Tenure Track Assistant Professor position in Cognitive Science and Architecture

At the Technical Faculty of IT and Design, Department of Architecture, Design, and Media Technology, a Tenure Track Assistant Professor position in Cognitive Science and Architecture is open for appointment from July 1st, 2023 or soon hereafter. The Department of Architecture, Design, and Media Technology has as its goal the development of an innovative cluster of engineering-based environments for education and research which integrate creativity, engineering and technology within the disciplines of architecture, urban design, industrial design, digital design and interactive media. The department is a leading research and educational environment in Denmark that addresses the challenge of the interplay between creativity and technology, and develops new areas in research and education directed towards the end-user

The assistant professor position is placed in the department’s research group Situated Mobilities and Sensing Bodies (SitMoB).

We are looking for a candidate to participate in ongoing interdisciplinary research involving the fields of architecture and cognitive science. You must be prepared to work quite independently both with theoretical development and empirical experiments.

The position will require the following qualifications:

• A relevant master’s degree in architecture and engineering.
• A relevant Ph.D. within the combined field of architecture/phenomenology/experimental psychology/neuroscience.
• You are trained in formulating research designs relevant for architectural research based on cognitive science with an emphasis on neuroscience.
• You are able to plan and manage laboratory experiments independently.
• You must master neuroimaging techniques such as mobile Brain/Body imagine and EEG, and have relevant experience with using wireless EEG and VR devices in combination in laboratory work. This includes data processing skills such as Bayesian optimization, Active Inference, Free Energy Principle, dynamic Causal Modeling, time/Frequency Decomposition, EEG signal processing and Network analysis and programming skills in MATLAB, Python, R Studio and C#.
• You have knowledge of psychology within the subfields of Ecological psychology, Affordance, Spatial Cognition, Embodied Cognition and Sensorimotor embodiment.
• Insight into phenomenology, especial within the subfields of, Sensorimotor Contingencies, Husserlian Temporality and embodiment, Bergsonian Temporality, Enactivism, 4E Cognition
• International experience equivalent to what can be expected at this career stage.
• Preferable a documented international network that represents excellence within the field.
• Contributed substantially to the field compared to the career stage, documented by relevant publications.

The position includes teaching obligations at both undergraduate and master's level e.g., supervising master thesis students. The philosophy of teaching in Architecture at Aalborg University is integrated architectural design based on Problem Based Learning. Furthermore, you are expected to contribute to further develop the educational programmes and to administrative tasks on department level.

You may read more about the department here: CREATE Department brochure

You may obtain further professional information from the Head of Department Hans Jørgen Andersen, tel.: +45 99 40 88 34, mail: [email protected] or Associate Professor Lars Brorson Fich, tel +45 99 40 71 35, mail: [email protected]
Qualification requirements:

Appointment as an Assistant Professor presupposes scientific qualifications at PhD–level or similar scientific qualifications. The research potential of each applicant will be emphasized in the overall assessment.

Appointment as an Assistant Professor cannot exceed a period of four years in total in a temporary position (appointment at Assistant Professor level cannot exceed a period of eight years in total in Denmark).

The application must contain the following: 

• A statement outlining your reasons for applying, and intentions and visions with, the position.
• Your curriculum vitae, including personal data, educational background, scientific qualifications, dissemination skills, participation in committees and boards, and additional qualifications relevant for the position.
• Copies of relevant diplomas (Master of Science and PhD). On request you could be asked for an official English translation.
• A complete list of publications.
• Publications you wish to be considered by the assessment committee. You may attach up to 5 publications.
• A specification of your teaching qualifications relative to the teaching portfolio. If not enclosed in your application, you must include an explanation for its absence.
• References/recommendations.

TENURE-TRACK

CREATE offers highly qualified candidates an attractive career path via tenure-track. Tenure-track assistant professors are appointed for a period of six years with the prospect of performance-based promotion to a tenured position as Associate Professor. Tenure-track assistant professors are expected to have international academic standing, demonstrating acclaimed competitive research, and/or have a recognized high potential for future impact.

In tenure-track employment, AAU attaches particular importance to:

• The candidate has a PhD degree or equivalent qualifications
• The candidate has demonstrated a high degree of autonomy in previous education and employment path
• The candidate shows considerable potential and is among the in their field
• The candidate has academic experience from several universities and/or research institutions and preferably international experience
• The candidate is a skilled communicator
• The candidate writes and speak English at the academic level
• The candidate is expected to meet the criteria for permanent employment at AAU at the end of the tenure-track process

The following criteria are part of our tenure-track review:

• Quality, originality, and impact of research
• The quality of research-based teaching and the ability to develop, organise, and evaluate teaching activities.
• The level of experience with grant proposals and level of experience in communicating research to relevant stakeholders.
• The level of contributions to an active academic environment and ability to collaborate and build relationships

If appointed on tenure-track, the tenure-track assistant professor will have an annual interview with the head of department. An internal assessment committee will conduct a mid-term evaluation after 3 years, and an external assessment committee will conduct a final review after 5.5 years. If the final review is positive, the candidate will be offered a tenured position as associate professor.

Shortlisting will be applied. After the review of any objections regarding the assessment committee, the head of department, with assistance from the chair of the assessment committee, selects the candidates to be assessed. All applicants will be informed as to whether they will advance to assessment or not.

The applications are only to be submitted online by using the "Apply online" button below.

AAU wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background or belief.

For further information concerning the application procedure, please contact Sanne Vestergaard Hejlesen by mail [email protected] or phone (+45) 99 40 39 72. 

Information regarding guidelines, ministerial circular in force, teaching portfolio and procedures can be seen here   

Employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministry of Finance's current Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities. Employment and salary are in accordance with the collective agreement for state-employed academics.

2023-224-05218

16/04/2023