PhD Position in LLM-based Voice Assistants in Early Dementia: Apply by 17 Nov 2024

Digital health technologies are being widely explored as a prevention and management strategy for people living with dementia. The use of voice assistants allows for easier and more intuitive use of such technologies by individuals with cognitive impairment, reducing the need for digital literacy, dexterity, and mobility as required for smartphone and screen-based devices. Following the Multiphase Optimization Strategy and Value Sensitive Designs for the ethical development of an innovative voice assistant, our project aims to identify lifestyle and cognitive interventions that help improve the quality of life of people with early dementia, allowing them to maintain independence and age-in-place. Through integration of large language models, we hope to deliver these interventions through iteration of our existing GRACE prototype, and conduct feasibility studies with the target population.

At the Core for Digital Ethics and Care for Older Adults at the CDHI, we therefore offer a PhD position under the supervision of Dr. Rasita Vinay, Postdoctoral Researcher and Core Director for Digital Ethics and Care for Older Adults, with Prof. Tobias Kowatsch and Prof. Nikola Biller-Andorno being co-supervisors. The project is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, for a duration of 4-years (SNF Grant 10002915) beginning March 1st, 2025 (PhD start date can be discussed).

We are seeking an outstanding PhD candidate to join our interdisciplinary team investigating voice-based lifestyle and cognitive interventions for people with dementia, through a voice assistant prototype. The ideal candidate would have a strong understanding of voice assistants or conversational agents, who intends to further qualify themselves through a doctorate. You must also be eligible for a Ph.D. at the University of St. Gallen (PhD in Business Innovation) or the University of Zurich (PhD programs of the Medical Faculty). The employment will be at the Institute for Implementation Science in Health Care (Team Digital Health Interventions, Prof. Kowatsch) at the University of Zurich. We seek the following qualifications from our candidates:

  • Master’s degree in information systems or computer science focusing on human-computer interaction (strongly preferred), behavioral and cognitive sciences (desirable), or a related field.
  • Experience working with assistive technologies, or conversational agents, and LLMs.
  • Proficiency in English and German (written and spoken).
  • Willingness to work in a collaborative, interdisciplinary team.
  • Good organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to work independently.

If you are interested in the described call and would like to be part of a highly motivated, young team, we would be pleased to receive your electronic application to the following email: recruitment@ibme.uzh.ch. Please include your CV (2 pages max), a motivation letter, academic transcripts and certificates.

We will be accepting applications until 17 November 2024. For all inquiries, please email Dr. Rasita Vinay (rasita.vinay@ibme.uzh.ch). 

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