*School of Computer Science – Mixed Reality Laboratory* *Understanding Media Trajectories* *An EPSRC funded PhD Studentship in the Mixed Reality Laboratory with the BBC* Applications are invited from suitably qualified graduates for a fully sponsored PhD studentship based within the Mixed Reality Laboratory at the University of Nottingham, in collaboration with the BBC’s Research & Development Department. The world of broadcasting is changing rapidly with viewers accessing content across multiple screens (television, radio, PCs, tablets, phones and others), at varying times (including being able to replay content), and in a wide variety of contexts. They are also increasingly able to comment on, mash up and contribute to content, heralding a shift from being viewers of television to participants in it. This PhD – hosted by the BBC – provides a unique opportunity to study the changing nature of our television experience and contribute to the design of future services. The core aim is to understand how individuals engage in complex and extended TV experiences – for example following an unfolding news story, election, drama series, or sports tournament – in terms of trajectories of experience. The idea is that people already create their own trajectories through media experiences, using various screens to interleave them with their daily lives. If we can understand how they do this in detail then we can begin to design new more joined-up television experiences. The PhD will be based in the Mixed Reality Laboratory at Nottingham, an interdisciplinary research environment with a longstanding reputation for research into interactive media. It will also be hosted by the BBC who will provide supervision as well as opportunities to engage with BBC staff, knowledge and resources, including spending time working onsite at the BBC. The student will therefore be in a unique position to address this challenge while also benefiting from an extended training that includes industry experience in a world-leading media company. This position is open to high-calibre students from a wide variety of backgrounds spanning Computer Science and related technical disciplines, but also the Social Sciences, Psychology, New Media and Television Studies which may provide relevant skills and background for studying media trajectories. Willingness and ability to engage in interdisciplinary research are especially important. Beyond this, students must be able to demonstrate a capability to undertake and benefit from research training through to completion, to the standard necessary to qualify for a PhD. The candidate must have a high-grade qualification; an upper second class honours degree or a combination of qualifications and/or experience equivalent to that level. Due to the nature of funding the studentship is available to UK and EU citizens. The PhD scholarship is offered for the duration of three and a half years, starting on 1 October 2013, and will cover full university fees and a stipend. For the EPSRC student eligibility criteria, please visit: http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/funding/students/Pages/eligibility.aspx Informal enquiries may be addressed to Professor Steve Benford, Mixed Reality Laboratory, School of Computer Science, via email to: sdb@cs.nott.ac.uk To apply, please access https://my.nottingham.ac.uk/pgapps/welcome. *Closing date: 30th June 2013.*