PETR SLOVÁK Engerthstr. 51/12/6, 1200 Wien, Austria petr@igw.tuwien.ac.at ⋄ +43-660-412-0930 Nationality: Czech Republic (EU member) RESEARCH INTERESTS · Technology support for developing social and emotional skills, particularly empathy. · Bio-sensors’ data as indicators of interpersonal aspects. · Methodologies for testing transfer of lab findings into the real-world – e.g., quasi-experiments or ‘in-the-wild’ evaluations. EDUCATION Ph.D., Human Computer Interaction Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria Topic: “Supporting teaching and learning of empathy with technology” Superviser: Prof. Geraldine Fitzpatrick Mar 2011 - end of 2015 (expected) MSc., Parallel and Distributed Systems – with distinction Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic Final exam/thesis grade: A/A (scale A-F) 2008 – 2011 BSc., Psychology & Sociology Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic Final exam/thesis grade: A/A (scale A-F) 2005 – 2009 BSc., Theoretical Computer Science Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic Final exam/thesis grade: B/A (scale A-F) 2005 – 2008 AWARDS AND HONOURS 2012 DOC PhD Fellowship from the Austrian Academy of Sciences 3 years of funding, highly competitive national fellowship across all research fields 25 fellowships awarded yearly, less than 14% acceptance rate 2011 Dean’s Award for Excellent Study Results, Masaryk University 2011 Dean’s Award for Excellent Thesis, Masaryk University 2010 Research grant: Deploying GColl in academic environments – $32 000 co-author of the grant proposal, awarded by Czech National Network Association 2008 Research grant: Development of user-centric collaborative systems – $8500 co-author of the grant proposal, awarded by Czech National Network Association 2006 – 2011 Faculty stipend in support of creative research, Masaryk University monthly stipend, awarded on the basis of active participation in two research labs 2005 100th percentile on the National General Academic Prerequisites exam GRE analogue, used as a criterion for acceptance processes for major Czech universities RESEARCH SKILLS · · · · · Design and evaluation of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research studies. Experience with qualitative techniques such as in-depth interviews or technology probes. Working knowledge of statistical analysis, including hierarchical regression models (in R and SPSS) Developed academic writing skills, as evidenced by successful conference, fellowship and grant applications. Ability to collaborate (and read) across disciplines. RESEARCH EXPERIENCE PhD research 2011 – present · My work examines how technology can support the development of social and emotional skills. · Key focus is on supporting counselling trainees as the application area, studying how empathy is taught in this setting, and if/how feedback based on bio-signals and other data could facilitate learning. · We examine a novel indicator of empathy based on synchronisation of bio-signals between people, and its potential to serve as a useful feedback tool for the learning process. · In cooperation with a MSc. counselling program and a coaching company, we aim to develop a sensor-based system, deployed and evaluated in actual real-world use. Microsoft Research – VIBE group Research Intern July 2014 – September 2014 Seattle, USA · A paid 3 months internship supervised by Dr. Mary Czerwinski. I interviewed Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) experts to explore opportunities for technology support of SEL in education; accepted for CHI’15 [1]. · As part of a parallel project, I was also responsible for finalising the design and development of a mobile app aimed to promote stress coping strategies for carers. · The internship developed into a collaboration with a major SEL curriculum, Second Step. We are currently running a joint project among Second Step, VIBE, and Vienna University of Technology. University of Nottingham – Mixed Reality Laboratory Research Intern & Visiting Researcher 2011 – present (intermittent) Nottingham, UK · A paid 3 months internship supervised by Dr. Holger Schnadelbach. I designed and conducted a qualitative study exploring immersive feedback in an Adaptive Architecture prototype. · The internship developed into a long-term cooperation with other members of MRL. I designed and conducted a mixed methods study exploring a link between empathy and skin conducance synchronisation during an interaction; accepted for publication at NordiCHI’14. · A cooperation with the School of Education at Nottingham University, supporting teaching of counseling students with technology (biosignals as well as other forms of feedback). A study exploring differences in skin conductance synchronisation in sessions led by expert counsellors and counselling students is in progress. Newcastle University – Culture Lab Visiting Researcher 2013 – present (intermittent) Newcastle, UK · An on-going cooperation with the Culture Lab on designing a system to support the learning process of counselling students, as part of my PhD research project. · We designed the system using participatory methods, piloting it in early 2014. The full system is being developed and will be deployed in early 2015. · A resulting publication is accepted for CSCW’15. Philips Research – Brain, Body, and Behaviour Department Research Intern June 2011 - September 2011 Eindhoven, Netherlands · The key focus is on supporting counselling trainees as one possible application area, studying how empathy is taught in this setting, and if/how feedback based on bio-signals but other data could facilitate learning. · Designed and conducted a technology probe study analysing the effects of heartrate feedback technology in home deployment, as well as a series of laboratory experiments; resulted in