THE TRUTHSTER POC PROJECT

TRUTHSTER POC aims to act as a catalyst for open innovation processes, targeting stakeholders in the cultural and creative industries, by facilitating the integration of their services into the digital services market—both within the Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) region and beyond. Specifically, it:

(1) Supports the development of market dynamics that leverage content certification to enhance the value of the materials being exchanged. For example, a “certified” image or interview holds greater value than one without such certification. This approach offers an alternative to mere clickbait, emphasizing reliable over sensationalist information, and also serving as a tool for digital literacy;

(2) Fosters the creation of a service ecosystem around the blockchain platform, enabling a marketplace of ancillary services provided by third parties (e.g., secure media storage solutions);

(3) Facilitates access to high-innovation niche markets, such as NFT-based marketplaces, thereby supporting the expansion of user bases and attracting additional potential customers.

PHASES OF THE PLANNED ACTIVITY

The TRUTHSTER POC project activity is divided into four phases:

• STEP 1: Front-end and back-end integration.
• STEP 2: Simulation of operation
• STEP 3: Pilot system in relevant environment
• STEP 4: Final Report

CONTRIBUTION OF THE RESEARCH FELLOW

The expected contribution of the research fellow for activities on "Front-End" is detailed below

Planned activities

1. Initial Design

- Requirements Gathering: Collect and analyze requirements regarding usability, interface design, and core functionality, based on the project’s objectives and user experience needs.

- Mockup Validation: Assess the current mockup to verify its consistency with the intended user interface structure and its alignment with the functional requirements.

- Documentation: Draft a detailed specification document outlining functional requirements and incorporating the approved design guidelines, to be used as a reference throughout the development phase.

2. Configuration of the Development Environment

- Tool Setup: Install and configure the necessary development tools and frameworks to support front-end implementation.

- Workflow Definition: Define an efficient development workflow in close collaboration with the back-end fellow, including the specification of API endpoints, data exchange protocols, and authentication methods.

3. Development of Core Functionality

- Implementation of Main Screens: Develop the primary user interface components and implement the core front-end features based on the approved design specifications.

- API Integration: Integrate API calls provided by the back-end to enable essential functionalities, including data retrieval and digital content certification workflows.

4. Initial Testing and Optimization

- Functional and Cross-Browser Testing: Conduct thorough compatibility testing across multiple browsers and devices to ensure consistent behavior and user experience.

- Performance Optimization: Improve loading times by optimizing assets (e.g., images), refactoring code, and minimizing server requests, in order to enhance responsiveness and efficiency.

5. Operational Testing and Feedback Collection

- User Testing: Conduct usability tests with selected users to gather feedback on potential issues, usability challenges, or areas for improvement.

- Feedback Analysis: Evaluate the collected feedback to identify necessary modifications aimed at enhancing the overall user experience and aligning the interface with the expectations and needs of end users.

6. Implementation of Improvements

- Final Enhancements and Optimization: Apply improvements based on user feedback, refining the interface and functionality to ensure optimal usability and performance.

- Documentation Preparation: Draft the final front-end documentation, including a user guide and technical reference materials to support future maintenance and updates of the system.

7. Documentation and Delivery

- Technical Documentation: Compile complete and structured technical documentation for the front-end, detailing components, architecture, and development logic.

- Operation and Maintenance Manual: Prepare a system maintenance manual and user guide, including clear instructions on system updates, monitoring procedures, and troubleshooting.

- Final Delivery and Support: Deliver the fully developed front-end system and provide assistance for any final integration tests or necessary adjustments prior to deployment.

Requirements

Research Field - Information science / Engineering

Education Level - Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Educational qualification: university degree (prior to Ministerial Decree No. 509 of November 3, 1999), specialist or master's degree (pursuant to Ministerial Decree No. 509 of November 3, 1999 and Ministerial Decree No. 270 of October 22, 2004 and subsequent amendments) or foreign academic qualification, issued by an official institution of the foreign system, comparable in duration and level to the Degree or Master's Degree.

Technical Skills Required

- User interface design with attention to usability, accessibility, and consistency with functional specifications;

- Experience with mockup and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch);

- Ability to translate mockups into interactive functional components;

- Front-end development with languages and technologies such as HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, modern frameworks/libraries (e.g., React, Vue.js, Angular);

- RESTful API integration, including call handling for content retrieval and certification;

- Expertise on authentication systems, including coordinating with the back-end team;

- Experience with functional and cross-browser testing, on various devices and environments;

- Knowledge of front-end performance optimization (e.g., code minimization, image optimization, lazy loading);

- Familiarity with collaborative workflows (e.g., Git, version management, branching strategy);

- Ability to analyze and interpret user feedback to improve user experience;

- Drafting of technical documentation and user manuals, including maintenance guidance and system updates.

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Good

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Benefits

Duration of the grant: No. 11 (eleven) months

Expected start date of the fellowship: 1 July 2025

Total value of the research grant: Euro 1,614.55 gross per month

Periodicity of payments: Monthly deferred

About the Project

TRUTHSTER is a research project focused on building trustworthy digital infrastructures using blockchain technology. Its mission addresses critical societal challenges such as privacy protection, copyright enforcement, disinformation and fake news, offering researchers a strong sense of ethical engagement and public relevance.

About the team

- The research team is small, efficient and flexible, enabling fast decision-making and dynamic collaboration.

- Team members enjoy a high degree of autonomy

- Smart working is possible and supported when compatible with project needs.

- English is the working language, fostering an inclusive and international environment.

About the Department – DISG (Dipartimento di Scienze Giuridiche)

- Located near the historic centre of Udine, the department is housed in a fully accessible building.

- Easily reachable by train and bus, including regional and cross-border lines (train station at 10 minutes walk).

- The department promotes a culture of workplace well-being, with a collaborative and respectful academic environment.

- On-site fitness facilities are available for staff.

Living in Udine and Friuli Venezia Giulia

- Udine is a mid-sized city that combines comfort and services with safety and a high quality of life.

- Affordable cost of living, especially compared to larger Italian and European cities.

- Close to Trieste Airport (30 minutes by train) with connections to major European hubs.

- Strategically located near the Austrian and Slovenian borders (1 hour), and within reach of Venice (2 hours) and Trieste (1 hour).

- Exceptional opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation, with the sea and the Alps just 30 minutes away.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants who hold a degree obtained abroad that has not already been declared equivalent under current regulations must submit:

1. A copy of the degree obtained abroad accompanied by the list of examinations taken and their grade;
2. Any other documentation relevant to assessing the suitability of the degree (Diploma Supplement, etc.).

This documentation must be accompanied by a translation into Italian or English signed under the applicant's own responsibility (if the documentation is not already in Italian or English).

The selection committee shall evaluate for the purpose of this selection the equivalence of the qualification obtained abroad.

SELECTION PROCESS

Evaluation of qualifications and interview.

The interview will be held remotely on 6 June 2025 at 9.00 hours (Rome time zone).

The application for participation in the selection, drawn up on plain paper according to the form attached to this call for applications and accompanied by the required documentation, must be addressed to the Department of Legal Sciences, University of Udine, via Tomadini 3, 33100 Udine and received no later than May 31, 2025 (inclusive) 12:00 noon, under penalty of exclusion from the selection.

The application must be made by one of the following methods:

1. hand-delivered to the University Protocol Office, Via Palladio No. 8, 33100 Udine, (hours: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.);

2. sent by electronic mail to the address: [email protected];

3. sent by Certified Email (PEC – “Posta Elettronica Certificata”) to [email protected] by the same deadline.