Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD position within the iLab research group in the Department of Computer and Information Science (CIS) at the University of Strathclyde. CIS is a leading Information Science school in Scotland and the UK based on research income and quality of research output. The project is entitled “Predictive Click Models for Mobile Search”. The project will be supervised by Dr Martin Halvey (http://www.strath.ac.uk/staff/halveymartindr/, https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=ZXIo4JAAAAAJ).
Project Description
Click models (i.e. user models that describe the way users interact with search engines) are essential to the evaluation and design of modern web search systems, they have been used to explain and model a number of interaction phenomena. Whilst there has also been a slow move to include newer types of interaction, most existing click models assume that people interact with a standard 10 blue link search system on a desktop computer. This assumption ignores a change occurring in web search, where more search is moving towards the mobile domain. This change necessitates a radical rethink of current click models. Devices beyond desktop computers, in particular mobile, provide a range of means of interaction with search systems, which necessitate the creation of these new click models. This PhD studentship will help provide this radical step change by investigating the creation of new click models to account for mobile search.
Studentship
- The studentship is full-time for a period of 42 months
- An annual tax free stipend will be paid, beginning at £14,409 and rising each year
- The position is open to UK, EU and international students
- The appointment must lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis)
- An educational plan that including attendance of courses, summer and/or winter schools, and national and international meetings will be drafted for the PhD candidate and will be tailored based on previous experience
- The studentship will start in October 2016
Interested applicants should
- Have a first class or upper second class Honours degree, or a Master’s degree, in a discipline relevant to the area of study
- Demonstrate excellent level of spoken and written English (applicants whose first language is not English must meet the University’s English language requirements)
- Have programming experience
- Possess the ability to conduct innovative research, both as an independent researcher and as a strong team player
Applications
All enquiries and applications should be sent to Dr Martin Halvey (martin.halvey@strath.ac.uk). Closing date for applications is March 31st 2016. All applications should include:
- a curriculum vitae
- a copy of or a link to your final year undergraduate or masters dissertation — if relevant
- a letter of motivation (at most 1 page) explaining why you are interested in this position and how your experience fits
- a list of all university courses taken, including a transcript of grades
- the name and contact details (including email address) of two – three referees who can provide details about your profile (one of whom should be the main supervisor of your final year undergraduate or masters dissertation)