The HCI+Health Lab specializes in applying Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research to prevent disease, prolong life, and promote health and wellbeing. HCI is an interdisciplinary field, and we welcome applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds including health sciences, computer science, psychology, and engineering.
Graduate opportunities
We are seeking strong graduate student candidates for research in the areas of Computational Social Science. Candidates should have the following academic qualifications:
- Master’s candidates: a 4-year bachelor degree in computer science, health informatics, or equivalent. Master’s students may complete a 2-year MSc. in Public Health Sciences or a MMath in Computer Science.
- PhD candidates: a Master’s degree in human-computer interaction, computer science, human-centred design/engineering, health informatics, or a related field. PhD students complete a PhD in Public Health Sciences or a PhD in Computer Science, which are 4-year degree programs.
- In addition to academic requirements, candidates should also:
- Have experience in software development, machine learning, and/or HCI research
- Demonstrate proficient oral and written communications skills.
- Collaborate well in a team environment.
- Have an interest in research at the intersection of human-centred design, social sciences, and health and wellbeing.
Due to course requirements, Public Health Sciences candidates must start in the Fall term, e.g., September 2025. Candidates applying through Computer Science may begin at any time.
If you meet the above requirements and are interested in the position, contact Prof. Jim Wallace with your CV, transcripts, a research statement, and TOEFL/IELTS scores (if international). Make sure to include your desired research area in your subject line. Due to the high volume of requests to join the lab, emails without the above information will not receive a response.
Undergraduate opportunities
Undergraduate volunteers and research assistants are full lab members and help us to run our projects. Hands-on experience in the lab is also a great way to learn about HCI and to get a feel for research in a graduate setting. Our volunteers gain experience in many aspects of research:
- Work alongside skilled graduate students to augment your education
- Learn how to design experiments, run user studies, and analyze data
- Create and evaluate health informatics systems on large interactive displays, smartphones, tablets, and wearable computing devices
Course or work experience in human-computer interaction, human factors, user interface design, or information visualization is required. Students are expected to be able to develop software prototypes independently and should be capable in at least one programming language (e.g. Python, Swift). It is also recommended that before applying you have taken at least one of the following courses, or an equivalent from another institution:
- The School of Pubic Health Sciences' Health Informatics Option
- Human-Computer Interaction (e.g., CS 349, CS 449, MSCI 343)
- User-Centred Design (e.g., SYDE 348)
- Human Factors and Interface Design (e.g., SYDE 162, SYDE 543)
Interested students should contact Prof. Jim Wallace to describe their research interests and how their background would prepare them for work in the lab.