Traineeship title: User Studies Assistant for HCI Well-Being Research (Tangible Artefacts)
Reference: N154470/20/MADEIRARegion
MadeiraCountry
Portugal
Traineeship start date:
01/07/2026Traineeship end date:
30/11/2026Traineeship Duration:
Approximately 5 monthsDeadline
30/04/2026Work Schedule
35 hours/week, Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM (flexible for lab access; max 8 hours/day with 1- hour lunch).Location
FunchalTraineeship Area:
Wellness and BeautyPeriod and duration of the language course:
The Portuguese language course takes place during the first month of the internship (1 June to 30 June 2026).Includes Trips
NoDescription of the tasks to be undertaken by the trainee(s):
The trainee will support user studies for an ITI Research Center project exploring
screen-free, tangible artefacts (tactile/olfactory interfaces) to promote restorative
breaks and emotional well-being for desk-based knowledge workers in hybrid/remote
contexts. Key responsibilities include:
Assist in participant recruitment (e.g., knowledge workers via local networks, online
platforms, Universidade da Madeira community) and scheduling studies.
Prepare study materials (protocols, consent forms, questionnaires) and conduct
sessions (in-person, remote via Zoom/Teams) with 5-15 participants per iteration.
Facilitate user tests of prototypes, capturing qualitative data on emotional responses, usability, and restorative effects through interviews, observations, and diaries.
Analyze data using basic qualitative methods (thematic coding, affinity diagramming)
and quantitative metrics (e.g., Likert scales for well-being); summarize findings for
research reports.
Profile of the Trainee
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree or enrolled in/completed Master's in HCI, Psychology, Social Sciences, Design, or related field. Basic experience with user research methods (e.g., interviews, surveys) or interest in well-being/HCI studies. Familiarity with hybrid work challenges or qualitative data collection a plus.
Personal and Social Skills
Empathetic communicator skilled at building rapport with diverse participants (e.g., office workers).
Organized and detail-oriented, with strong ethical awareness for sensitive emotional data.
Collaborative team member comfortable in interdisciplinary research environments.
Adaptable to iterative study designs and remote/in-person facilitation.
Language Skills
English: B2 (Listening/Reading), B2 (Spoken Interaction/Production), B2 (Writing)
Portuguese: B1 desirable (for local recruitment/collaboration)
Other: Spanish a plus
Information Technology (IT) Skills
Proficient in research tools (e.g., Google Forms/SurveyMonkey, Zoom, Otter.ai for
transcription).
Basic data analysis (Excel/Google Sheets for metrics; NVivo/Quirkos intro for qualitative coding).
General: Microsoft Office/Google Workspace, CMS (e.g., WordPress) for project updates, ethical tools (e.g., Jisc Online Surveys).
Other Skills
Knowledge of HCI ethics, informed consent, and well-being assessment scales (e.g., NASA-TLX, PANAS).
Interest in tangible interfaces, sensory design, or workplace mental health.
Other Skills
Supervised by senior researchers; training provided on project-specific methods. Ideal
for gaining hands-on HCI experience toward thesis/publications.