Job description

Project background

Falls are a leading cause of injury, reduced mobility, and loss of independence, particularly among older adults. Fear of falling (FoF) is both a psychological and behavioral factor that can significantly contribute to fall risk, often leading to activity avoidance, deconditioning, and increased vulnerability.

This project aims to outline the use of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) as innovative tools to assess fear of falling alongside intrinsic and extrinsic fall risk factors in realistic environments.

Job description

The primary objective is to investigate Fearing of Falling and fall risk in realistic environments using an immersive VR/AR-based platform. Specifically:

1. Quantifying fear of falling through behavioral and physiological responses.
2. Evaluating intrinsic risk factors such as balance, gait, reaction time, and cognitive load.
3. Simulating extrinsic environmental hazards (e.g., uneven surfaces, crowd areas, weathers, obstacles) to assess adaptive responses.

Selection Criteria

You will have:

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree for a full-time Research Assistant (RA) position.
• Minimum Diploma qualification or currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree for a part-time RA position.
• Familiarity with VR/AR equipment and development engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine.
• Experience in game design, human-computer interaction (HCI), or related fields.
• Experience in conducting data collection for research or experimental studies.
• Basic data analysis capabilities, preferably with proficiency in the Python programming language.

Why SEC is your employer of choice?

• Accredited with 5 Tripartite Standards by Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) Singapore.
• A diverse workplace with 32 nationalities, offering ample opportunities for mutual learning.
• Positive and inclusive working environment.
• 25 days of annual leave for fixed-term contracts.
• 1 day of Birthday Leave.
• Annual dental benefits.
• Committed to being a supportive employer as you prioritize your physical and mental wellness.
• Comprehensive healthcare insurance coverage.
• Flexible hybrid work arrangement (up to 2 days per week from home).
• Abundant networking opportunities across various disciplines.
• Accredited with NS mark certification.

The Singapore-ETH Centre is an equal opportunity and family-friendly employer. All candidates will be evaluated on their merits and qualifications, without regards to gender, race, age or religion.

Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:

• Cover letter with a specific statement of your motivation for the project.
• CV, including the name and contact information of 2 references.
• A copy of your university transcripts as PDFs.

Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.

Work location: 1 Create Way, CREATE Tower, Singapore 138602 (NUS University Town)

Duration: Full-Time or Part-Time position (Contract)

Salary: For Full-Time Research Assistant position: SGD 4000 - SGD 4600 /month, For Part-Time Research Assistant position: $15 per hour for not more than 34 hours per week

Further information about the Singapore-ETH Centre can be found on our website: https://sec.ethz.ch/

For further information, please contact: Dr. Yixing LIU (Singapore-ETH Centre) at yixing.liu@sec.ethz.ch, (strictly no applications)