Associate Professor of Science, Technology and Society Studies with a focus on artificial intelligence and its role in society

The School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University invites applications for the position of associate professor of Science, Technology and Society Studies (STS) with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in society based at the Department of Digital Design and Information Studies.

The appointment is full time and tenured and begins on 1 February 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 is one of Europe’s strongest academic IT environments and attracts visiting scholars and PhD students from all over the world. We focus on information technology as a feature of people’s everyday lives, work environments and futures.

We are looking for applicants who conduct research in STS with a strong theoretical foundation and a focus on AI and societal and social transformations. Topics of particular interest include how the philosophy and politics of AI challenge social, political, economic and cultural dimensions of modern society, for example in relation to law, ethics and technological imaginaries.

The successful applicant will be expected to further expand and consolidate these fields in the department through teaching and research at the highest international level.

In sum, we are looking for an innovative and dedicated applicant who will strengthen 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 emphasises the significance of high-quality research and attaches great importance to interdisciplinary collaboration. Accordingly, we are looking for applicants with a strong international profile and track record in STS studies, with an emphasis on AI as a social, political, imaginary and practical research domain.

The successful applicant will be expected to take a role in further developing research in the field of STS. The successful applicant will be expected to publish original peer-reviewed research internationally as well as make scholarly contributions to developments within the field. The successful applicant will also be expected to contribute to research initiatives in relation to both the field of STS and the research community at the department in terms of new collaborative research projects with internal and external partners, and in connection with external research funding.

Teaching and supervision

We are looking for applicants with teaching and supervision experience in the field of STS

at university level.

The successful applicant will be expected to take part in the department’s teaching and supervision activities and to teach and supervise on the department’s Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD degree programmes, particularly in the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes in Information Studies. Please indicate in your application which courses you are able to teach. The successful applicant will also be expected to apply innovative teaching methods.

Further, the successful applicant will be expected to contribute to the ongoing development of curricula and the degree programme(s) within the field of Information Studies. It will be an advantage if the applicant has previous experience developing degree programmes and curricula at universities or similar institutions.

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

Talent development

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

Knowledge exchange

The successful applicant will be expected to 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 STS

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 STS
• 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 in 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
• ability to reach out to research institutions and international stakeholders concerned with AI and democratic decision-making.

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

Although the process can be completed in the Aarhus University application system without uploading publications or a teaching portfolio, applications that do not include uploaded publications (maximum eight) as well as 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] .