[on behalf of Niels Pinkwart]
At Humboldt-Universität Berlin and at the German Internet Institute, there
are two openings for PhD student positions in the fields of Learning
Analytics / EDM:
Vacancy #1:
Research Assistant in the area of Learning Analytics / Affective Computing
at the Institute of Computer Science of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. The
open position is available as a part time job (50%) immediately, limited to
31.3.2019, and will be paid according to TVL-13. An increase of working
time and an extension after March 2019 are aimed at.
Research context of the position:
Learning Analytics deals with the analysis of data generated during
learning processes to support these processes. At Humboldt-Universität zu
Berlin, Learning Analytics are in the focus of the project LISA, funded by
the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). In LISA, the data
comes from e-learning systems (online learning magazine, classical learning
management system, serious games), and is merged with data from sensory
hardware developed in the project. It collects bio-data of the user (heart
activity and skin conductance) and data of the physical environment (light
intensity, volume, etc.). Affective Computing techniques allow to derive
information about the user`s mental and emotional state (stress,
concentration, etc.) from the bio-data. The analytics results are made
accessible to users enabling them to monitor and optimize their learning.
Also, the e-learning systems will be made adaptable, reacting to the
individual user. Because of the highly sensitive data, ELSI issues
(ethical, legal and social issues) such as data protection are also part of
the project. Other project partners apart from Humboldt-Universität are
Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin, the Leibnitz-Institut für
Wissensmedien in Tübingen and the companies Promotion Software GmbH,
NEOCOMO GmbH and SGM GmbH.
Your tasks:
In a 4-person team (2 research assistants, 2 students) at
Humboldt-Universität, you will develop algorithms for Learning Analytics
and Affect Analytics. In cooperation with the other project partners, part
of your task is the research and implementation of the algorithms and data
fusion of sensor data and e-learning-system data in the LISA back end.
Planning, implementation and evaluation of studies with the developed
algorithms are also tasks of the position. It is possible and welcome to do
your doctorate on the topic.
Qualification required:
- Master or diploma in computer science, bio-informatics, or a
related subject
- Knowledge in one or more of the following areas:
psychophysiology, artificial intelligence, sensor data analysis of
bio-data, statistics
- Experience in web programming, Java programming,
microservices, SQL databases
- Good knowledge of English, written and spoken
- Enthusiasm for working with new technologies
- Team spirit
Vacancy #2:
Research Assistant in the area of Learning Analytics / Educational Data
Mining at the German Internet Institute (to be founded). The open position
is available as a part time job (75%) as of November 2017, limited
initially to three years, and will be paid according to TVL-13. An increase
of working time and an extension after the three initial years are aimed
at. The availability of the position depends on the final approval of the
Institute by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
Research context of the position:
The German Internet Institute will explore the interplay of digitalization
and society under the official title “Internet-Institut für die vernetzte
Gesellschaft.” Behind the Institute is a consortium of seven institutions,
which submitted a joint bid for the internet institute as part of a
national competition. Aside from the WZB Berlin Social Science Center,
which has the coordinating role, the consortium consists of Berlin’s four
universities (Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin,
Berlin University of the Arts, and Technische Universität Berlin), the
University of Potsdam, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication
Systems (FOKUS).
The German Internet Institute will address six thematic areas, each of
which comprising several research groups (https://vernetzung-und-
gesellschaft.de/). The position will be available in the research group on
“Education in a Digital Society” and will work closely with the three other
researchers in this group. The research focus of this position will be on
self directed learning, adaptivity and personalization in web or mobile
based educational information spaces.
Your tasks:
Within the Institute, you will conduct research on the design of technology
enhanced learning systems on topics related to digitalization and society.
This will include analytics on the efficiency and acceptance of different
personalized web-based and mobile technologies for informing and educating
the general public about the thematic areas of the Institute. In this task,
you will work closely with colleagues who research different methods of
teaching and learning about digitalization and society (school and
vocational training). It is possible and welcome to do your doctorate on
the topic.
Qualification required:
- Master or diploma in computer science or a related subject
- Knowledge in one or more of the following areas: data
mining, artificial intelligence, statistics, human-computer interaction
- Experience in web or mobile programming
- Good knowledge of English, written and spoken
- Enthusiasm for working in a highly interdisciplinary center
- Team spirit
For both positions, please send your application documents (paper or single
PDF file) by August 20th 2017to
Prof. Dr. Niels Pinkwart
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Department of Computer Science
Research Group Computer Science Education / Computer Science and Society
Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany
Tel +49 30 2093 3124 <+49%2030%2020933124>
pinkwart@xxxxxxxxxxxx
