User Researcher Human-Robot Interaction & Safety

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: User Researcher, Human-Robot Interaction & Safety

Company: Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)

Location: Ixelles - Elsene, Brussels-Capital, Belgium

Job Type: Full-time, Temporary (6 months, potentially renewable)

Category: Research Operations / Academic Research

Date Posted: May 19, 2026

Experience Level: Early Career (0-2 years post-Master's)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is situated within the Research Group Studies in Media, Innovation and Technology (SMIT) at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School.

• Focuses on designing, conducting, and reporting on social-scientific and experimental research concerning human-robot interaction (HRI) and perceived safety.

• Involves the development and validation of a novel quantitative measurement instrument within a CAVE environment.

• Requires a strong foundation in quantitative research methods, experimental design, and statistical analysis, with an emphasis on human-factors and user experience in technological contexts.

• Contributes to a 2-year project focused on ethical, responsible, and human-centered technology development.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "User Researcher," the core responsibilities and required background align with a specialized research associate or junior researcher role within an academic setting, focusing on applied social science research. The "Operations" aspect is interpreted as the operational execution and management of research projects and methodologies.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and execute a 2-year research project focused on human-robot interaction and safety perception.

• Conduct comprehensive literature reviews on existing measurement instruments and theoretical constructs related to HRI, safety, trust, acceptance, usability, workload, comfort, control, and user experience.

• Develop a new quantitative measurement instrument, including construct definition, item development, expert validation, and iterative refinement.

• Set up and conduct experimental studies within a CAVE environment, managing ethical approvals, scenario development, participant recruitment, and data collection.

• Perform quantitative data analysis, including descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, factor analysis, and validation analyses.

• Conduct supplementary qualitative research (e.g., short interviews, think-aloud sessions, debriefings) where relevant.

• Author scientific reports, translate research findings into practical recommendations for safe HRI design and evaluation.

• Prepare presentations and disseminate project results to project partners and stakeholders.

• Support project management activities, including planning, ethical applications, meeting minutes, deliverable tracking, and reporting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a hands-on research execution role. The "project management" aspect is within the scope of research project management, not broader business operations management.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Master's degree in Psychology, Educational Sciences, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Human-Technology Interaction, Cognitive Science, Design Sciences, Technical Psychology, Social Sciences, Human Factors, or a comparable field.

Experience:

• Demonstrated affinity with human-robot interaction, human-centered technology development, safety, trust, user experience, and/or technology acceptance.

• Experience with, or strong interest in, quantitative research methods, survey development, and experimental research.

• Experience with, or interest in, setting up user experiments, preferably in simulated, VR, XR, or CAVE environments.

Required Skills:

• Quantitative Research Design & Execution: Ability to design and implement experimental protocols.

• Measurement Instrument Development: Proficiency in scale development, item writing, and psychometric validation.

• Statistical Analysis Software: Experience with or strong aptitude for R, SPSS, Python, or similar statistical packages.

• Data Analysis: Competence in descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, and factor analysis.

• Academic Writing & Reporting: Ability to draft scientific reports and research papers.

• Academic English Proficiency: Excellent command of written and spoken English.

• Analytical & Hands-on Approach: Ability to work independently and proactively.

• Teamwork & Collaboration: Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary team and with external partners.

• Ethical Research Practices: Understanding and adherence to research ethics and data confidentiality.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with scale development and psychometric validation.

• Experience with factor analysis and other advanced statistical validation techniques.

• Experience with user experiments in VR, XR, or CAVE environments.

• Knowledge of Dutch or French.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications are academic and research-focused. "Quantitative Research Methods," "Experimental Design," and specific software skills are key differentiators. The experience level is clearly defined as early-career post-Master's.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated experience in designing and executing quantitative research studies, showcasing the full research lifecycle from conceptualization to reporting.

• Examples of developed measurement instruments or surveys, with evidence of validation processes and results.

• Case studies detailing experimental setups, participant recruitment strategies, and data collection methodologies.

• Samples of quantitative data analysis, including statistical outputs and interpretations (e.g., factor analysis results, reliability coefficients).

