The research program of the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre SFB/TRR 62 "Companion-Technology for Cognitive Technical Systems" offers the vision of future technical systems being Companion-systems – cognitive technical systems that provide their functionality in a completely individualized way: they adapt to a user’s abilities, preferences, requirements, and current needs and take into account both the situation and the emotional state of the individual user. Furthermore, they are continually available, co-operative, and reliable, and appear as competent and empathic assistants to their users.

The SFB-involved research groups at the Ulm University site offers

1 three-year PhD scholarship

of 1,150.00 EUR per month. Applicants should be highly motivated with a recently acquired Master's degree, or equivalent, in the area of informatics, electrical engineering, medicine, neurobiology, or psychology. Being enthusiastic scientists, successfull will work in a team to support and further establish research in the respective project areas. The SFB is highly interested in international representation and encourages international students to apply, participants are therefore required German and English language proficiency at an advanced level. In order to ensure an equal balance between male and female students, applications by women are particularly encouraged.

Application Procedure:

The following documents must be submitted:

1. Statement of Interest: The Statement of Interest should be in English or in German, not longer than four pages and provide a clear picture of the applicant’s academic and professional background and interests. It should also describe how the interests and envisaged dissertation project match with the research aims of the SFB.
2. A curriculum vitae in German or English.
3. Two Recent Letters of Reference: Letters of reference should be sent in a sealed envelope along with the application materials. If referees prefer to send letters directly to the program, they should do so before the application deadline. Letters of reference will be accepted in either German or English. One of the referees has to be the envisaged supervisor of the doctoral thesis (a regular member of the SFB/Transregio 62 at the Ulm University site).
4. Certified Copies of Original University Degree (MA, Diplom, Magister or equivalent): If the required university degree has not been completed at the time of the application deadline, provisional material, documenting academic performance and achievement (transcripts outlining grades, test certificates or other credentials) will be accepted. Documentation of the final degree has to be submitted by the end of December 2011. Foreign degree certificates have to be translated into German or English and officially certified.
5. Proof of Language Skills: All applicants who are neither native speakers of German or English nor have studied for a considerable period of time at a university with German or English as languages of instruction are required to submit certification of their German and /or English proficiency.
6. A Writing Sample (e.g. extract of M.A. / Diplom Thesis of 10 pages maximum, an article or seminar paper). Writing samples will be accepted in German and English.

Admission Procedures:

Please send your application together with the requested documents until March 31, 2012 to

Sekretariat SFB/TRR 62
z.Hd. Ingrid Neumann
Universität Ulm
D-89069 Ulm

or via e-mail to ingrid.neumann(at)uni-ulm.de

The selection of candidates will be determined by the academic qualification and motivation of the candidates as well by the general match of the dissertation project with the research program of the SFB/Transregio 62. After having been selected by the committee of the SFB, chosen candidates will be informed on short notice about the next steps to take.