a CHI full paper [4]. RWTH Aachen – Software Modeling and Verification Group Research Intern May 2008 – June 2008 Aachen, Germany · Developed algorithms for decidability of Race conditions in MSC formalism. Contributed to an ECEASST [10]. Masaryk University Junior Researcher (stipend & part-time position) 2006 - 2011 Brno, Czech Republic · Various research projects within the Laboratory of Advanced Networking Technologies (2006–2011), and the Institute for Theoretical Computer Science (2007-2011). Solely responsible for HCI issues. PUBLICATIONS Manuscripts in review: P. Slovák, G. Fitzpatrick. Teaching and Developing Social and Emotional Skills with Technology. In minor revisions for TOCHI. We review the literature on social and emotional learning (SEL), identify challenges to successful learning, and link these to HCI research. Our key argument is that much existing HCI work can be directly relevant, but that the topic has been under-researched so far. We argue how technology could fundamentally help address the key issues SEL designers face and pose novel opportunities and well-motivated challenges for HCI. Peer-reviewed publications: (1) P. Slovák, R. Gilad-Bachrach, G. Fitzpatrick. Designing Social and Emotional Skills Training: The Challenges and Opportunities for Technology Support. Accepted for CHI’15. (2) P. Slovák, A. Thieme, P. Tennent, P. Olivier, G. Fitzpatrick. On Becoming a Counsellor: Challenges and Opportunities to Support Interpersonal Skills Training. Accepted for CSCW’15. (3) P. Slovák, P. Tennent, S. Reeves, G. Fitzpatrick. Exploring Skin Conductance Synchronisation in Everyday Interactions. Accepted for NordiCHI’14. (4) P. Slovák, J. Janssen, and G. Fitzpatrick. Understanding heart rate sharing: towards unpacking physiosocial space. In CHI’12, pages 859-868, 2012, ACM. (5) P. Slovák, P. Novák, V. Rusňák, P. Troubil, P. Holub, and E. Hofer. Exploring Collaboration in Group-toGroup Videoconferencing. In COOP’12, pages 229-244, 2012, Springer. (6) P. Slovák, P. Novák, P. Troubil, P. Holub, and E. Hofer. Exploring Trust in Group-to-Group VideoConferencing. In CHI ’11 EA, pages 1459-1464, 2011, ACM. (7) P. Slovák, P. Troubil, and P. Holub. Gcoll: Enhancing Trust in Flexible Group-to-Group Video-Conferencing. In CHI’10 EA, pages 3607-3612, 2010, ACM. (8) P. Slovák, P. Troubil, and P. Holub. GColl: A flexible videoconferencing system for group-to-group interaction. In INTERACT’09, pages 165-168, 2009, Springer. (9) P. Slovák, P. Troubil, and P. Holub. GColl – Group-to-Group Videoconferencing System: Design and First experiences. In CollaborateCom’09, 2009, IEEE. (10) V. Řehák, P. Slovák, J. Strejček, and L. Hélouët. Decidable Race Condition and Open Coregions in HMSC. In GT-VMT’10, 2010, ECEASST. (11) P. Slovák, E. Hladká, and P. Troubil. Videoconferencing Design For Remote Groups. In CollaborateCom’07, pages 437-441, 2007, IEEE. (12) P. Slovák. Effect of Videoconferencing Environments on Perception of Communication. Cyber-psychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 1(1):20-36, 2007. Peer-reviewed workshop submissions: (13) P. Slovák, P. Tennent, G. Fitzpatrick. Supporting Empathetic Interactions Between Doctors and Patients. In CHI’13 Workshop on Patient-Clinician Communication. (14) P. Slovák, P. Tennent, G. Fitzpatrick. Do Lab Effects Transfer into the Real-world? And Should We Care? In CHI’13 RepliCHI Workshop. (15) P. Slovák, J. Janssen, and G. Fitzpatrick. Improving Social Connectedness: Sharing Physiological Signals. In CHI’12 Workshop on Interaction Design and Emotional Wellbeing. (16) P. Slovák Group-to-Group Video Conferencing in Families. In GROUP’10 Workshop on Connecting Families: New Technologies, Family Communication, and the Impact on Domestic Space. LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE 2014 Workshop co-organiser at CHI’15, CHI’14 P. Slovák et. al., “Developing Skills for Social and Emotional Wellbeing”. A. Thieme et. al., “Enabling Empathy in Health and Care: Design Methods and Challenges”. 2010 – present Reviewer for various HCI conferences CHI’15, CHI’14, CHI’13, CHI’12, CHI’11, TEI’14, TEI’13, TEI’12, DIS’14, DIS’12, DIS’10, OzCHI’13, CSCW’14, NordiCHI’14 2013 Invited talk, Austrian Academy of Sciences one of the three student presentations at an introductory workshop for new PhD fellows 2012 – 2014 Co-chair of HCI Summercamps at Vienna University of Technology 2009 – 2011 Elected member of the academic senate one of the three student representatives, Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University 2002 – 2006 Co-organiser of a national mathematics seminar aimed at supporting interest and mathematic abilities of high-school students TEACHING 2012 – present User Research Methods teaching assistance, two guest lectures 2013 Interface and Interaction Design guest lecture 2011 Affective Computing preparing slides and materials for the course 2008 – 2011 Computer Networks and Computer Networks and Applications teaching assistance, test marking SUPERVISION BSc. thesis co-advisor for two Psychology undergraduates, Lenka Rozehnalova and Petra Detersova (Masaryk University). I supervised the design, implementation and analysis of their experiments, exploring the influence of videoconferencing environments on group identity, 2010-2011. Co-supervised three BSc. students in developing the GColl videoconferencing system, 2008-2011. LANGUAGES Czech – mother tongue English – fluent German – intermediate (B1 certificate) REFEREES Dr. Geraldine Fitzpatrick · Head of Human-Computer Interaction Group, Vienna University of Technology · geraldine.fitzpatrick@tuwien.ac.at Dr. Holger Schnädelbach · Senior Research Fellow, University of Nottingham · holger.schnadelbach@nottingham.ac.uk Dr. Stuart Reeves · Senior Research Fellow, University of Nottingham · stuart@tropic.org.uk