Open PhD Fellowship at the TIDE research group, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain

TIDE is a research group in an ICT department with a clear interdisciplinary vocation. TIDE offers a PhD fellowship position with the topic: 

"Human-Centered Generative AI-Enhanced Smart Learning Environments"

Description: 

The PhD will be frame in the following broader - overarching project (GENIELearn), with the abstract: 

Smart Learning Environments (SLEs) are Technology-Enhanced Learning systems conceived to provide personalized and context-aware support to learners, as well as to help teachers in the process of designing effective scenarios (Learning Design) that incorporate the knowledge obtained from the analysis of learning data (Learning Analytics). SLEs have demonstrated their capabilities supporting challenging educational settings such as those studied under the umbrella of Hybrid Learning (HL). HL defines novel models of teaching/learning based on the blurring of traditional approaches along different dimensions or dichotomies: learning in physical/digital spaces, face-to-face/online learning, individual/collaborative active learning, etc. For example, writing a collaborative essay about a cultural heritage site, with some of the students working at the classroom or at home while interacting with other students visiting the site itself, represents a HL scenario blurring the physical/digital and individual/collaborative boundaries.

However, state-of-the-art SLEs still suffer from significant limitations that affect learners, teachers and academic managers in HL, incl.: 1) limited types of automatically generated interventions; 2) student models mostly based on quantitative/structured data sources; 3) inflexibility of current conversational interfaces; 4) limited analytics-informed support in learning design, 5) lack of support to adapt educational resources to universal design for learning principles, 6) high teaching orchestration load; 7) scarce use of large-scale analysis of SLE data to support decision making in academic management.

The starting hypothesis of this project is that the integration of so-called Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools into SLEs can help address the limitations described above for HL. GenAI is the branch of AI aimed at creating realistic content based on a given input or prompt. GenAI is having disruptive effects in educational technology that call for reflective research efforts in order to better understand its affordances and dangers. Indeed, the potential lack of alignment of GenAI with human values for learning, the challenges to current forms of Human-AI collaboration with effects on human agency, and the scarce research evidence about the expected benefits of GenAI for education are some of the risks pointed out by policy makers and the research community.

Therefore, the main goal of the GENIELearn-UPF project is to improve SLEs for HL support by integrating GenAI tools in a way that is aligned with the preferences and values of human stakeholders, with special emphasis on: the “Sense” core function of SLEs, the perspective of teachers (also w.r.t. the “React” function), and the individual/collaborative HL dichotomy. Applying human-centered and value-sensitive design principles, the subproject will propose: 1) a research framework including representative GenAI-enabled HL individual/collaborative scenarios; 2) GenAI-enhanced solutions for teachers in the context of HL; 3) a technological framework with an integration infrastructure for a novel GenAI-improved SLE, with a special focus on “Sense” functionalities; 4) pilot experiences in authentic HL settings aimed at evaluating the contributions of the project along the individual/collaborative dichotomy, as well as at enlarging the empirical base about GenAI in education.

This PhD Thesis will be supervised by Dr. Davinia Hernández-Leo, Full Professor, Serra Hunter and ICREA Academia Fellow, and Director of the Interactive and Distributed Technologies Group (TIDE) at Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona. TIDE research experience around learning technologies is extensive and counts with international recognitions https://www.upf.edu/web/tide).

This PhD research will be conducted in the frame of existing research projects coordinated by TIDE, for example GENIELearn.

The PhD position is offered to a highly motivated researcher, to join our team in interdisciplinary learning technologies research. The successful candidate should have an excellent undergraduate and master academic record in engineering (e.g. telematics/telecomunications, data science) or computer science. Candidates should have a strong desire to see technological work applied in solving impactful problems in the context of education. The successful candidate should also have the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Evidence of excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, good English command, and Spanish or/and Catalan language knowledge are desirable. 

Questions and submission of documentation: [email protected] 

Conditions
- 3-year contract, possibility of 1-year extension.
-  Salary depends on the skills and experience that the candidate brings to the position. Medical insurance is included.
- Training in transversal skills.
- Participation in European projects, projects’ meetings, scientific conferences.   
- Participation in networking and outreach activities.
- Participation in workshops at formal educational institutions.
- Contribute to teaching, laboratory, practice teaching, supervision, or exam work within the department areas of expertise.

Requirements: PhD program admission, see requirements at https://www.upf.edu/web/etic/doctorat 

Selection criteria
- Academic records and CV.
- Motivation letter.
- Recommendation letters (optional)
- Interview

How to apply and important dates
- Send your application (see selection criteria) to [email protected]
- Application deadline: Deadline is Jan. 15th 2025
- Expected incorporation decision of candidates: Sep. 2025

TIDE can also suport prepartion for applying to the current calls: La Caixa InPhinit.