Postdoctoral Researcher in Human-Computer Interaction

King's College London; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

King’s College London’s Department of Informatics invites applications for a fixed-term Postdoctoral Researcher in HCI/Accessibility and AI, tied to the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship Project TACT led by Dr Timothy Neate. You will lead core development of novel assistive technologies, work closely with end users, and contribute to high-quality publications in CHI, ASSETS and related venues.

The role involves collaboration within a diverse team and offers professional development opportunities;

Qualifications

• PhD (awarded or near completion) in HCI/AI or related field
• Experience prototyping across technologies
• Experience in HCI and/or accessibility
• Proven record leading publications in CHI/ASSETS/AAA I with awards
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Strong organizational and teamworking skills

Responsibilities

• Lead core development of the project and collaborate with other HCI researchers
• Work closely with end users and lead the development of novel assistive technologies
• Contribute to high-quality publications in leading HCI venues such as CHI and ASSETS
• Be involved in multiple research streams and lead technical development within the team

Skills

HCI expertise

Prototyping skills

Accessibility knowledge

Publications leadership

Excellent communication

Organizational skills

Co-design with users

Human-AI interaction

AR/VR wearables

Videoconferencing UX

Education

PhD in HCI/AI

Tools

3D printing

Electronics

Prototyping tools

AR/VR hardware

Job description

The researcher will join the Human-Centred Computing (HCC) group at King’s at the Department of Informatics, which provides a supportive and collaborative environment and an exciting mix of disciplines. We are currently one of the top UK HCI groups; publishing a number of papers at top venues (e.g. ACM CHI).

Dr Neate currently leads a team of two researchers and six PhD students, with a strong record of success. The team has won 15 paper awards at major conferences, including CHI and ASSETS, and has secured around £3M in research funding from a range of sources.

About the role

The Department of Informatics at King’s College London is seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Researcher with experience in HCI/Accessibility and AI. This is a fixed-term position ending on 30th November 2029.

The successful candidate will work on the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship Project -Total Communication Technologies to Support Accessible Communication (TACT), led by Dr Timothy Neate (see tactproject.uk).

About the Project

TACT is an interdisciplinary fellowship reimagining how technology can support communication for people with communication disabilities. Combining perspectives from HCI, human-AI interaction, accessibility, and language and communication sciences, the project aims to enhance both verbal and non-verbal communication through inclusive, human-centred design. It will explore how emerging technologies, such as generative AI, smart wearables, and augmented or mixed reality, can enable ‘total communication’, supporting people’s ability to connect and express themselves in everyday and digital contexts.

Working closely with individuals with aphasia and developmental language disorders, the project will combine ethnographic research, co-design, prototyping, and evaluation to develop innovative communication technologies.

TACT brings together a wide network of academic, industry, and charity partners, including Microsoft Research, Tobii Dynavox, Transport for London, Hidden Disabilities, Aphasia Re-Connect, Dyscover, and Speech and Language UK, alongside academic collaborators at City, University of London, the University of Maryland, and McGill University.

The Role

The postdoctoral researcher will lead the core development aspects of the project, working closely with other HCI researchers and leading the development aspects of the work. The role includes working closely with end users, leading the development of novel assistive technologies and contributing to high-quality publications in leading HCI venues such as ACM CHI and ASSETS.

The researcher will have the opportunity to be involved in a large number of exciting research streams; leading technical development work and gaining leadership skills within the team of 1 PI (Dr Neate), another postdoc (started January 2026), three aligned PhD students, as well as research interns and masters students.

This post is a fill time (35 hours per week) post, offered on a fixed-term contract until 30th November 2029.

Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

1. 1. PhD (awarded or close to completion), or equivalent experience in human-computer interaction, AI or similar
2. 2. Expertise in prototyping in a range of technologies
3. 3. Expertise in human-computer interaction and/or accessibility
4. 4. Key roles in leading publications in related HCI and/or AI venues (e.g., CHI, ASSETS, AAAI), ideally with paper awards or other recognition
5. 5. Excellent communication – i.e. written and verbal skills
6. 6. Excellent organizational and teamworking skills

1. 1. Expertise in co-design with users with accessibility need
2. 2. Experience with Human-AI interaction
3. 3. Experience with physical prototyping – e.g. 3D printing, electronics.
4. 4. Experience in working with HCI for videoconferencing
5. 5. Experience working with emerging technologies like AR/VR or wearables

• Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information