About the project / position: The Extended Experiences (EX) Multidisciplinary Research Group (MRG) at CYENS Centre of Excellence invites applications for 2 Research Assistant / Research Associate / Senior Researcher positions in the areas of Augmented Reality, Digital Heritage, Immersive Storytelling for Cultural Heritage. The successful candidate(s) will contribute to the Horizon Europe project WALKING MEMORY, which aims to foster an inclusive, participatory, and technology-enabled approach by combining AR Memory Walks, digital storytelling toolkits, and FAIR data pipelines into a coherent framework tested across diverse cultural and geographical contexts. The project’s overall objective is to deliver ECCCH-validated workflows and tools that lower adoption barriers, support replication, and embed community voices into Europe’s digital heritage. By engaging municipalities, researchers, SMEs, cultural institutions, policymakers, and diaspora associations in co-creation and training activities, WALKING MEMORY strengthens social cohesion, intergenerational dialogue, and innovation capacity. Ultimately, the project contributes to building a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable European heritage ecosystem, enhancing scientific excellence, expanding cultural-tech markets, and aligning cultural preservation with Europe’s climate-neutrality and digital transformation goals. The positions offer the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research at the intersection of augmented reality, human-computer interaction, digital heritage, and immersive technologies, under the supervision of the Director of Research, Prof. Fotis Liarokapis. Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct research in one or more of the following areas:
  1. Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality (VR/AR/MR)
  2. Computer Graphics and Animation
  3. Human-computer interaction
  4. Digital Heritage
  5. Immersive Storytelling
• Design, develop, and evaluate novel systems integrating immersive technologies with cultural heritage.
• Develop research prototypes and demonstrators using modern software and XR development frameworks.
• Contribute to scientific publications, technical reports, project deliverables, and dissemination activities.
• Support the overall coordination of the EX MRG in line with the Grant Agreement, Description of Action and Consortium Agreement.
• Monitor implementation progress across all relevant Work Packages and ensure timely follow-up with partners.
• Maintain the project workplan, deliverables calendar, milestones tracker, action log, risk register and decision log.
• Participate in proposal preparation, stakeholder engagement, training activities, and knowledge transfer initiatives.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across academia, industry, and public-sector organisations.

Essential Requirements

1. Qualifications: 

1. For Research Assistant Level: B.Sc. or M.Sc. degree from an accredited university in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Extended Reality, Cognitive Science, or a related field.
2. For Research Associate Level: Ph.D. degree from an accredited university in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Extended Reality, or a related field.
3. For Senior Researcher Level: Over 5 years of post-doc experience in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Extended Reality, or a related field.

1. Virtual, Augmented, or Mixed Reality
2. Strong programming skills (e.g., C#, C++, or similar).
3. Ability to independently identify research problems and contribute to innovative solutions.
4. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
5. Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary and international research teams.
6. Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.

• Unity or Unreal Engine development
• Human-computer interaction
• User experience research
• Experimental design and user studies
• Experience with large multi-partner EU projects
• Knowledge of quality assurance, risk management, GDPR, ethics or data management in EU projects.
• Experience working in a research centre, university, innovation organisation or European consortium.

Skills and Competencies The ideal candidate will be:

• Self-motivated with the ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Strong organizational, communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Excellent analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Dynamic, adaptable, hands-on, and results-driven.
• A team player with the ability to work independently and under pressure.
• High levels of commitment, energy, and drive.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Application Deadline: Position will remain open until the position is filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.