User Researcher Human-Robot Interaction & Safety

📍 Job Overview

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

Company: Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)

Location: Elsene, Belgium

Job Type: Full-Time, Temporary (6 months, extendable)

Category: Research & Development / Human-Computer Interaction

Date Posted: May 19, 2026

Experience Level: 0-2 Years (Predoctoral Researcher)

Remote Status: Hybrid (Primarily on-site with potential for flexible arrangements)

🚀 Role Summary

• This predoctoral researcher position focuses on user-centered research within the dynamic field of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) and perceived safety.

• The role involves the end-to-end execution of social-scientific and experimental research, from design to reporting, utilizing advanced methodologies and environments.

• Key responsibilities include the development and validation of a new quantitative measurement instrument, with a strong emphasis on psychometric rigor and experimental design.

• The position offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of technology, human factors, ethics, and societal impact, contributing to groundbreaking research in a collaborative, international setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a predoctoral researcher, indicating a primary focus on academic research and potential for further doctoral studies. The emphasis on developing and validating a new quantitative instrument suggests a deep dive into psychometric properties and rigorous experimental design within the HRI context. The mention of a CAVE environment points towards specialized experimental capabilities.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and execute social-scientific and experimental research protocols for a two-year project focused on human-robot interaction and safety perception.

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

• Develop a novel quantitative measurement instrument, encompassing construct definition, item generation, expert validation, and iterative refinement to ensure psychometric soundness.

• Prepare and conduct user experiments within a CAVE environment, managing all aspects from ethical dossier submission and scenario development to participant recruitment and data collection.

• Perform rigorous quantitative data analysis, including descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, factor analysis, and validation analyses, utilizing statistical software.

• Where appropriate, conduct complementary qualitative research methods (e.g., short interviews, think-aloud sessions, debriefings) to enrich experimental findings.

• Author scientific reports detailing research output and effectively communicate findings to project partners, stakeholders, and the broader academic community.

• Prepare project deliverables, presentations, and formulate practical recommendations for the design and evaluation of safe human-robot interaction.

• Support project management activities, including planning, ethics applications, minute-taking, deliverable tracking, and reporting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on methodical research processes, including literature synthesis, instrument development (a core task for psychometric researchers), experimental design and execution, and robust data analysis. The requirement to support project management suggests a need for organizational skills alongside research acumen.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Demonstrable affinity with Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), human-centered technology development, safety, trust, user experience, or technology acceptance.

• Proven experience with, or strong interest in, quantitative research methods, survey development, and experimental research design.

• Experience with scale development, psychometric validation, factor analysis, and reliability analysis is a significant asset.

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

Required Skills:

• Quantitative Research Methodology: Expertise in designing, executing, and analyzing quantitative studies.

• Instrument Development: Proficiency in creating and validating measurement instruments and scales.

• Statistical Analysis: Strong capabilities in descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, factor analysis, and validation techniques.

• Experimental Design: Ability to design and implement controlled user experiments.

• Academic English Proficiency: Excellent written and verbal communication skills for academic reporting and collaboration.

Preferred Skills:

• Statistical Software Proficiency: Experience with R, SPSS, Python, or similar statistical analysis software.

• Qualitative Research Methods: Familiarity with conducting interviews, observations, or think-aloud protocols.

• Human-Robot Interaction (HRI): Specific knowledge or research background in HRI.

• CAVE/VR/XR Environments: Experience conducting experiments in immersive or simulated environments.

• Dutch or French Language Skills: Knowledge of Dutch is a plus; French is also an asset.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a strong foundation in quantitative research and experimental design, with a specific lean towards psychometrics and scale development. Experience with statistical software and immersive environments like CAVE is highly valued, suggesting the need for practical, hands-on research skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Research Design Documentation: Examples showcasing the development of robust research designs for experimental or survey-based studies, clearly outlining hypotheses, variables, and methodologies.

• Measurement Instrument Examples: Samples of newly developed or validated quantitative measurement instruments, detailing construct definitions, item generation processes, and psychometric validation results (e.g., reliability, validity analyses).

