Jobs
We are regularly seeking dedicated student assistants (HiWis / WiHis) to work on exciting projects in the field of Virtual Reality and Immersive Visualization. If you are interested and have solid programming experience in C++ and/or C#, along with familiarity with game engines such as Unreal and Unity, we would love to hear from you. Please take a moment to explore the research topics of our staff and submit your HiWi application to office@vr.rwth-aachen.de. In your application, we request the following materials: a CV, a transcript of grades, a list of research topics you are particularly interested in, and(optionally) a link to a code repository (GitHub, GitLab, etc.)showcasing your coding skills.
Additionally, any open positions for highly qualified PhD candidates, postdocs, or software developers with a strong interest in Virtual Reality and Immersive Visualization will be advertised below. If no positions are currently listed or if you are interested in exploring other opportunities with us, we encourage you to send an unsolicited application with all supporting materials to office@vr.rwth-aachen.de.
Student Research Position: Attention in VR-based Multi-Party Conversations with ECAs Using LLM-driven Dialogue Systems as Testbed
We are looking for a talented student worker to support us in our research on social interactions with embodied conversational agents (ECAs). This research is embedded within the DFG Priority Program AUDICTIVE (Auditory Cognition in Interactive Virtual Environments), specifically within the project exAMPLE (Examining attention, memory performance, and listening effort).
In this role, you will have the opportunity to engage in various aspects of our research. This research includes the following areas: tracking visual and acoustic user attention during ECA-based conversations, analyzing how users interact with ECAs to understand the dynamics of attention and its impact on communication effectiveness; developing attention-regaining strategies designed to re-engage users who may become distracted or disengaged during conversations to maintain effective interaction; and refining state of the art Large Language Model (LLM)-driven ECAs to facilitate more natural and free-flowing conversations between ECAs and users for better conversational engagement as a testing environment for examining attention dynamics and attention regaining strategies. The research focuses on Virtual Reality (VR) applications, providing an immersive setting for exploring these areas in depth using both head-mounted displays and our aixCAVE. Additionally, there may be other focal points depending on your interests and expertise, allowing for a dynamic and enriching research experience.
You will closely collaborate with our Social VR team consisting of a senior researcher, a doctoral candidate and other student workers as well as graduate workers from our VR team, as well as our collaborators from the “Chair of Hearing Technology and Acoustics” and the “Work und Engineering Psychology” of RWTH Aachen University.
To be successful in this role, you should have prior experience with C++ programming and Unreal Engine, preferably UE5, and a strong interest in VR development. Furthermore, prior experience with software engineering, strong problem-solving skills, and analytical skills are a plus. Additionally, prior experience specifically with animations in Unreal Engine, using LLMs in applications, web-based software development and RESTful APIs are a bonus. You will have the opportunity to apply your expertise in UE and C++ to develop cutting-edge features for social interactions that enhance the user experience of VR applications.
In addition to technical skills, we value candidates who can work independently, take ownership of assigned tasks, and communicate effectively with team members. We offer flexible working hours (max. 10 per week) to accommodate your studies, a supportive and collaborative team environment, and the opportunity to gain valuable experience in UE development.
To apply for this position, please send your resume and cover letter to the contact person below by February, 2nd 2025. Please include the job title in the subject line of your email.
Contact:
Dr. Andrea Bönsch
