Research Assistant (Human-Computer Interaction)

National University of Singapore; Singapore; On-site; SGD 47,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

National University of Singapore is seeking a Research Assistant with expertise in Human-Computer Interaction and hands-on development across hardware, software, and XR to join the CHILL team.

The role involves end-to-end management of research projects, iterative delivery using SCRUM, and collaboration with the Principal Investigator to bridge user needs with technical implementation.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human Factors, Engineering Psychology, HCI, Computer Science, or a closely related field.
• Project Management: Proven experience in Technical Product/Project Management with Agile/SCRUM, milestones, iterative delivery.
• Design & Prototyping: Proficiency in rapid prototyping, UI/UX design (Figma), 3D modelling/CAD (Blender, Siemens NX).
• Programming & Integration: Hands-on development with Dart/Flutter, C#, Python, and web tech; hardware integration (Raspberry Pi, CAN-Bus).
• Research Methods: Strong background in qualitative user research, human-centered design, empirical methods.

Responsibilities

• Project & Product Management: Manage R&D projects end-to-end, define scope, milestones, and iterative delivery in SCRUM.
• Technical Implementation & Prototyping: Design and develop hybrid hardware-software demonstrators, XR/VR apps, multimodal interfaces.
• Human-Centered Research: Conduct qualitative user research, expert interviews, usability evaluations to inform MVP creation.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Facilitate feedback sessions and align internal/external stakeholders with project timelines.
• Academic & Industry Engagement: Disseminate outcomes via journals, proposals, and participate in meetings and events.

Job description

Company description:

The National University of Singapore is the national research university of Singapore. Founded in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States Government Medical School, NUS is the oldest higher education institution in Singapore

Job description:

Job Description

The Centre for Holistic Inquiry into Lifelong Learning (CHILL) at the National University of Singapore is seeking a motivated Research Assistant with expertise in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), technical product management, and hands-on development across hardware, software, and XR.

The Research Assistant will work closely with the Principal Investigator (A/Prof Suranga Nanayakkara). The successful candidate will be responsible for managing open-ended research and innovation projects end-to-end, effectively bridging the gap between user needs, technical implementation, and overall project goals.

Major responsibilities include:

1. Project & Product Management: Manage research and development projects end-to-end, independently defining scope, setting milestones, and delivering iteratively using agile methodologies (e.g., SCRUM).
2. Technical Implementation & Prototyping: Design and develop hybrid hardware-software demonstrators, interactive XR/VR applications, and multimodal interfaces (utilizing tools such as Unity, Flutter, and Python).
3. Human-Centered Research: Conduct qualitative user research, expert interviews, and usability evaluations to inform iterative, human-centered prototyping and MVP creation.
4. Stakeholder Collaboration: Facilitate feedback sessions, align internal teams and external stakeholders, and moderate project timelines to ensure successful deliverables.
5. Academic & Industry Engagement: Disseminate research outcomes via journal and conference papers, contribute to research grant proposals, and actively participate in industry project meetings and academic events.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human Factors, Engineering Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a closely related field.
• Project Management: Proven experience in Technical Product/Project Management, with a strong grasp of Agile/SCRUM practices, milestone planning, and iterative delivery.
• Design & Prototyping: Proficiency in rapid prototyping, UI/UX design (Figma), and 3D modeling/CAD (Blender, Siemens NX, etc.).
• Programming & Integration: Strong hands-on development skills using languages and frameworks such as Dart/Flutter, C#, Python, and web technologies, along with experience in hardware integration (e.g., Raspberry Pi, CAN-Bus).
• Research Methods: Solid background in qualitative user research, human-centered design frameworks, and empirical research methods.
• Soft Skills: Excellent communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a diverse team environment.