Process Documentation:

• Documentation of research design processes, including literature review synthesis and hypothesis formulation.

• Examples of experimental protocol development, detailing participant instructions, task design, and ethical considerations.

• Evidence of data management and analysis workflows, showcasing systematic approaches to handling and interpreting research data.

• Process documentation for translating theoretical constructs into measurable operational definitions and survey items.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an academic research role, the "portfolio" refers to documented research outputs and methodologies rather than business process optimization deliverables. The emphasis is on the rigor and scientific validity of the research processes employed.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As per VUB academic research contract (Wetenschappelijk en Pedagogisch Personeel - WPP) scales, commensurate with qualifications and relevant prior experience. The VUB follows government-regulated salary scales for academic staff.

Benefits:

• Contract type: 1 FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) employment contract.

• Duration: 6 months, with potential for extension based on positive performance evaluation.

• Start Date: September 1, 2026.

• Remote Work: Extensive teleworking possibilities with a €50 monthly telework allowance OR a €20 monthly internet allowance.

• Leave: 35 annual leave days (full-time), closure between Christmas and New Year, plus 3 additional leave days.

• Insurance: Free hospitalization insurance.

• Commuting: Maximum reimbursement for public transport commuting; bicycle allowance provided.

• Campus Amenities: Discounted meals in campus restaurants.

• Wellness & Discounts: Access to sports facilities, Benefits@Work discounts (shops, flights, fuel stations, theme parks), and Eco-cheques.

• Family Support: Childcare facilities near campus, discounts on holiday camps.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning through VUB learning platforms and training programs.

• Work Environment: Open, informal, and diverse workplace with a focus on work-life balance.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexibility and teleworking options.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is tied to academic scales, which are standard for research positions in Belgium. The benefits package is comprehensive, reflecting typical university offerings and emphasizing work-life balance and professional development.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Higher Education & Scientific Research (Social Sciences, Technology, Media, Innovation).

Company Size: Approximately 4,000 employees, making VUB the largest Dutch-speaking private sector employer in Brussels.

Founded: Vrije Universiteit Brussel was founded in 1970. It is known for its commitment to free research, critical thinking, and an open, creative approach to academic and societal challenges.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Research Group Studies in Media, Innovation and Technology (SMIT) at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School.

• SMIT is an interdisciplinary research group focusing on digital technology, media, and societal impact.

• The researcher will work alongside junior and senior researchers, contributing to a dynamic and internationally recognized research environment.

Methodology:

• The research group emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the societal implications of digital technologies.

• Research methodologies employed are rigorous, combining theoretical insight with empirical investigation, including both quantitative and qualitative methods.

• A strong focus is placed on human-centred technology development, ethical considerations, and societal impact (EDDI perspective: Human values, safety, responsibility, ethics, and societal reflection).

Company Website: https://www.vub.be/, https://smit.research.vub.be/

📝 Enhancement Note: The VUB's culture is characterized by freedom, equality, interconnectedness, and free research. The SMIT group specifically fosters an interdisciplinary and innovative environment focused on the societal impact of technology.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This position is classified as Scientific and Pedagogical Personnel (Wetenschappelijk en Pedagogisch Personeel - WPP) at an early-career level, typically requiring a Master's degree and 0-2 years of relevant research experience post-graduation.

Reporting Structure: The User Researcher will report to senior researchers within the SMIT research group. The specific reporting line will be clarified during the interview process.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is on advancing scientific knowledge in human-robot interaction and safety. It contributes to the development of ethical and human-centered technologies, influencing future design and policy recommendations. The operational execution of research directly supports the group's research output and project deliverables.

Growth Opportunities:

• Doctoral Ambitions: The position can be explored as a pathway towards a PhD, depending on the candidate's profile, research focus, and available funding.

• Skill Development: Opportunity to deepen expertise in advanced quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, human-robot interaction, experimental design in immersive environments, and psychometric validation.

• Publication & Dissemination: Potential to co-author academic publications and present research at international conferences, building a research profile.

