Cambridge Residency Programme - Post-Doctoral Researcher

Job Description

Overview

Microsoft Research Cambridge UK is seeking an exceptional post-doctoral researcher to explore the impact of understanding the provenance of digital information on human perception, judgement, and trust. The research will inform new prototypes and designs for ensuring end users can effectively use and understand the origin of digital content and the kinds of transformation that content may have undergone. Studies will focus both on current practice as well as iterative testing of new user experiences for future designs.

This is an exciting opportunity to develop experience in corporate research and the intersection of academic, company, and customer impact. You should be a self-starter with a passion for exploring the short- and longer-term impact of making provenance more transparent in terms of human cognition and perception. You will undertake an effective program of basic and applied research to help inform the future of technology design and provide a better line of sight into ways of tackling misinformation and disinformation.

You should be primarily a quantitative researcher with expertise in experimental design, literature reviews, managing and executing experimental studies, and analysis, write-up, and presentation of results.
Your outcomes will be geared towards product and organizational impact as well as academic thought leadership, translating your findings for multidisciplinary internal and external audiences.
This position is a part of our two-year residency program and provides a unique opportunity to conduct groundbreaking research.

Responsibilities

• Sourcing and curating relevant research materials.

• Developing annotated bibliographies, literature reviews, and background briefings.

• Development of research questions and design of experimental studies.

• Research project management and execution of studies, both lab-based and large-scale online studies.

• Data analysis and write up of research results.

• Working collaboratively with designers and product teams to develop and test new user experience designs.

Qualifications

• PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors Engineering, or a related behavioural science field such as Cognitive Science, Cognitive Psychology, or Social Psychology.

Other Requirements:

• Demonstrable expertise in quantitative cognitive/behavioural science methods and research design
• Strong skills in academic research
• Organisation and communication skills
• Adaptability to engage in and embrace new research domains
  
  Preferred/Additional Qualifications:

• Working experience with generative AI
• Experience working with designers
• Industrial research experience
• Basic software development or interest

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.