Research Associates - ViWAS Project (EX Research Group)

Department: Research Department /Extended Experiences Research Group  

No. Of Positions: 2 Part Time or Full Time Researchers 

Reporting Line: Extended Experiences Research Team Leader 

Contract Type: Fixed Term Fixed Term project-based contract for the duration of the project. 

Duration of project: 48 months (May 2026 - April 2030)

Location: Nicosia, Cyprus

Indicative Annual Gross Salary Range for Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 

Research Assistant: €18,000 – €32,000

Research Associate: €28,000 – €45,000  

Senior Researcher: starting from €36,000 - €55,000

The salary will be determined based on qualifications, experience, and suitability for the role. 

Preferred Start Date: September 2026, or as soon as possible.

Application Deadline: Position will remain open until the position is filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

 About the project / position:

Research Assistant / Research Associate / Senior Researcher in ViWAS: Virtual Worlds Skills Academy Project (EX MRG)

About the Position

CYENS Centre of Excellence (https://cyens.org.cy/) is a leading research and innovation centre based in Nicosia, Cyprus, focusing on interactive media, smart systems and emerging technologies. CYENS works at the intersection of research, technology, creativity and societal impact, bringing together academic, industrial, governmental and civic partners to develop innovative solutions for Cyprus and Europe. The Extended Experiences (EX) Multidisciplinary Research Group (MRG) at CYENS Centre of Excellence invites applications for 1 Research Assistant / Research Associate / Senior Researcher positions in Horizon Europe project ViWAS: Virtual Worlds Skills Academy Project. 

CYENS is the Coordinator of ViWAS – Virtual Worlds Skills Academy (https://viwasproject.eu/), a major EU-funded project under the Digital Europe Programme. ViWAS aims to bridge the growing skills gap in virtual worlds, virtual reality, augmented reality and extended reality by developing a future-proof training and competence ecosystem for learners, educators, professionals and industry across Europe. The project brings together a large European consortium of beneficiaries and associated partners and will run for 48 months, from May 2026 to April 2030. The position offers the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research and project management in Virtual Worlds, under the supervision of the Director of Research, Prof. Fotis Liarokapis.

• Conduct state of the art research in virtual worlds focused on education.
• Design, develop, and evaluate novel systems integrating immersive technologies with virtual worlds and education. 
• Develop research prototypes and demonstrators using modern software and virtual worlds development frameworks. 
• Contribute to scientific publications, technical reports, project deliverables, and dissemination activities. 
• Support the overall coordination of the project in line with the Grant Agreement, Description of Action and Consortium Agreement. 
• Monitor implementation progress across all Work Packages and ensure timely follow-up with WP Leaders and partners. 
• Maintain the project workplan, deliverables calendar, milestones tracker, action log, risk register and decision log. 
• Organise and support consortium meetings, WP Leaders meetings, General Assembly meetings and Project Management Committee meetings. 
• Prepare agendas, minutes, action points and follow-up documentation. 
• Identify delays, risks, dependencies and implementation issues, and support the Coordinator in proposing corrective actions. 

• Self-motivated with the ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Strong organizational, communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Excellent analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Dynamic, adaptable, hands-on, and results-driven.
• A team player with the ability to work independently and under pressure.
• High levels of commitment, energy, and drive.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

1. Qualifications: 

1. For Research Assistant Level: B.Sc. or M.Sc. degree from an accredited university in Computer Science, Extended Reality, or a related field. 
2. For Research Associate Level: Ph.D. degree from an accredited university in Computer Science, Extended Reality, or a related field. 
3. For Senior Researcher Level: Over 5 years of post-doc experience in Computer Science, Extended Reality, or a related field. 

1. 
   
   1. Virtual, Augmented, or Mixed Reality 
   2. Strong programming skills (e.g., C#, C++, or similar). 
   3. Strong understanding of EU project management, reporting, deliverables, milestones, consortium coordination and compliance requirements
   4. Ability to independently identify research problems and contribute to innovative solutions. 
   5. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. 
   6. Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary and international research teams. 
   7. Strong organisational and problem-solving skills. 
   8. Strong drafting skills for reports, minutes, formal correspondence and project documentation. 
   9. Ability to work independently, take initiative and follow up proactively with multiple stakeholders.
   10. Very good command of MS Office tools, especially Word, Excel and PowerPoint

• Unity or Unreal Engine development 
• Human-computer interaction
• User experience research 
• Experimental design and user studies 
• Experience with large multi-partner EU projects
• Knowledge of quality assurance, risk management, GDPR, ethics or data management in EU projects. 
• Experience working in a research centre, university, innovation organisation or European consortium.

CYENS offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of research and innovation within a dynamic, multidisciplinary, and international environment. Researchers benefit from collaboration with leading academic and industry partners, participation in high-impact national and European projects, access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, and opportunities for professional growth and scientific excellence.

For full consideration, interested applicants should submit the following items via the online application form and clearly indicate the position title in their application:

1. Full CV (including contact details).
2. Cover letter outlining: 
   1. your suitability for the role
   2. your motivation for applying; 
   3. contact details of two referees. 

Enquiries
 For general enquiries, applicants may contact the HR Department at vacancies@cyens.org.cy.