The Visual Analytics group at TU Wien offers positions in the field of Visualization. The main focus is on Model Building and Visual Analytics, a research area in the Research Cluster Smart Communities and Technologies (Smart CT). Currently, we offer positions for:
- 1 PhD researcher
- 1 PostDoc researcher
The application deadline is: January 26, 2018.
Both positions are expected to be filled starting March 1, 2018 (negotiable), for a duration of 3 years.
Topic
The Research Cluster Smart Communities and Technologies (Smart CT) at TU Wien will provide the scientific underpinnings for next-generation complex smart-city and communities infrastructures. These involve smart buildings, smart products and production, smart traffic systems and roads, autonomous driving, smart grids for managing energy hubs and electric car utilization, and urban environmental systems research. In addition to Model Building and Visual Analytics - the topic of this call - Smart CT also covers the areas Cyber-Physical-Human Ecosystem and 3D Spatialization.
Visual Analytics (VA) is "the science of analytical reasoning facilitated by interactive visual interfaces" and aims at making complex information structures more comprehensible, facilitating new insights, and enabling knowledge discovery. VA methods focus on the information discovery process, exploiting both the computational power of computers and the human's visual information processing capabilities. It aims to enable the exploration and the understanding of large and complex data sets (such as available in smart city's environments) by intertwining interactive visualization, data analysis, human-computer interaction, and cognitive and perceptual science.
Tasks
In the context of Visual Analytics, we expect the PhD and PostDoc researchers to tackle some of the following research problems:
- to conceptualize and design VA methods for particular users exploring and analyzing particular heterogeneous, multivariate (including spatial and temporal properties) data sets and performing particular tasks,
- to capture the quality and uncertainty of the data sets in scalable and interactive VA methods,
- to tackle unpredictable, unexpected, and unforeseeable events and patterns from the past, present, and future in the VA methods,
- to utilize VA methods to guide and steer model generation and usage to achieve better predictions, and
- to support communication and interaction between the human and VA methods in a user appropriate way from a task-specific perspective.
The PhD researcher will collaborate with the PostDoc and other PhD researchers from the Research Cluster Smart CT to work on these scientific problems and to publish results in international conferences and journals.
The PostDoc researcher will, in addition, provide a link to the other areas in the Research Cluster, as well as to stake holders (like the city of Vienna).
Requirements
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS and SKILLS
- Knowledge or interest in one or more of the following: Visual Analytics, Information Visualization, Human-Computer Interaction, Data Mining
- Strong analytical skills and good skills in programming (preferably Java, JavaScript, C++, or similar)
- Abilities to work as an independent and flexible researcher in interdisciplinary teams (corresponding to either PhD or PostDoc level)
- Good knowledge of English in speaking and writing
- (for PostDoc): prior publications in the mentioned areas
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS and SKILLS
- Knowledge or interest in one or more of the following: (dynamic) network analyses and visualization, visual process mining, temporal uncertainty, data quality, and time-oriented data
- (for international applicants) Basic proficiency in German or willingness to learn
- (for PostDoc) Experience in supervising of PhD students
Opportunities
WE OFFER
- A creative environment in Vienna, one of the most livable cities in the world
- Freedom to explore both your scientific and creative interests in the course of your work (within the scope of the project goals)
- A young and international team of researchers with an excellent working atmosphere
- A work environment that is well equipped with the newest hardware and software technology
- The possibility to present and defend your research visions and results at international top conferences and journals
- Continuing personal and professional education
The applicant will be funded according to the Austrian Collective Agreement for university staff, allowing you to support a comfortable life in Vienna.
PostDoc: Entry level salary as a postdoctoral researcher is currently 3.590,70 EUR/month gross (40h/week contract), 14 times/year.
PhD: Entry level salary as PhD researcher is currently 1.685,30 EUR/month gross (25h/week contract), 14 times/year.
How to Apply
For informal questions before the application, please contact Silvia Miksch.
The official application should include:
- Motivation letter
- CV
- Certificates of degrees and grades in courses taken so far
- list of publications
- A copy of the thesis of the highest obtained degree in PDF form
The application should be sent to the personal department of the TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, 1040 Wien, preferably in digital form (pdf) via E-Mail to thomas.prager@tuwien.ac.at. Please also see the official announcement (#307.1.5).
The deadline for application is Friday, January 26, 2018.
TU Wien is committed to increasing female employment in leading scientific positions. Female applicants are explicitly encouraged to apply. Preference will be given when equally qualified. Furthermore, please note that applicants will not normally be reimbursed for travel costs incurred in connection with this call.
Further Positions in Smart CT
In the Research Cluster Smart Communities and Technologies (Smart CT), there are currently two other positions (PhD and PostDoc) available as well: in the area of 3D Spatialization.
3D Spatialization creates the link between the smart-city infrastructure and the actual 3D world in which a city is embedded. The goal is to perform advanced computation and visualization tasks. Sensors, actuators and users are embedded in a complex 3D environment that is constantly changing. Acquiring, modeling and visualizing this dynamic 3D environment are the challenges we need to face using methods from visual computing and computer graphics.
3D Spatialization aims to make a city aware of its 3D environment, allowing it to perform spatial reasoning to solve problems like visibility, accessibility, lighting, and energy efficiency.
For more information about these positions, please see the separate information page and the official announcement (#307.1.5).