PhD Student / Vibrotactile feedback to support complex tasks in space exploration

The Institute of Aerospace Medicine at the German Aerospace Centre in Cologne conducts interdisciplinary life sciences research using innovative approaches at the highest international level. The aim is to maintain and improve human health and performance in a mobile society – in space, in aviation and on Earth.

About the Position

The ‘Sleep and Human Factors’ department at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine strives to continually expand knowledge of aviation- and transport-specific aspects of human health, performance and well-being through research involving extensive laboratory and field studies.

As part of the “Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop” (CeTI) Cluster of Excellence at Dresden University of Technology and in cooperation with the DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics in Oberpfaffenhofen, we are seeking a committed and scientifically proficient PhD candidate for an interdisciplinary doctoral project in the field of human spaceflight and human-centred technologies.

The project “Vibrotactile Feedback to Support Complex Tasks in Spaceflight” aims to develop and validate a novel vibrotactile feedback system that supports astronauts during their missions in microgravity or on the Moon. Of particular concern are the impairments to spatial orientation and cognitive performance under microgravity conditions.

Your tasks

• Analyse multimodal physiological and behavioural data from parabolic flights (eye tracking, ECG, EEG) with regard to performance impairments in microgravity
• Support the conceptual development of a vibrotactile feedback system and adaptive feedback strategies based on (physiological) operator state indicators
• Conduct and evaluate experiments under simulated space conditions using simulations and analogue studies, e.g. bed rest and parabolic flight studies, VR environments
• Participate in further research projects in the field of performance in space (e.g. bed rest studies, isolation studies)
• Collaborate with national and international partner institutions (e.g. TU Dresden, ESA), and participate in scientific conferences
• Author scientific papers in international peer‑reviewed journals

Essential qualifications

• A completed university degree (Master’s or Diplom) in Psychology (preferably cognitive or experimental psychology), Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, or comparable degrees
• Knowledge of the analysis of physiological and behavioural data (e.g. ECG, eye‑tracking)
• Experience with statistics and statistical data analysis (e.g. in R, SPSS)
• Interest in experimental research, particularly in cognitive or sensorimotor tasks
• Very good written and spoken English
• High level of motivation and initiative, structured approach to work and ability to work in a team

Desirable qualifications

• Experience with virtual reality (VR) systems or simulation technologies
• Programming skills (e.g. Python, MATLAB, C++ or VR development)
• Experience with haptic systems or tactile feedback
• Interest in space research or human factors in extreme environments
• Willingness to undertake research stays at DLR Oberpfaffenhofen (approx. 2 months)
• Experience with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS or GVS)