Student Job (MSc Final year): Research Scientist Intern – Human–Robot Interaction

We are looking for a Master’s student to conduct their thesis project within our prototyping and applied systems team, contributing to applied research in Human–Robot Interaction, with a strong emphasis on interactive systems, prototyping, and empirical evaluation.

In this role, you will work closely with researchers and engineers to explore how humans interact with semi-autonomous systems, and how control, feedback, and sensing can be designed to enable safe, effective, and intuitive operation. The focus is on applied neuroadaptive scenarios: building real prototypes, running experiments, and evaluating behavior in realistic settings.

This position is ideal for someone interested in HRI/HCI as a systems-driven discipline, spanning interaction design, implementation, experimentation, and analysis.

The intention is to align the role with a Master’s thesis, depending on topic fit and supervision availability.

What you will do

• Design, build, and iterate on a prototype for human-in-the-loop and shared-control scenarios
• Work with engineers to develop control interfaces, sensing pipelines, and experimental infrastructure
• Plan and conduct a user study and system evaluation
• Analyze experimental data and help translate results into a report, demo, and research artifact
• Collaborate with researchers and engineers across rapid prototyping and iteration cycles

What we offer

• Hands-on experience across the full arc of applied research
• Close collaboration with experienced BCI researchers
• A pragmatic, low-hierarchy environment with room to take ownership
• Flexible scheduling around exams and coursework

Job requirements

• Currently enrolled in a Master’s program in Computer Science, Robotics, Cognitive Science or a related technical field
• Solid understanding of, or strong interest in, state-of-the-art robotic control and manipulation policies, and motivation to advance them through applied, efficient system work
• Programming skills (e.g. Python, RoS, or similar) and experience working with complex software systems
• Comfortable working with open-ended research problems and incomplete specifications
• Availability for 20 hours/week during the employment period (April/May–September/October 2026)

Nice to have

• Hands-on experience with robotic systems or control software through coursework, lab projects, or prior work
• Prior experience with user studies, experimental design, or statistical analysis
• Familiarity with signal processing, ML, or data science workflows
• Previous contributions to research projects or publications
• Interest in or exposure to brain-computer interface (BCI) technology

About Zander Labs

Zander Labs is a leader in neuroadaptive technology, pioneering innovative solutions to enhance human-computer interaction and human-AI collaboration. As part of our groundbreaking NAFAS project—a €30 million initiative set to revolutionize the field—Zander Labs is set to revolutionize the field of AI driven mental state monitoring, and we are looking for talented individuals to join us on this exciting journey.