• Networking: Exposure to interdisciplinary research teams, industry partners, and the broader academic community through EUTOPIA and project collaborations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Growth is framed within an academic research career path, emphasizing skill acquisition, publication opportunities, and potential for doctoral studies, rather than a traditional corporate operations career ladder.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: University campus environment with dedicated research facilities.

Office Location(s): Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene), Belgium.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Working within a dynamic, interdisciplinary research group (SMIT) with opportunities for interaction with junior and senior researchers.

• Advanced Technology: Access to an innovative experimental research environment, including a CAVE environment for immersive simulations and controlled user testing.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for daily interaction with researchers, project partners, and academic staff within the faculty and research group.

Work Schedule: Standard university working hours (approximately 40 hours/week) with significant flexibility and teleworking options, accommodating research project needs and personal work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The environment is academic and research-centric, with specialized facilities like the CAVE. The hybrid arrangement is typical for research roles, balancing on-campus collaboration and specialized equipment use with remote data analysis and writing.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Step 1: Dossier Selection: Initial screening based on the submitted application documents (motivation letter, CV, diplomas). This stage assesses academic background, relevant experience, and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Step 2: Job Interview: A comprehensive interview to assess suitability. This may include discussions about research experience, methodological approaches, understanding of HRI and safety concepts, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit within the research group.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Research Examples: Select research projects that best demonstrate your quantitative research design, experimental execution, and data analysis capabilities. Highlight projects involving user studies or human-factors research if possible.

• Showcase Methodology: Clearly articulate your research process for each example. Detail how you developed research questions, designed experiments, collected data, and analyzed results. Emphasize the rigor and scientific validity of your methods.

• Present Data Analysis: Be prepared to discuss your quantitative analysis techniques. If possible, use anonymized examples or mock data to illustrate your proficiency with tools like R, SPSS, or Python.

• Highlight Impact & Recommendations: For any project, explain the significance of the findings and any practical recommendations derived from the research. This demonstrates your ability to translate research into actionable insights.

• Focus on Relevance: Tailor your portfolio presentation to the specific requirements of this User Researcher role, emphasizing HRI, safety, user experience, and quantitative methods.

Challenge Preparation:

• Methodological Scenarios: Be prepared for questions that present hypothetical research scenarios related to HRI or safety. You may be asked to outline a research design or propose methods to investigate a specific problem.

• Statistical Interpretation: Practice interpreting statistical outputs and explaining their implications for research questions.

• Ethical Considerations: Review common ethical considerations in human-subjects research, especially concerning technology use and safety.

• Teamwork & Project Management: Reflect on your experience working in research teams and managing project tasks, especially regarding planning, data collection, and reporting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process is standard for academic roles. The portfolio review emphasizes research output and methodological competence, not business process optimization. Interview preparation should focus on research design, analytical skills, and academic communication.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Statistical Software: R, SPSS, Python (for data analysis and statistical modeling). Proficiency or a strong willingness to learn is key.

• Experimental Software/Platforms: Experience with or ability to learn software used for experimental control and data collection in user studies.

• CAVE Environment: Familiarity with or ability to adapt to working within immersive CAVE environments for user testing.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization Tools: Potentially integrated within R/Python or separate tools for creating clear visualizations of research findings.

• Academic Writing Software: Tools for managing references, writing, and formatting scientific papers.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management Tools: Basic tools for task tracking, planning, and collaboration within the research project (e.g., Trello, Asana, or similar).

• Data Management Systems: Secure systems for storing and managing research data, ensuring confidentiality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is research-oriented, focusing on statistical analysis, experimental setup, and data management rather than typical business operations CRM or ERP systems.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Free Research: Upholding academic freedom, critical thinking, and open inquiry in all research activities.

• Equality & Interconnectedness: Fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where all team members are valued and collaborate effectively.

• Authenticity: Encouraging individuals to be their true selves within the professional environment.

• Human-Centred Approach: Anchoring technological development and evaluation in human values, safety, responsibility, and societal reflection (EDDI perspective).

