HPI is recognized as one of the leading university institutes for computer science (www.hpi.de). Our goal is to strengthen Europe's digital sovereignty with excellent research and practice-oriented teaching in computer science. At HPI, we are convinced that excellence is created when knowledge from different disciplines is collaboratively combined to create responsible and pioneering solutions for the future.
In our research clusters "Systems," "Data and AI," "Foundations," "Digital Health," and "Security," researchers from various disciplines work together on topics relevant to solving the challenges facing society. The Digital Engineering Faculty of the University of Potsdam and HPI offers a computer science engineering degree program that is unique in Germany. 

In the course of its strong growth, the Hasso Plattner Institute is looking for the earliest possible start date for a

Student Research Assistant for HPI-MIT Collaboration Project (m/f/x)

​The position is fixed-term (until April 2025) with the option for extension and part-time (10h/week).

In the course of a joint collaboration project between the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Engineering (HPI) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), we are currently seeking for a Student Research Assistant with full-stack development skills and, optimally, experience in academic research. The project, which started in September 2024, aims to develop and quantitatively evaluate a system enabling users to interact with AI-generated versions of their future selves and to test its psychological effects on future-oriented decision making. 

Responsibilities

• Supporting with the technical implementation of online and lab-based experiments and programming of neurocognitive experimental tasks
• Fine-tuning of the Large Language Models underlying the Future U system and interface design
• Reviewing and organizing scientific literature from Psychology, Neuroscience, Human Computer Interaction, and Information Systems fields

Qualifications

You…

• are currently enrolled in a master’s program in computer science or related
• are highly proficient in front-end and backend programming (i.e., Python, JavaScript)
• have experience with prompt engineering of large language models
• Prior experience in conducting research in the fields of Psychology, Neuroscience, or related is a plus

What we offer

• Contributing to a hands-on high-quality research project in close collaboration with famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab
• Co-authorship of project-related research papers submitted to leading conferences and journals in the fields of Information Systems such as the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS), and in Human-Computer Interaction such as the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI)
• An exciting, responsible position in which you can make a difference
• Regular training opportunities; insight into scientific research
• Regular team events and workshops
• Attractive employee offers (corporate benefits)
• Numerous sports facilities (tennis and basketball courts, beach volleyball court, calisthenics park, and participation in running events)
• Workplace on the HPI campus in Potsdam-Babelsberg (Griebnitzsee S-Bahn station), with fast transportation connections to Berlin

We are looking forward to receiving your application including a CV (including an overview of relevant past projects), a motivation letter, and your current transcript of records. Please apply exclusively via our career page.

Contact person HR-Recruiting

Tobias Pröchtel
+49 331 5509-425