Objectives: To implement game-making as an asset in open learning. To facilitate learners’ game-making to create a trans-media casual game. To use sensors for in-game mechanics. To provide hands-on intuitive access to chemical practices. To accommodate popular playing styles in educational games. To incorporate equity-promoting tools.

ESR10: E-evaluation of ChemEng students

Host: University of Newcastle (UK)

Lead Supervisor: Prof. Jarka Glassey (University of Newcastle, jarka.glassey@newcastle.ac.uk)

Duration: 36 months

Required profile: Chemical engineer with interest in psychology and games

Objectives: To develop and test methods for evaluating individual learning gain of students during a team game-based environment. To refine methods of evaluating the effectiveness of teaching core knowledge via gaming approaches.

ESR11: HSE Training through a serious game

Host: ARKEMA (France)

Lead Supervisor: Dr. J.L. Dubois (Arkema, jean-luc.dubois@arkema.com), Prof. Tom Van Gerven (KU Leuven, tom.vangerven@kuleuven.be)

Duration: 36 months

Required profile: Chemical engineer or Chemist with interest in psychology and games

Objectives: To create a specific training game for HSE culture in an industrial context.

ESR12: Digital training of chemical operators

Host: Merck (Germany)

Lead Supervisor: Dr. Michael Wilk (Merck, michael.wilk@merckgroup.com), Prof. Jarka Glassey (University of Newcastle, jarka.glassey@newcastle.ac.uk)

Duration: 36 months

Required profile: Chemical engineer or Chemist with interest in psychology

Objectives: To understand the educational value of gaming applications for chemical operators, thereby differentiating education vs. in-training as well as the effects on digital natives vs digital immigrants.

ESR13: Self learning of gaming employees

Host: Utrecht University (The Netherlands)

Lead Supervisor: Prof. Liesbeth Kester (Utrecht University, l.kester@uu.nl)

Duration: 36 months

Required profile: Educational scientist, Educational/ developmental psychologist or Pedagogist with interest in STEM and learning technology, in particular VR/AR/games

Objectives: To investigate how lifelong learners, digital natives as well as digital immigrants, can be supported by learning analytics that enable them to make informed decisions about their learning process.

ESR14: Assess your employee in a game

Host: University of Newcastle (UK)

Lead Supervisor: Prof. Jarka Glassey (University of Newcastle, jarka.glassey@newcastle.ac.uk)

Duration: 36 months

Required profile: Chemical engineer with interest in psychology and VR/AR/games

Objectives: To evaluate adapted situational judgment based assessment of operator performance following exposure to the gaming environment. To develop robust metrics of measuring professional skill development and threshold concept change for the purposes of continuous professional development.

ESR15: Immersive VR training for the operation of chemical reactors

Host: CITEC, Bielefeld University (Germany)

Lead Supervisor: Dr. Thies Pfeiffer (Bielefeld University, thies.pfeiffer@uni-bielefeld.de), PD Dr.-Ing. Sven Wachsmuth (Bielefeld University)

Duration: 36 months

Required profile: Computer scientist with interest in AR/VR, chemical technology, psychology, education and/or pedagogy

Objectives: To explore the use of immersive VR/AR training simulators for the advanced training of employees in the chemical industry.

Apply Here

Full recruitment procedure available here: Recruitment Document

This project is to receive funding from the European Union’s EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020, pending the formal completion of the Grant Agreement (No 812716) procedure.