The posting
The Department of Digital Design and Information Studies within the School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University invites applications for a postdoctoral position “Human AI Collaboration: Imaginaries, Interventions, Interfaces” funded by Independent Research Fund Denmark – Culture and Communication.
The postdoctoral researcher position is a full-time and 1-year fixed-term position. The position begins on 01 January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The School of Communication and Culture is committed to diversity and encourages all qualified applicants to apply regardless of their personal background.
Project The rapid development of Generative AI (GenAI) promises increased productivity but comes with a lack of transparency. HAIC-III offers an analytical, theoretical, and practical research perspective on GenAI as a cultural and creative interface, which includes artistic and design interventions. HAIC -III positions itself within the fields of electronic literature, critical data studies, and software studies, and it analyses how GenAI is interfaced (SP1), how GenAI creates new relations to archives (SP2), experiments with prototyping alternative interfaces to GenAI (SP3), and utilise artistic research to explore how AI affects contemporary imaginaries (SP4).
How can we use artistic and design-based approaches to address and potentially mitigate problematic aspects of GenAI’s usage in cultural domains through a focus on creative human-AI collaboration? Rather than automation, HAIC-III's central focus is on human-AI collaboration and GenAI as cultural expression and creative interface.
See the full project description here, including a detailed description of SPs and WPs: https://pure.au.dk/portal/da/projects/human-ai-collaboration-imaginaries-interventions-interfaces.
Information about the project and its ongoing activities can be found here: https://darc.au.dk/projects/human-ai-collaboration-haic-iii
Postdoctoral researcher position Your main tasks will consist of:
- contribute to the overall research project, with particular emphasis on SP5 (Human–AI Collaboration Lab) and the thematic WPs 1–3 (AI & Identity, AI & the Archive, and AI Interfaces);
- conduct research that contributes to one or more of the project’s subprojects: SP1 (Reading AI Platforms through Interface Criticism), SP2 (Generative Archives), SP3 (Prototyping Anti-mimetic AI), and/or SP4 (Crafting Collaborative Imaginaries);
- contribute to the effective implementation of the project and to its overall academic impact and outcomes, including research presentations, papers and journal articles;
Teaching and supervision As a postdoctoral researcher, your position is primarily research-based, but it will also involve a small degree of teaching and supervision. To that end, the selected applicant will be expected to take part in the department’s teaching and supervision activities and to teach and supervise at BA and MA levels. The department has the following educations: Information Studies, Bachelor's Degree Programme in (2018), Information Studies, Master's Degree Programme (2021), Digital Design - IT, Aesthetics and Interaction, Bachelor's Degree Programme in (2024) and Digital Design, Master's Degree Programme in (2021)
Given the international focus of the degree programmes, the chosen applicant will be expected to teach in English as well as Danish.
Qualifications Applicants must have a PhD degree or must document equivalent qualifications in a relevant field related to digital design and aesthetics. Applicants must be able to document, relevant to the position:
- an internationally oriented research profile within the field of digital design or similar relevant fields as documented by a PhD dissertation and/or relevant research publications
- experience in the professional management of research projects
- relevant teaching experience at university level as documented by a teaching portfolio (or equivalent documentation of teaching experience and qualifications) commensurate with the length of the applicant’s academic career
- excellent communication and interpersonal skills, in order to engage productively both within the research team and with external organisations and institutions.
Furthermore, it will be considered an advantage if applicants can document:
- a demonstrated record of high-quality research publications recognized internationally, in line with the applicant’s career stage
- experience of participation in national and international research networks
- time spent abroad working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions.
Finally, applicants are asked to provide a proposal for research to be undertaken within the stated framework of the research project (max. 1-2 pages).
Please note that although the application process can be completed on the Aarhus University system without uploading publications or a teaching portfolio, applications that do not include uploaded publications (maximum two) will not be considered.
Although the Aarhus University application system includes an option to upload letters of recommendation, please do not include letters of recommendation or references with the application. Applicants who are invited to an interview may be asked to provide references.
Work environment Active participation in the department's daily life is a high priority, and we emphasise the importance of good working relationships, both among colleagues and with our students. In order to maintain and develop the department’s high-quality teaching and research environment, the selected applicant is expected to maintain a consistent, engaged presence within the department.
We respect the balance between work and private life and aim to create a work environment in which that balance can be maintained. You can read more about family and work-life balance in Denmark.
Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdoctoral researchers at AU.
International applicants International applicants are encouraged to read about the attractive working conditions and other benefits of working at Aarhus University and in Denmark, including healthcare, paid holidays and, if relevant, maternity/paternity leave, childcare and schooling. Aarhus University offers a wide variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including a relocation service and an AU Expat Partner Programme. You can also find information about the taxation aspects of international researchers’ employment by AU.
The department The place of employment is Department of Digital Design and Information Studies, Helsingforsgade 14, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
Prospective applicants are invited to view the department’s website.
School of Communication and Culture The school is a part of the Faculty of Arts. You will find information about the school and its research programmes, departments, and diverse activities on its website.
Contact For further information about the position, please contact the principal investigator (PI), Søren Pold: [email protected]
If you need help uploading your application or have questions about the recruitment process, please contact Arts HR support by email: [email protected].
Qualification requirements Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.
Formalities
- Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).
- Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.
- Further information on the application and supplementary materials may be found in Application Guidelines.
- The application must outline the applicant's motivation for applying for the position, attaching a curriculum vitae, a teaching portfolio, a complete list of published works, copies of degree certificates and examples of academic production (mandatory, but no more than two examples). Please upload this material electronically along with your application.
Aarhus University also offers a junior researcher development programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here: https://talent.au.dk/junior-researcher-development-programme/
If nothing else is noted, applications must be submitted in English. The application deadline is at 11.59 pm Danish time (same as Central European Time) on the deadline day.
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.
Shortlists may be prepared with the candidates that have been selected for a detailed academic assessment. A committee set up by the head of school is responsible for selecting the most qualified candidates. See this link for further information about shortlisting at the Faculty of Arts: shortlisting
Terms of employment
- Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.
- Salary and terms of employment are governed by the Cirkulære om overenskomst for akademikere i staten (in Danish). You will be employed as a postdoc at base pay level 4–8 with additional supplements in accordance with the Cirkulære om protokollat om visse ansættelsesvilkår for videnskabeligt personale ved universiteter (in Danish).
- The job content and qualification requirements are described in further detail in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
About Arts The Faculty of Arts is one of Northern Europe’s most significant faculties for research and higher education in the humanities, theology and education. Within this broad academic scope, the faculty comprises approximately 700 researchers, 200 PhD students, 9,000 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students, and 1,500 further and continuing education students. We believe that the best ideas arise when different perspectives meet – and that research, teaching and innovation are best developed in dialogue with the surrounding society.
You can find more information here: Faculty of Arts | Aarhus University
The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.
