Positions

Multiple Openings

The Sensorimotor Interaction Group has several open positions. We are hiring Postdocs, PhD Students, and Research Engineers. We intend to fill four positions in total.

We are a small diverse team of HCI researchers interested in cognition and sensorimotor systems, engineering, music, and philosophy. We publish at top-tier HCI venues like CHI and UIST, as well as more specialized conferences such as TEI and AHs. We are also starting to branch out to venues like SIGGRAPH and IEEE World Haptics.

We design systems to better understand sensorimotor processes and apply this understanding to create new systems. So far, our focus has been on haptics, with explorations into agency, wearable systems, and music.

We are specifically looking to hire in three areas

#1 Kinesthetic Displays
We are exploring the design of kinesthetic experiences using vibrotactile feedback. Building on our previous research in tactile rendering, we aim to create systems that allow users to perceive movements without actively performing them. This project is supported by a 1.5 million Euro European Research Council Starting Grant (ERC StrG). We are seeking researchers with expertise in areas such as (vibro)tactile feedback, human physiology and movement, sensory illusions and multisensory integration, motion tracking, VR/AR systems, and wearable on-body systems design.

This work will build on Haptic Servos (CHI’23), Motionless Movement (CHI’24), vARitouch (CHI’24).


#2 Wearables for Music Modulation & Agency Explorations
We are interested in designing wearables for interacting with music and media in collaborative group settings. Our interests are threefold. First, we research the seamless design of wearable technology, from soft sensor development to ensuring functionality and wearability. Second, we explore how to design complex systems that enhance users' sense of agency. Finally we are interested in using GenAI for synthesizing physiological data, and expanding the efficacy of human actions. This project is in collaboration with Grammy Award-winning artist Imogen Heap and her design team. We seek researchers with expertise in sensor design, audio synthesis, machine learning, longitudinal data modeling, cognitive models of agency, and fashion & design.

This work will build on RaveNET (TEI’24), Singing Knit (AHs’22), Who Did It? (UIST’24).


#3 Commercialization of Research Prototypes
We aim to make our research more accessible to the public by distributing it through a start-up closely connected to our group. Our goal is to refine our research prototypes to ensure they are robust and ready for public use. In doing so, we intend to explore additional avenues to create a lasting impact with our work. We are looking for researchers and engineers interested in product-oriented research and design, with strong expertise in embedded systems and analog electronics.

This work will initially expand on Haptic Servos (CHI’23).

Before Applying

Please review our past research and identify where it aligns with your interests. Indicate this in your application. We suggest reaching out to group members to learn if our working culture fits yours. Feel free to message us with questions.

Application Process

Please provide the following:
- Motivation letter indicating the project of interest and earliest starting date
- Transcripts and diplomas
- CV including all previous work experience
- Contact information of three references
- Publication list, portfolio, or similar materials
- Any additional material you want us to consider

Send all materials as individual .pdf files. Send your application via email to Paul Strohmeier (paul dot strohmeier at mpi-inf.mpg.de). Make sure the heading of the e-mail is

[senSInt Application][your position*][your name]

Applications will be screened on November 4th, 10 am CET. Ensure your application is submitted before this time. Late applications will be given lower priority.

*this would be PhD Student / Postdoc / Engineer

Requirements for PhD Students

Ideal PhD candidates will have a strong academic track record and a completed degree in computer science*. They should demonstrate their ability to document and complete projects (e.g., through portfolios, research papers, artwork, products, concepts, or designs). Strong applied technical skills in at least one area relevant to the projects (e.g.: data analysis, costume design, software development, electronics, embedded systems, machine learning, audio design, etc.) are required. Candidates should be able to work independently while coordinating within a larger team.

PhD Students will receive a three year contract. The salary is internationally competitive, based on state employees salary scheme TV-L E 13 and includes health insurance and social insurance.

*Candidates without a degree in computer science are welcome but may need to complete extra coursework during the course of their PhD, according to the regulations of the Graduate School of Saarland University.

Requirements for Postdocs

We welcome postdocs from all research areas. Postdocs should fulfill the same requirements as PhD students but must also have a strong record of publishing research at international venues. They should have a solid understanding of the research landscape in their field, including how and why to write for specific scientific venues. Services to the field, such as roles as a reviewer, editor, committee member, or chair, are highly valued.

PostDocs will receive a two year contract. The salary is internationally competitive, based on state employees salary scheme TV-L E 13 or TV-L E 14 (based on prior experience) and includes health insurance and social insurance.

Requirements for Research Engineers

Research Engineers should meet the same criteria as PhD students but are expected to have demonstrated expertise in embedded systems development and DSP (especially embedded audio). Knowledge of analog circuitry, such as filters and amplification circuits, is also required.

Employment is initially for 3 to 6 months, details to be negotiated on a case by case basis, commensurate with the other positions.

Research Context

The Sensorimotor Interaction group is led by Paul Strohmeier and co-located with Saarland University’s HCI Lab . Both groups collaborate closely and share lab spaces. The group is part of the Computer Graphics Department of the Max Planck Institute for Informatics. We collaborate with Vahid Babaei’s AIDAM group, the Sampling and Rendering group led by Gurprit Singh, and the Image Synthesis and Machine Learning Group led by Thomas Leimkühler.

The Saarland Informatics Campus (SIC) is one of Europe’s leading computer science research hubs. It includes the Max Planck Institute for Informatics, the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems, the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), the Center for Bioinformatics, and the departments of Computer Science, Mathematics, and Language Science and Technology at Saarland University. The campus is also home to the Leibniz Center for Informatics, which hosts the renowned Dagstuhl Seminars at Schloss Dagstuhl.

The town of Saarbrücken is a mid-sized, vibrant student city in the Saarland region of Germany. It features a charming 18th-century downtown with plenty of outdoor spots for enjoying traditional Saarland cuisine and international food. Located near the French border and close to Luxembourg, the city offers a rich mix of cultures. The campus is situated in woodland parks and is easily accessible by bicycle from all residential areas. It is well connected to Paris and Frankfurt via high-speed trains. Feel free to contact us with questions about life in Saarbrücken.

Diversity and Inclusion

Applications from women and minority genders as well as from groups of people underrepresented in science (e.g. researchers who are marginalized due to disabilities, ethnicity or cultural background, sexuality, migration experience, first generation, etc.) are especially welcome.