Research Associate / PhD Candidate in Virtual Reality (2 positions)

About the role

We are hiring two research associates/PhD candidates for a cross‑border project on Virtual Reality, jointly hosted at ETH Zurich (Chair of Technology Marketing) and TUM Campus Munich (Professorship of Technology). The project explores how people perceive time and space in immersive virtual environments, combining psychology, technology, and human‑computer interaction.

Key responsibilities

• Conduct rigorous research aimed at publishing in leading international journals.
• Design, develop, and run VR‑based experiments.
• Analyze primary and secondary data using quantitative methods.
• Collaborate with international co‑authors, industry partners, and fellow researchers.
• Support student supervision, VR‑research seminars, or operational project tasks.

Required profile

• Excellent Master’s degree relevant to either the technology/VR development focus (Position A) or the behavioral/psychology focus (Position B).
• Strong interest in fundamental research on perception of time and space in immersive environments.
• Solid quantitative skills (R, Python, or Stata).
• For Position A: hands‑on experience with a VR engine (Unity or Unreal); familiarity with OpenXR, Blender or similar tools is a plus.
• For Position B: programming experience is welcome; basic knowledge of neuroscientific techniques (e.g., eye‑tracking) is advantageous.
• High personal initiative, entrepreneurial mindset, and ability to thrive in a collaborative research environment.
• Professional proficiency in English (C1/C2 or native); German/Swiss German is a plus.

Required skills

• R
• Python
• Stata
• Unity
• Unreal Engine
• OpenXR
• Blender
• Eye‑tracking techniques