Project Title: Open your MIND: Leveraging the ecological validity of language control research using immersive technologies.
PhD Studentship: R-LINCS2 funded. The Studentship is available for an October 2023, February or June 2024 start.
A PhD studentship that comprises tax-free stipend of £18,622 (in line with UKRI per annum) per year over 3.5 years, tuition fees paid, and a generous study package (e.g. limited research consumables, travel budget, and training when appropriate).
The pan-University Graduate School offers an integrated training programme to the postgraduate community within a single centre, serving to inculcate interdisciplinary working in our next generation of researchers.
Interviews are likely to be online from 25th September 2023.
Project Description:
This interdisciplinary project brings together expertise from Psychology and Games Technology to a provide an innovative new way to investigate language control in speakers of underrepresented language varieties by using virtual reality and virtual production.
Language control research examines the cognitive processes used by speakers to store, process, and produce multiple language varieties - including Minority, Indigenous, Non-Standard and Dialect (MIND) varieties not afforded high status.
However, studies in lab environments using unnatural paradigms may not accurately reflect real-life communication, leading to a lack of ecological validity in this field. This project aims to improve ecological validity by using virtual technology to create more immersive communicative settings while maintaining experimental precision.
Key project objectives:
The new Virtual Production Studio called ViPRE (Virtual Production Research Environment) comprises of a low-latency LED wall and a high-resolution motion tracking system, which is state of the art and industry standard. The facility is one of the only fully functioning Virtual Production Volumes at an institution in the UK. Funding came from the Tay Cities Deal and the technical specification of the studio compromises of a 64 panel (4.5 x 2.7 Meter) LED wall, 4K projector and a motion capture system powered by Vicon.
Supervisory Team: The candidate will be supervised within the School of Applied Sciences by Dr Neil Kirk and Dr Ken Scott-Brown, and Phillip Vaughan from the School of Design and Informatics. Queries on this project should be directed to Dr Neil Kirk (n.kirk@abertay.ac.uk).
Entry Requirements: Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, a first class or upper second-class honours degree in a BPS (or equivalent) accredited Psychology programme, or a closely aligned discipline. We are looking for an independent, enthusiastic, and driven candidate with an understanding of immersive technologies and/or experience of research with language communities or harder-to-reach populations. Applicants should have experience in designing and running psychological studies including experiments, research methods and statistical analysis (e.g. R and/or SPSS).
For applicants who are non-native speakers of English, the University requires IELTS of 6.5 (with no band less than 6.0) or an equivalent qualification accepted by the Home Office.
Applications and closing date: 11th August 2023.
Applicants should submit through the Abertay University jobs page https://www.abertay.ac.uk/about/working-at-abertay/jobs/, submitting a personal statement of application detailing why you are interested in undertaking this project, and a CV.
If you are selected for interview, you will be required to complete an online Research Student Application Form which includes the submission of a research proposal. Guidance on how to write the proposal can be found here: https://www.abertay.ac.uk/study-apply/how-to-apply/how-to-apply/, Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Dr Neil Kirk (n.kirk@abertay.ac.uk) for advice on developing a proposal prior to submitting it.
Abertay University was named The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year for Teaching Quality 2021. According to the results of the Research Excellence Framework 2021, Abertay recorded 60% of its research judged as 'internationally excellent' or 'world-leading', a 23% increase since the last REF2014 – the biggest climb of any Scottish university. Abertay was the first University in the world to offer a degree in games and in March 2017 and was top ranked in Europe for both Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses in 2019. Abertay was also lead of the multi-million InGame project in partnership with Dundee University and the University of St Andrews. The project established a dedicated research and development hub for the Dundee video game cluster and to drive services, products and innovation in the industry.
https://www.abertay.ac.uk/news/2023/network-of-movie-magic-labs-to-keep-uk-on-cutting-edge-of-future-visual-effects-technologies/
We hold an Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze award and were the first Scottish university to achieve the Race Equality Charter Mark.
Entry requirements
Essential requirements:
Desirable requirements (but not essential)
First class or upper second-class honours degree in BPS accredited (or equivalent) Psychology or a closely aligned discipline.
MSc level qualification in a relevant discipline
Experience in working with SPSS or R and experimental designs
Experience in creating and programming experimental tasks.
Experience with in-person or online data collection
Experience in research with immersive technologies and/or language communities or harder-to-reach populations
Good scientific writing
Involvement in the preparation of articles for publication in scientific journal(s)
Good numerical and statistics skills and familiarity with text editing software, such as Word, Excel, etc.
Knowledge of advanced statistical methods and/or experience of implementing Open Science practices
Good interpersonal and communication skills
Applicants who are non-native speakers of English, the University requires IELTS of 6.5 (with no band less than 6.0) or an equivalent qualification accepted by the Home Office