• Experimental Protocol Outlines: Demonstrations of how experimental protocols were structured, including participant recruitment strategies, experimental procedures, stimuli development, and data collection methods.

• Data Analysis Reports: Showcases of quantitative data analysis reports, presenting findings clearly using statistical outputs, visualizations, and interpretations.

Process Documentation:

• Methodology Development: Examples of how research methodologies were defined and refined for specific research questions, particularly in HRI or user experience contexts.

• Ethical Protocol Submission: Documentation or description of experience in preparing and submitting ethical review board applications for research involving human participants.

• Data Management & Analysis Workflow: Descriptions of processes used for managing research data, ensuring confidentiality, and executing complex statistical analyses.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a research-focused role like this, a portfolio demonstrating practical application of research skills is crucial. Candidates should highlight their ability to translate theoretical concepts into measurable constructs and experimental designs, supported by rigorous data analysis and clear documentation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Contractual: 6-month contract, extendable based on positive evaluation, with a planned start date of September 1, 2026.

• Work-Life Balance: Extensive homeworking options with a telework allowance (€50/month) or internet fee (€20/month).

• Leave: 35 days of annual leave (pro-rata for contract length), closure between Christmas and New Year, and 3 additional leave days.

• Insurance: Cost-free hospitalization insurance.

• Commuting: Full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting; compensation for cycling.

• On-Campus Amenities: Attractive meal options in campus restaurants, affordable sports and exercise facilities.

• Discounts & Perks: Access to "Benefits@Work" for discounts on various services and "Ecocheques."

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

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning via VUB learning platforms and training courses, with space to shape job content.

Working Hours:

• Full-time (1 FTE), typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through homeworking options.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is comprehensive, reflecting academic sector standards in Belgium, with a strong emphasis on work-life balance and employee well-being. The salary will align with government scales for academic researchers, a key detail for potential candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Higher Education & Research (Social Sciences, Communication Sciences, Technology)

Company Size: ~4,000 employees (largest Dutch-speaking employer in Brussels' private sector)

Founded: Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is a Dutch-speaking research university founded in 1970.

Team Structure:

• Department: Communication Sciences within the Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School.

• Research Group: Studies in Media, Innovation and Technology (SMIT).

• Project Team: The researcher will work within a dedicated project team focused on Human-Robot Interaction and Safety.

• Reporting: Likely reports to a Principal Investigator or Senior Researcher within the SMIT group.

Methodology:

• Research Approach: Primarily quantitative research, experimental design, and psychometric scale development, complemented by qualitative methods.

• Focus: Human-centered technology development, with an emphasis on EDDI principles (Ethics, Responsibility, Societal Reflection) in evaluating robotic innovations.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on interdisciplinary and international collaboration, both within the VUB and with external partners.

Company Website: https://www.vub.be/ | https://smit.vub.be/ (SMIT Research Group)

📝 Enhancement Note: VUB fosters a culture of freedom, equality, and solidarity, encouraging authentic self-expression and critical thinking. The SMIT research group is known for its work at the intersection of technology, society, and innovation, providing a stimulating environment for research. The EDDI perspective highlights a commitment to ethical and societal considerations in technological development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Predoctoral Researcher (Entry-level academic research)

Reporting Structure: Reports to a senior academic within the SMIT research group, with guidance from experienced researchers.

Operations Impact: This role's impact is primarily within the academic research sphere, contributing to scientific knowledge in Human-Robot Interaction and Safety. Findings will inform the design and evaluation of future robotic technologies and influence policy or best practices.

Growth Opportunities:

• Doctoral Path: Significant opportunity to contribute to or pursue a doctoral degree, building on the research conducted during this predoctoral position, depending on profile, research focus, and funding.

• Skill Development: Deepen expertise in quantitative research methods, psychometrics, experimental design (especially in immersive environments), and academic writing.

• Networking: Collaborate with leading researchers in HRI, human factors, and technology ethics, expanding professional networks within academia and industry.

• Publication: Opportunity to co-author scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals and present at international conferences.

