Student Opportunity FW25/26 - Fear of Falls in Older Adults RA

Post

Published on July 15, 2025

Job ID: 82169

Job Title: Fear of Falls in Older Adults RA

Application Deadline: Thursday, August 14, 2025 @ 11:59 p.m. ET

Applications are only accepted through the Career Centre. Go to the Experience York portal through Passport York and search for the posting with the Job ID listed above. Note: applicants must be eligible to participate in the Research @ York (RAY) program, see eligibility criteria.

Hourly wage: $19 per hour

Hours per week: 5 hours per week

Start date: September 2, 2025

End date: April 24, 2026

Job description

Under the supervision of Prof. Shital Desai, the Fear of Falls in Older Adults RA (for up to 5 hours per week) will support the “Fear of Falls in Older Adults” research project. This project investigates how fear of falling affects visual attention and navigation strategies in older adults, using data collected through wearable eye-tracking glasses during real-world movement tasks. The student will analyze the eye-tracking data alongside contextual observations to identify gaze patterns, fixations, and decision points related to fear responses. These findings will support the development of design guidelines for safer and more supportive environments.
This is a data-rich, exploratory project well-suited for students who are curious, self-motivated, and eager to engage with real-world health and design challenges through interdisciplinary methods.

Specific research activities the student(s) will be engaged in:

The student will:

• Learn how to work with eye-tracking datasets using Tobii Pro Lab or similar software
• Annotate and code visual attention and fixation data
• Perform temporal and spatial analysis of gaze behavior during mobility tasks
• Assist in identifying correlations between gaze behavior, environmental features, and self-reported fear
• Conduct a literature review on fear of falling, visual attention, and mobility
• Co-author a research report and assist in preparing a manuscript for CHI and a journal publication

Qualifications

Current undergraduate York student. Students from programs such as Psychology, Kinesiology, Design, Engineering, Digital Media, Global Health, or related fields are encouraged to apply. The Dahdaleh Institute values applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive, equitable research environment.

• Demonstrated interest in human-centred or health technology design
• Experience or coursework in research methods (quantitative and/or qualitative)
• Ability to analyze complex data and draw connections between visual and behavioral patterns
• Strong writing and documentation skills
• Familiarity with software for analysis or willingness to learn (e.g., Tobii, Excel, NVivo)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated reliability, initiative, and time management

Application materials

• Cover letter
• Resume

If you have any questions, please email Shital Desai.

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