PhD studentship at the University of Bath and HP Labs Bristol

Applications are invited for a PhD studentship funded by the UK Engineering 
and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) as part of the Cityware 
project (http://www.cityware.org.uk). This is a major collaborative project 
investigating mobile and pervasive technologies in the social and physical 
setting of the urban environment. Project partners include the University of 
Bath, Imperial College London, The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment 
at UCL, HP Labs, Vodafone, Nokia, IBM, Node and Bath & North-East Somerset 
Council.

The PhD student will be based at the University of Bath and at HP Labs 
Bristol. The PhD research will focus on trust as a major concern of the 
users of mobile and pervasive systems in urban environments. The work will 
first deepen our understanding of trust- and risk-related issues in urban 
social and public spaces, and investigate user requirements, perceptions and 
reasoning about trust involving both person-to-person interactions and 
interactions with systems and digital services. This study will draw on and 
add to what is known in psychology, sociology, and urban design and 
architecture. The analysis will consider how trust relates, for different 
types of user, to factors such as social acceptability and convenience.

This trust analysis, combined with a threat analysis developed by a 
collaborating researcher, will lead into the development of techniques for 
securing users of mobile and pervasive systems against attacks on their 
security and privacy. This will lead to design implications for spaces, 
architectural features, devices and services, and provide a foundation for 
new security protocols for mobile and pervasive systems. These developments 
will be tested in a range of applications developed with the project 
partners.

The student will be jointly supervised by Dr Eamonn O'Neill (Computer 
Science) and Dr Danae Stanton Fraser (Psychology) from the University of 
Bath and by Dr Tim Kindberg from HP Labs. The student will divide his/her 
time between the University and HP Labs. The student will work closely with 
a post-doctoral Research Associate who will also spend time at both sites. 
In addition, there will be significant interaction and collaboration with 
the other project partners, both academic and industrial. The ideal 
candidate will have a good first degree or MSc in a relevant subject and a 
strong interest in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) with mobile and 
pervasive systems. Applications are particularly encouraged from candidates 
with a background in Psychology, Economics, Sociology or similar disciplines 
with an interest in the human aspects of trust and risk.

Applications should be made by 28 June 2006. The PhD will start as soon as 
possible by arrangement with the successful candidate. Potential applicants 
are welcome to contact Eamonn O'Neill for informal discussions or enquiries, 
either by phone (01225 383216) or email ([log in to unmask]). The 
studentship will provide a living stipend at standard EPSRC rates and will 
cover fees at the Home level. Overseas candidates are eligible but will need 
to fund the difference between Home and Overseas fees. General information 
about studying for a PhD at Bath, including an application form and details 
of fees, is available at: http://www.bath.ac.uk/grad-office/

--
Dr Eamonn O'Neill
Director of Postgraduate Research Studies
Department of Computer Science
University of Bath
Bath BA2 7AY
UK
[log in to unmask]

Ph: +44 (0)1225 383216

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