• Project Management: Gain experience in managing research projects, including planning, ethics, and reporting.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is ideal for individuals aiming for an academic research career, offering a clear pathway towards a PhD. The growth opportunities are centered on developing advanced research skills, contributing to scholarly output, and building a foundation for future academic pursuits.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: University research environment, part of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School.

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

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative: Access to a stimulating, dynamic, and international working environment with junior and senior researchers. Opportunities to work in a team at the intersection of research and practice.

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

• Interdisciplinary Interaction: Opportunities to collaborate with experts in human-centered technology development, technology, ethics, and societal innovation.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time, with flexibility offered through homeworking options. The core of the experimental work will likely require on-site presence, particularly within the CAVE environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is academic and research-intensive, offering specialized facilities like the CAVE. The hybrid nature, combining on-site research with potential remote work for data analysis or writing, caters to modern work preferences while maintaining the necessity of laboratory access.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Step 1: Application File Review: Initial screening of CV, motivation letter, and diploma to assess suitability against the required qualifications and experience.

• Step 2: Job Interview: A subsequent interview (likely with the Principal Investigator and potentially other team members) to discuss research experience, methodological approaches, understanding of HRI/safety concepts, and motivation for the role. This may involve presenting past research or discussing hypothetical research scenarios.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Research Design: Clearly articulate the rationale and methodology behind any research projects presented.

• Showcase Instrument Development: If applicable, detail the process of creating and validating a measurement instrument, including psychometric outcomes.

• Present Data Analysis: Include examples of how quantitative data was analyzed and interpreted, using clear visualizations and concise summaries.

• Demonstrate HRI/User Focus: Emphasize any experience or understanding related to user-centered design, human factors, or HRI.

• Tailor to the Role: Connect your portfolio examples to the specific requirements of this User Researcher position, especially the focus on HRI, safety, and quantitative scale development.

Challenge Preparation:

• Candidates may be asked to discuss how they would approach designing an experiment to test a specific HRI hypothesis or to critique an existing measurement instrument.

• Be prepared to discuss the ethical considerations involved in human-robot interaction research.

• Articulate your understanding of key concepts like trust, safety perception, and technology acceptance in the context of robotics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process is standard for academic research roles. A strong portfolio showcasing practical research skills, particularly in quantitative methods and instrument development, will be critical for advancing to the interview stage.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Statistical Analysis Software: R, SPSS, Python (or similar) are strongly preferred for quantitative data analysis.

• Experimental Environment: CAVE environment for immersive simulations and controlled user experiments.

• Survey Development Platforms: Tools for creating and distributing online surveys (e.g., Qualtrics, LimeSurvey, SurveyMonkey).

• Qualitative Data Analysis Software: Potentially NVivo, MAXQDA, or similar for qualitative data processing, if applicable.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization Tools: Libraries within R/Python (e.g., ggplot2, Matplotlib, Seaborn) or dedicated tools for creating clear visual representations of data.

• Academic Writing Software: Standard word processing and referencing tools (e.g., Microsoft Word, LaTeX, Zotero, Mendeley).

CRM & Automation:

• Not typically central to this research role, but familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello) might be beneficial for supporting project management tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in statistical software like R, SPSS, or Python is a key technical requirement. Experience with specialized research environments such as a CAVE is a distinct advantage, highlighting the technical capabilities needed for this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Free Research: Commitment to critical thinking, open inquiry, and intellectual independence.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on teamwork, interdisciplinary exchange, and shared knowledge within the research group and university.

• Integrity: Upholding high standards of academic honesty, data confidentiality, and ethical research practices (EDDI principles).

• Impact: Aiming to contribute meaningful scientific insights that can inform technological development and societal understanding.

• Diversity & Inclusion: VUB values diversity and aims to be a reflection of society, welcoming talent from all backgrounds.

Collaboration Style:

• Interdisciplinary: Working closely with researchers from various backgrounds (psychology, communication science, engineering, ethics).

• Supportive: The environment offers intensive support and guidance from experienced researchers.

• Proactive Communication: Essential for project management, data sharing, and collaborative writing.

