Human Computer Interaction Research Assistant Jobs in Pittsburgh, PA

Description
The Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) invites applications for a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship focused on advancing adaptive extended reality systems that are responsive to users, context, tasks, and environments. The position is based in the Augmented Perception Lab, led by David Lindlbauer, and offers an opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research at the intersection of human-computer interaction, augmented and virtual reality, human-centered AI, sensing, interaction techniques, and usable privacy.
The postdoctoral researcher will help shape a research agenda around next-generation XR systems that perceive and adapt to people's needs while respecting user agency, social norms, and privacy. We are especially interested in candidates whose work bridges technical XR system building with empirical studies of how people use, understand, and negotiate adaptive interfaces in everyday and collaborative settings.
This position is full-time and based in Pittsburgh, PA. CMU offers a vibrant interdisciplinary research environment across the Human-Computer Interaction Institute, the School of Computer Science, and related programs, with extensive opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and professional development.
Project Overview
Research in the Augmented Perception Lab explores how interactive systems can sense, understand, and adapt to users and their environments. This postdoctoral position will focus on adaptive XR interfaces that dynamically respond to changing contexts.
Potential research directions include:
• Adaptive XR interfaces: Designing and studying augmented and virtual reality systems that adapt their visualizations, interaction techniques, level of automation, or spatial behavior based on user goals, attention, activity, environment, and social context.
• Privacy-aware adaptation: Investigating how XR systems can make privacy-sensitive decisions in shared, dynamic, and multi-user environments, including when and how to reveal, hide, transform, or negotiate information.
• Human-centered AI for XR: Developing AI-supported XR systems that infer context, support authoring and customization, or help users manage complex spatial and social interactions while preserving transparency and control.
• Design tools and evaluation methods: Building tools, prototypes, and study methods that help designers, developers, and end users reason about adaptive XR behavior, privacy implications, and user experience.
The postdoctoral researcher will use a human-centered, iterative research approach, including prototype development, interaction design, qualitative and quantitative studies, and deployment-oriented evaluations. The position is well suited for a researcher with a strong background in AR/VR, HCI, usable privacy, and human-AI interaction.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
Applicants should have:
• A Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, Information, Design, or a related field by the start date.
• Expertise in one or more relevant research areas, such as augmented reality, virtual reality, mixed reality, human-AI interaction, adaptive interfaces, interaction techniques, usable security and privacy, or human-centered systems.
• A strong track record of empirical HCI research with users, designers, developers, or other stakeholders.
• Experience designing, building, and evaluating interactive systems or research prototypes.
• A strong publication record in leading HCI, XR, or related venues.
Preferred Qualifications
We are especially excited about candidates who have:
• Experience designing or studying adaptive, context-aware, or personalized XR systems.
• Expertise in privacy, security, safety, or social acceptability issues in AR/VR/MR.
• Experience with multi-user, collaborative, or socially situated XR scenarios.
• Experience building AR/VR prototypes using platforms such as Unity, Unreal, WebXR, or related toolkits.
• Familiarity with AI-supported interfaces, generative AI, sensing, or computational interaction approaches.
• Experience with qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, or design research methods.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit the following :
• A CV
• Names and email addresses of references
• A 2-page research statement describing your interests, relevant expertise, and fit with adaptive XR, human-centered AI, and privacy-focused research
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.