There are frequent opportunities available at DAIL for postdoctoral fellows, Ph.D. student, research associates, short-term interns, and visiting scholars, as well as current and prospective students at Cornell.

Open Positions for the Design & Augmented Intelligence Lab (DAIL) at Cornell University

 

We are building a collaborative team of students and researchers with the goal of exploring the intersections of design, human ingenuity, and artificial intelligence and enhancing the features of the virtual and physical worlds. The Design & Augmented Intelligence Lab is part of the Design + Environmental Analysis Department at Cornell University. Our scope extends from personal hand-held artifacts to expansive and interconnected urban landscapes. The lab incorporates interdisciplinary perspectives from fields as diverse as architecture, computer science, and psychology to further develop our understanding of new design technologies and their effects on human well-being. We strive to inclusively collaborate with researchers in various fields and from diverse backgrounds to enhance the ways in which we design and fabricate the built environment.

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Postdoctoral Associate (2023) 

The Design and Augmented Intelligence Lab within the Department of Human Centered Design at Cornell University is actively seeking a postdoctoral associate to contribute to our ongoing projects. Upon joining the DAIL team, the selected candidate will play an integral role in the “Enhanced Spatial Learning and Cognitive Engagement in Virtual Reality” initiative, generously funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH). This project addresses the intricacies of spatial navigation and learning in VR platforms, especially in regard to implications for older adults who are experiencing cognitive decline. The offered position is fully funded for one year, with a promising possibility of extension. 

 

Job Description:
As a postdoctoral researcher on this initiative, you will be working at the frontiers of VR design and cognitive science. Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing and leading VR experiments with older adults’ participants, including the creation of virtual environments to evaluate human–environment interactions and spatial learning.

• Delving deep into the analysis of nuanced behavioral and physiological data tied to participant actions and interactions within these VR realms.

• Playing a pivotal role in shaping the lab’s research trajectory, innovating experimental methods, and fostering collaborations with both internal and external project stakeholders.

• Authoring research papers for high-quality peer-reviewed journals and conferences.

• Guiding and mentoring research assistants of various expertise levels.

 

Qualifications:

• Candidates must have secured a doctoral degree in relevant disciplines by the date of hire, such as Cognitive Science, HCI, Computational Design, or related domains.

• You should have a demonstrated aptitude in written communication, underscored by a strong background in scientific writing and publication.

• Proficiency with VR development platforms is required, preferably the Unity or Unreal engines.

• Preference is given to candidates with established competence in applying and developing algorithms for machine learning and visualization, using tools such as MATLAB or Python.

• It is beneficial to have previous experience in guiding research assistants and a proven ability to excel both autonomously and in team settings.

• A distinct advantage would be expertise in Mobile Brain-body Imaging (MoBI), particularly experience in analyzing EEG, motion capture, and eye-tracking data.

 

Application Process:
Interested applicants must submit the following documents via Academic Jobs Online: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/25862

• A cover letter detailing your research experience, suitability for the position, and future aspirations (1000 words max).

• A comprehensive CV, including a complete list of publications.

• A description of approaches to working with a diverse community.  We ask applicants for all faculty positions to share their experiences and/or approaches (past, current, or future) to fostering learning, research service, and/or outreach in a diverse community. Applicants may choose to submit a stand-alone statement or embed the information in other parts of their application materials.

• Names and e-mail addresses of three references. The hiring department will contact these references at an appropriate time, inviting them to upload their recommendation letters directly to the application portal.

• Please note that the final candidate, once selected, must provide proof of degree (PhD) as part of the hiring process.

 

Application reviews will commence on October 15, 2023, and will persist until the role is secured. The anticipated starting date is December 1, 2023, but this timing is flexible for the right candidate.

 

What We Offer:
The position provides access to state-of-the-art research facilities at Cornell’s main campus in Ithaca, NY. As part of our team, you will have the opportunity to craft your own research questions within the project’s framework, while also playing an active role in collaborative ventures led by Dr. Saleh Kalantari. Additionally, we offer avenues for you to make meaningful contributions to teaching.

Cornell University is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and encourage an inclusive culture in which all are welcome.

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Fully-funded Ph.D., Application Deadline: November 1

We are seeking passionate and motivated graduate students to join DAIL. The Department of Design and Environmental Analysis, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University invites applicants to the Doctoral Program in Human Behavior and Design. The Ph.D. in Human Behavior and Design at Cornell University is a multidisciplinary program integrating the social sciences and design. Research focuses on environmental settings across a range of scales (from products to buildings to cities) that support safe, healthy and productive behaviors and foster sustainable design and lifestyles. 

 

– Prospective students must first be admitted to a relevant graduate program at Cornell. Please ensure that all of your application materials are submitted by the November 1st deadline. Describe your interest in working at DAIL in your Statement of Purpose and in the Faculty & Research Interests part of your online application.

 

– Preferred applicants should be interested in pursuing a graduate degree (M.S., M.A., or Ph.D.) focused on design research. They should hold an undergraduate degree in a design discipline, broadly defined, such as architecture, industrial design, product design, interior design, interaction design, user experience, media arts, HCI, HRI, human factors psychology, human-centered design, or human-centered computing/engineering. Successful applications will demonstrate a promise for cultivating new vocabularies of design and new, complex realms of understanding computational design and emerging technologies in design fields.

 

– Full funding and a living stipend may be offered to qualified doctoral applicants. The degree of Ph.D. in Human Behavior and Design will be awarded in DEA (Design + Environment Analysis) at Cornell University. Research opportunities at DAIL focus on environmental settings across a range of scales (from products to buildings to cities) that support safe, healthy, and productive behaviors and foster sustainable lifestyles. As one of the eight Ivy League Universities, Cornell consistently ranks among the top-20 research universities globally. The university benefits from its beautiful natural surroundings in upstate New York, and adjoins the lively, inclusive downtown of Ithaca.

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​Students and Scholars Who Are Already Part of Cornell University

We are always looking for bright and motivated students and scholars with design, engineering, and/or computer science backgrounds to join the lab. If you are interested, please send your CV to Dr. Saleh Kalantari <sk3268@cornell.edu>. We will get back to you about the upcoming research and design opportunities at DAIL.