MPhil/PhD in the UCL Interaction Centre
Research at the UCL Interaction Centre focuses on the effect of interactive systems on individuals, their working contexts and their broader social context. In particular, we are doing research on interaction design, recognition of emotional states of users, how interfaces promote or ameliorate human error and the design of ubiquitous technologies for nudging behavioural change and promoting health and well-being.
For more information about the Research Department, including a list of members of staff and their research interests, please see https://uclic.ucl.ac.uk/.
Structure
Because UCLIC is an interfaculty centre, some of our research students are registered in Computer Science and some through Psychology and Language Sciences. There is more information about the structure of the MPhil/PhD programme for potential Psychology students on the PALS pages and for potential Computer students on the CS pages. There is little difference in structure between these programmes - there is different training on offer through each department, but UCLIC students can avail of training in both depts.
PhD students are an integral part of our research team, each pursuing their individual research project within a vibrant, research-intensive environment. We have regular research seminars and working lunches, as well as impromptu social events. Students have access to facilities including an Interaction Research Lab with tools to facilitate building proto-type technologies, as well as two Usability labs with eye tracking equipment, motion capture equipment and biosensors. There is a range of technical assistance available when needed, as well as excellent library and computing facilities in and around UCL. Students are also strongly supported in developing a range of presenting and teaching skills and there are many opportunities across UCL to practice such skills, giving students confidence for their next steps.
Staff in the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences and the Computer Science Department have expertise on a wide range of topics, so that students should be able to find someone who can give good advice. Furthermore, there are many networking opportunities with other depts in UCL and beyond, since UCLIC have links with the other Universities as well as partners in industry and the public sector, such as the BBC, Intel, various hospitals, manufacturers of medical devices and other commercial organisations.
Please see our PhD pages for more information about our programme and how to apply.
Staff
More information about academic staff in UCLIC and their research interests on UCLIC People Pages.
Research Topics
Yvonne Rogers, Ann Blandford, Anna Cox, Nadia Berthouze
Yvonne Rogers, Nicolai Marquardt, Enrico Costanza
Yvonne Rogers, Nicolai Marquardt, Ann Blandford, Anna Cox, Enrico Costanza
Ann Blandford, Yvonne Rogers, Anna Cox, Nadia Berthouze
Yvonne Rogers, Chris Evans, Nadia Berthouze, Nicolai Marquardt
Careers
There are many career opportunities open to PhD graduates from UCLIC.
The interdisciplinary nature of research in UCLIC means that our research graduates are adaptable and able to work across many fields with people from different professional backgrounds both in academia and industry.
Recent graduates have either pursued academic careers as researchers and/or lecturers and some additionally work as usability consultants alongside their postdoctoral roles. Some have continued as postdoctoral researchers within the department or other departments in UCL, while others secured research internships abroad (eg, Microsoft Research in California), or other postdoctoral positions in Europe, North and South America, Asia and New Zealand.
See previous Student Career destinations for some examples.
Scholarships
There are no specific scholarship opportunities offered by UCLIC as a department, but more information about other scholarship opportunities offered by UCL and other organisations can be found on UCL's Scholarships pages.
Contacts
Dr Louise Gaynor: l.gaynor@ucl.ac.uk