• Rigor & Integrity: Maintaining high standards of scientific rigor, ethical conduct, and data integrity in all research processes.

Collaboration Style:

• Interdisciplinary Integration: Working within a diverse team of researchers with varied backgrounds, encouraging cross-pollination of ideas and methodologies.

• Process Review & Feedback: A culture of constructive feedback on research designs, methodologies, and outputs among team members and senior researchers.

• Knowledge Sharing: Active participation in group meetings, seminars, and informal discussions to share insights, challenges, and best practices in research execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture is academic and research-driven, emphasizing intellectual curiosity, collaboration across disciplines, and ethical considerations in technology research.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Developing Novel Instruments: Creating a new quantitative measurement instrument requires rigorous psychometric development and validation, which can be complex and time-consuming.

• CAVE Environment Expertise: Adapting to and effectively utilizing a CAVE environment for controlled experiments may present a learning curve.

• Balancing Research & Project Management: Juggling detailed experimental execution with project management tasks like reporting, planning, and partner communication.

• Translating Theory to Practice: Effectively bridging theoretical concepts in HRI and safety with measurable constructs and practical design recommendations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Research Skills: Deepen expertise in advanced quantitative methods, psychometrics, and experimental design within human-robot interaction.

• Immersive Technology Research: Gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge research environments like CAVE.

• Academic Publishing & Presentation: Develop skills in writing for peer-reviewed journals and presenting research at international conferences.

• Doctoral Pathway: Potential to leverage this role as a stepping stone towards pursuing a PhD in a relevant field.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are research-methodology focused. Growth opportunities are clearly aligned with academic and research career development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Research Design: "Describe your process for designing a quantitative study to investigate user trust in autonomous robots. What are the key ethical considerations?" (Focus on methodological rigor, construct operationalization, and ethical safeguards).

• Methodological Application: "How would you approach developing and validating a new survey to measure perceived safety in human-robot collaboration? What statistical techniques would you employ?" (Demonstrate understanding of psychometrics, scale development, and relevant analyses like factor analysis).

• Problem-Solving: "Imagine an experiment in the CAVE environment yields unexpected results. How would you troubleshoot and interpret these findings?" (Showcase analytical thinking, data interpretation skills, and systematic problem-solving).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about human-robot interaction and safety research at VUB's SMIT group?" (Connect your interests to the group's research focus and your own background).

• "How do you approach collaboration within an interdisciplinary research team?" (Highlight your teamwork skills and ability to communicate with diverse academic backgrounds).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each portfolio example, clearly outline the research question, methodology, key findings, and implications/recommendations. Use a logical flow that mirrors the research process.

• Highlight Your Role: Be specific about your individual contributions to team projects. Quantify your achievements where possible (e.g., "analyzed data for N participants," "developed X survey items").

• Showcase Technical Skills: Be prepared to briefly demonstrate or discuss your proficiency with statistical software (R, SPSS, Python) and any experimental tools you've used.

• Emphasize Impact: Focus on how your research contributed to knowledge, informed design, or led to practical recommendations, especially concerning user experience and safety.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on research methodology, analytical skills, and understanding of the research domain. Portfolio presentations should highlight academic rigor and research execution capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this User Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the VUB jobs portal (jobs.vub.be) no later than June 14, 2026.

• Customize Your CV: Ensure your CV clearly highlights your Master's degree, relevant research experience (especially in quantitative methods, experimental design, or human-factors), and proficiency with statistical software (R, SPSS, Python).

• Craft a Compelling Motivation Letter: Articulate your specific interest in human-robot interaction, safety research, and the SMIT group at VUB. Connect your skills and past experiences directly to the responsibilities and qualifications outlined in the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 key research projects to showcase. For each, prepare a concise summary (or be ready to discuss) the research question, your methodological approach, key findings, and any resulting recommendations. Focus on projects demonstrating quantitative analysis and experimental design expertise.

• Research VUB & SMIT: Familiarize yourself with VUB's mission and values, and specifically with the research conducted by the SMIT group. Understand their focus areas, recent publications, and the significance of the EUTOPIA alliance.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.