Research Fellow I

The Language and Social Cognition Lab at Singapore University of Technology and Design invite applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join an interdisciplinary research project examining human-human and human-AI communication in multilingual/multicultural contexts, with a particular focus on older adults in Singapore.  

This project examines how linguistic diversity, cultural norms, and aging shape communicative breakdowns and adaptations in interactions involving large language model (LLM)-based conversational agents. The candidate will conduct mixed-methods research, including interviews, behavioral experiments, discourse analysis of multilingual dialogue, and field user studies in local elder-care settings. The candidate will work closely with an interdisciplinary team across psychology, HCI, and AI, contributing to the evaluation of proactive AI companion agents with respect to cultural sensitivity, engagement, and usability.  

Qualifications 

Applicants should have a PhD in psychology, cognitive science, human-computer interaction, communication science, or a related field. Strong background in psychological research methods (e.g., behavioral, experimental, interviews, mixed methods) is required. Experience conducting research with older adults, multicultural or multilingual research, and/or human-AI interaction is preferred. Knowledge of or willingness to work with LLM-based systems will be a strong asset. 

Application Materials 

Please submit a cover letter describing your research interests, prior work, and related experience, a CV, up to two representative papers (published or preprints), and contact information for two references. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

This position is for one year contract, with the possibility of a one-year extension subject to performance and funding availability. The expected start date is in early 2026, with some flexibility.