• Feedback-Oriented: Openness to receiving and providing constructive feedback on research designs, analyses, and reports.

📝 Enhancement Note: The VUB's core values of freedom, equality, and solidarity permeate its academic culture. The SMIT group likely fosters an environment that encourages critical discourse, open sharing of ideas, and collaborative problem-solving, essential for cutting-edge research.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Developing Novel Instruments: Creating and validating a new quantitative instrument requires rigorous psychometric principles and can be time-consuming.

• Experimental Complexity: Managing experiments in a CAVE environment involves technical setup and ensuring robust data collection under controlled conditions.

• Interdisciplinary Communication: Bridging the gap between technical, psychological, and societal aspects of HRI can be challenging.

• Time Constraints: Balancing multiple responsibilities (research design, data collection, analysis, reporting, project support) within a fixed-term contract.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Methodological Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced quantitative methods, psychometrics, and experimental design.

• HRI Domain Knowledge: Gain in-depth understanding of human-robot interaction, safety, trust, and user experience theories.

• Research Publication: Develop skills in writing for peer-reviewed journals and presenting at international conferences.

• Academic Career Foundation: Build a strong research track record and experience to support further doctoral studies or research positions.

• Access to CAVE Environment: Hands-on experience with cutting-edge experimental technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge is the rigorous development and validation of a new measurement instrument. However, this challenge is directly linked to significant learning opportunities in advanced research methodologies and specialized domain knowledge within HRI.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Research Design: "How would you design an experiment to assess the impact of robot appearance on perceived safety in a collaborative workspace?" or "Outline the steps you would take to develop and validate a new scale measuring trust in autonomous systems."

  • Preparation: Focus on defining clear hypotheses, operationalizing variables, selecting appropriate quantitative methods, detailing participant recruitment, and outlining data analysis plans.

• Methodological Approach: "What are the strengths and limitations of using a CAVE environment for HRI research?" or "When would you complement quantitative findings with qualitative data in HRI studies?"

  • Preparation: Demonstrate understanding of experimental design principles, psychometric properties of scales, and the value of mixed-methods research.

• Domain Knowledge: "Discuss the key factors influencing perceived safety in human-robot interaction." or "How do concepts like trust and technology acceptance apply to robotic systems?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working at VUB and specifically within the SMIT research group?"

  • Preparation: Research VUB's mission, SMIT's research areas, and connect your interests to their work.

• "How do you approach collaboration within an interdisciplinary team?"

  • Preparation: Provide examples of successful cross-functional teamwork and your communication style.

• "What are your long-term career aspirations, particularly concerning a potential doctoral path?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Relevance: Select portfolio pieces that best demonstrate your skills in quantitative research, instrument development, and experimental design, especially if related to user experience or human-factors.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each example, clearly state the research question, your role, the methodology used, the key findings, and the impact or lessons learned.

• Highlight Data Analysis: Be prepared to walk through your data analysis process and interpret statistical results concisely.

• Emphasize Process: Detail your systematic approach to research tasks, from literature review and instrument design to data collection and reporting.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on showcasing strong methodological rigor, a deep understanding of quantitative research principles, and a clear articulation of research processes. Highlighting experience with statistical software and experimental design will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this User Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the VUB jobs portal (jobs.vub.be) by June 14, 2026.

• Tailor your CV: Ensure your CV clearly highlights your master's degree, relevant research experience, proficiency in quantitative methods, statistical software skills, and any experience with HRI or user studies.

• Craft a compelling Motivation Letter: Articulate your specific interest in Human-Robot Interaction and safety research, your alignment with VUB's values, and how your skills and experience make you an ideal candidate for this predoctoral researcher role. Explicitly mention your interest in scale development and experimental design.

• Prepare to showcase your work: If you have a portfolio of research projects, data analysis reports, or examples of measurement instruments, have them ready to discuss during an interview. While not explicitly requested for the initial application, being able to present these can significantly strengthen your candidacy.

• Research the SMIT group: Familiarize yourself with the research conducted by the Studies in Media, Innovation and Technology (SMIT) group to better understand their focus and how your interests align.

⚠️ 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.