PhD Positions in Human-Centered Privacy and HCI (m/f/d) – Group Windl
St. Ingbert,
Germany
We are looking for highly motivated PhD candidates to join our group at the intersection of privacy and human-computer interaction. In our research, we ask how intelligent and increasingly sensor-rich environments can respect human values and evolve responsibly alongside their users. For instance, we study how people perceive and mitigate privacy risks in emerging technologies, how AI can support privacy decisions without taking control away from users, and how tangible interfaces can make privacy more visible and manageable.
Our group is taking a human-centered approach to privacy. Thus, our research combines empirical research with designing and building interactive systems. This can involve interviews, surveys, laboratory or field studies, as well as prototyping with sensors, embedded hardware, IoT devices, augmented reality, robots, or other emerging technologies.
What We Offer:
- Competitive full time-gross base salary for E13 according to the scale of the TVöD (German Federal Employment Agreement)
- Comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance coverage, 30 days of paid vacation and a robust pension scheme.
- Possibilities for personal and professional growth, encompassing language classes, research support, as well as extracurricular and social activities
- Our onboarding team will provide you with all the necessary support for a seamless and successful start to your journey with us
- We maintain a trustworthy, inclusive, and safe space and are looking for curious and creative new colleagues willing to learn & grow in an enjoyable and friendly team atmosphere.
What We Expect:
- You hold a Master’s degree in human-computer interaction, computer science, usable privacy and security, or a related field.
- You have a foundation in HCI and empirical research methods and enjoy engaging with people as part of your research.
- You are interested in privacy and emerging technologies and are excited to develop and investigate your own research questions.
- You enjoy collaborative, interdisciplinary work. An interest in building interactive prototypes, including with sensors or hardware, is particularly welcome.
- Excellent English, but no German? CISPA is an international research institute. Knowing German is really not necessary, although daily life is a bit smoother if you speak a few words and if you want to learn German, we offer free courses.
Working at CISPA:
- We promote a flat hierarchy that encourages working together as a cohesive team and contributing one’s perspectives and ideas.
- We offer an excellent research environment with close individual supervision, worldwide collaborations, and with significant funding for travel and equipment.
- Our locations are in Saarbrücken and St. Ingbert, in the Saarland region with international flair (e.g., an International School and distinguished cuisine influenced by the proximity to the French border). Saarland is also known for its green spaces, parks and proximity to nature, providing opportunities for relaxation and outdoor activities.
If you want to learn more about Group Windl and their work at CISPA, check out their website.
Application Process
CISPA is committed to increasing the representation of women, minorities, and individuals with disability in Computer Science. In accordance with the Equal Opportunity Plan, CISPA aims at increasing the number of women in Computer Science, and explicitly encourages women to apply. Applications of severely disabled candidates with equivalent qualifications will be given priority. In general, we welcome applications regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity.
In case of interest in working at CISPA, press the "Apply now" button at the end of the page. Please upload your documents in PDF format on our application platform. Applications via email cannot be accepted.
For any questions regarding the application process, please check out our FAQ.
CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security is a German national Science Institution within the Helmholtz Association and provides a unique work environment that offers the advantage of a university department and a research laboratory alike. CISPA's mission is to rethink the digitized world of the future from the ground on up an make it safer through innovative cutting-edge research. CISPA is committed to the highest international academic standards. We offer a world-class research environment that grants extensive resources to a wide range of researchers and constitutes an attractive destination for the best talents and scientists from all countries. CISPA provides a highly international and diverse working environment, currently hosting researchers of over 40 nationalities.
CISPA headquarter is located in Saarbrücken, in the tri-border area of Germany, France and Luxembourg. The CISPA campus is located close to Saarland University, known for its excellence in Computer Science & Cybersecurity programs; the Max Planck Institute for Informatics and the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems; the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI); and more.
For more information about CISPA, see https://cispa.de/en
About CISPA
