Associate Professor of Digital Communication and Culture

The School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University invites applications for the position of associate professor of digital communication and culture based at the Department of Digital Design and Information Studies.

The appointment is full time and tenured and begins on 1 August 2024 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.

The position

The Department of Digital Design and Information Studies offers a broad range of humanistic approaches to studying the relationship between humans and information technology, from the granular study of the agency of code to how information technology challenges and transforms social, political, economic and cultural dimensions of modern society. Diverse and innovative methodologies are represented and encouraged at the department.

For the past twenty years, digitisation, the internet and social media have radically transformed how we communicate and interact. Furthermore, today, big data analytics, pervasive and immense data collections and AI shape communicative practices. These developments continue to transform how people enact and perform their personal and professional identities, engage in interpersonal communication with human as well as nonhuman actors in socio-technical environments, negotiate human-machine relations, and develop formal and informal social norms and structures as they are expressed in digital communication practices. Therefore, current and future developments in the field of digital communication and culture require critical academic research and analysis.

We are looking for an applicant whose research and scholarly expertise include digital communication practices and datafied society in a cultural and social perspective. The successful applicant must be able to conduct research by the use of qualitative or mixed methods and contribute to knowledge production and method development.

In sum, we are looking for an innovative and dedicated applicant who will contribute to the research and teaching profiles of the department nationally and internationally as well as contribute to Aarhus University’s core activities in the areas of research, teaching and supervision, talent development and knowledge exchange.

Research

The Department of Digital Design and Information Studies at Aarhus University has a pronounced and significant international profile and a robust research network. The department has flourishing areas in STS, digital aesthetics, critical software and data studies, participatory design, and creativity and innovation. We are looking for applicants who can demonstrate strong competences in critically analysing the personal, social, organisational and/or ethical impact of digital and social media.

The successful applicant will be expected to publish original peer-reviewed research internationally as well as make scholarly contributions to developments within the field of digital communication and culture. The successful applicant will also be expected to contribute to the research community at the department in terms of new collaborative research projects with internal and external partners, and to participate in applications for external research funding.

Teaching and supervision

We are looking for applicants with teaching and supervision experience in the field of digital communication and culture at university level.

Applicants must be able to teach the course in digital communication on the Bachelor’s degree programme in information studies , and are furthermore asked to indicate at least two courses that they would be prepared to teach within the following Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes in digital design and information studies at Aarhus University:

The successful applicant will be expected to apply innovative teaching methods.

The successful applicant will also be expected to contribute to the ongoing development of curricula and the degree programme(s), and in this connection experience of degree programme and curriculum development at universities or similar institutions will be an advantage.

Given the international focus of the degree programmes, the successful applicant will be expected to teach in English as well as in Danish.

Talent development

We are looking for applicants who have experience supervising students at BA and MA levels, as the successful applicant will be expected to supervise students at both levels. The successful applicant will furthermore be expected to supervise and help develop the careers of early-career researchers as well as recruit and supervise PhD students and participate in the development and implementation of PhD courses within the field.

Knowledge exchange

It is expected that the successful applicant will engage in knowledge exchange, for instance in terms of research collaboration with private companies, government consultancy, collaboration with civil society, and the public dissemination of knowledge.

The successful applicant will have excellent opportunities to engage in relevant collaborative initiatives with partners inside and outside Aarhus University.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a PhD degree or must document equivalent qualifications in a relevant field related to digital communication and culture

as well as teaching and research experience commensurate with that attained through an assistant professorship. Applicants must be able to document, relevant to the position:

• an internationally oriented research profile as documented by a strong international peer-reviewed research publication record within digital communication and culture
• experience of participation in international research projects as well as national and international research networks
• experience of knowledge exchange
• teaching and supervision competences and experience at BA and MA level, including curriculum development documented through a teaching portfolio
• completion of a teacher-training programme designed for university teaching or an equivalent qualification.

Furthermore, it will be considered an advantage if applicants can document

• time spent abroad working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions
• experience of applying for external research funding.

Finally, applicants are asked to provide a research plan for the next two years and to state how they see themselves and the department contributing to future research developments within the field.

Please note that although the application process can be completed in the Aarhus University system without uploading publications or a teaching portfolio, applications that do not include uploaded publications (maximum eight) and a teaching portfolio (or equivalent documentation of teaching experience and qualifications) 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 daily life of the department 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 excellent teaching and research environment, the successful applicant is expected to be present at the department on a daily basis.

We respect the balance between work and private life and strive to create a work environment in which that balance can be maintained. You can read more about family and work-life balance in Denmark.

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

.

An appointee who does not speak Danish will be required to acquire proficiency in Danish equivalent to level B2 (CEFR) in order to handle tasks, including administrative and managerial responsibilities, and to participate fully in the activities of the School of Communication and Culture within approximately three years of commencing the appointment. These include, but are not limited to, teaching and examining students, reading work-related texts and participating in meetings and collegial gatherings in Danish.

The department

The place of employment is the 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 Morten Breinbjerg, Head of the Department of Digital Design and Information Studies, by tel.: +4587161997 or by email:

[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] .