Hosting offer for MSCA-PF-2027 candidates at the University of Oviedo

The HCI Group at the University of Oviedo (Spain) is looking for talented and motivated postdoctoral researchers interested in developing a joint application for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF) 2027 call.

The HCI Group (https://www.hci.uniovi.es/) investigates how people interact with digital technologies and how behavioural and interaction data can be used to design more usable, accessible, intelligent and secure systems. Our research combines experimental Human-Computer Interaction methodologies with quantitative analysis, eye-tracking, behavioural data and machine-learning techniques.

A major research line of the group is HCI applied to eHealth and digital health. We are particularly interested in exploring how objective measures of human behaviour obtained from interaction with digital systems can complement traditional approaches to health assessment, screening and decision support.

One of our current research areas focuses on the application of eye-tracking, behavioural analysis and machine learning to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Our work investigates whether gaze and interaction patterns can provide objective behavioural markers capable of supporting ASD screening and diagnosis. This research combines controlled experimental studies, eye-tracking data acquisition, feature extraction, statistical analysis and machine-learning classification.

This experience provides a strong basis for new MSCA-PF projects at the intersection of HCI, artificial intelligence and health, including research on digital biomarkers, behavioural phenotyping, intelligent screening tools, explainable AI for health, accessible health technologies and novel interaction-based approaches to assessment and monitoring.

Potential research topics include, but are not limited to:

• HCI, eHealth and digital health
• Eye-tracking and behavioural biomarkers for health
• AI and machine learning for health assessment and screening
• Computational approaches supporting ASD screening and diagnosis
• Digital biomarkers and behavioural phenotyping
• Human-centred and explainable AI in healthcare
• User behaviour modelling and interaction analytics
• Behavioural biometrics based on mouse, keyboard and touchscreen interaction
• Eye-tracking and gaze behaviour analysis
• Usable security and human factors in cybersecurity
• Accessibility and inclusive interaction
• User profiling and identification from interaction patterns
• Adaptive and intelligent user interfaces

We particularly welcome researchers whose expertise complements our current capabilities. Relevant backgrounds include Human-Computer Interaction, eHealth, biomedical or health informatics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, data science, behavioural analytics, eye-tracking, cybersecurity and biometrics. Candidates bringing expertise in advanced AI and data-analysis methods applicable to behavioural and health data are especially welcome.

The selected candidate will work closely with the supervisor and The HCI Group to develop a competitive MSCA-PF proposal. Rather than requiring candidates to fit into a predefined project, we aim to jointly develop an ambitious research proposal that combines the candidate's expertise with the group's experience, infrastructure and ongoing research activities. Particular attention will be given to two-way knowledge transfer, interdisciplinarity, scientific excellence and the candidate's long-term career development.

The University of Oviedo provides an established multidisciplinary research environment, while The HCI Group offers extensive experience in conducting controlled user studies and collecting and analysing behavioural and interaction data. Candidates will have access to specialised infrastructure for experimental HCI research, including professional eye-tracking equipment and facilities for conducting user studies.

We encourage prospective candidates to contact us sufficiently in advance of the MSCA-PF 2027 deadline. Expressions of interest should include a CV, a brief description of the candidate's research background and a short outline of the research idea or topic they would be interested in developing within the fellowship.

Candidates with strong publication records and an interest in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of humans, artificial intelligence and health technologies are particularly encouraged to apply.

More information about The HCI Group, its members, research lines and projects can be found at https://www.hci.uniovi.es/.