Student Opportunity SU26 - Adaptive Relational Interaction Systems: Supporting Emotional Closeness in Dementia through Relational Communication Technology RAY

Post

Published on February 10, 2026

Job ID: 135744

Job Title: Adaptive Relational Interaction Systems: Supporting Emotional Closeness in Dementia through Relational Communication Technology RAY

Application Deadline: Sunday, April 5, 2026 @ 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: $20 per hour

Hours per week: 15 hours per week

Start date: April 27, 2026

End date: September 4, 2026

Job description

Under the supervision of Dr. Desai, the Adaptive Relational Interaction Systems RAY student (for up to 15 hours per week) will support the project that examines how interactive technologies and play-based activities can foster emotional closeness and enhance relational communication between individuals living with dementia and their care partners. Building on prior research in multimodal prompting and participatory design, the project focuses on designing and refining small-scale interactive prototypes (such as games or tangible systems) that encourage shared attention, turn-taking, humour, and affirmation. The research employs a Research through Design approach to investigate how rule-based, co-interactive activities can promote meaningful social connections rather than task completion.

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

The undergraduate student will:

• Assist with reviewing existing dementia-friendly games and communication tools
• Support the design and refinement of interactive or game-based prototypes
• Help develop and test rules, prompts, and interaction mechanics that support relational communication
• Assist with observation, documentation, and reflection on prototype use
• Contribute to visual documentation, design rationale, and research notes
• Participate in lab meetings and collaborative design discussions

Type of research experience the student(s) will receive:

The student will gain experience in:

• Human-centred and participatory design research
• Research through Design methods, including prototyping and iterative refinement
• Designing interactive systems for health, care, and social connection
• Translating qualitative insights into tangible design outcomes
• Working in a multidisciplinary research lab environment

Type of training and support that will be provided to the student(s) in carrying out these research activities:

The student will receive:

• Direct supervision and mentorship from the faculty supervisor
• Training in relational communication concepts and inclusive design for dementia care
• Guidance in prototyping, design documentation, and reflective research practices
• Orientation to lab protocols, ethics, and working with sensitive research topics
• Regular feedback through lab meetings and one-on-one check-ins

Qualifications

• Background or interest in Design, Digital Media, Psychology, Health Studies, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field
• Interest in social interaction, play, or health-focused design
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Ability to work respectfully with sensitive health-related research topics

Application materials

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Please provide the name and contact information of two references

If you have any questions, please email Shital Desai.

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