Post-doctoral researcher in creative practices

Aalto University is an interdisciplinary community of bold thinkers where science and art meet technology and business. Aalto’s core strategy follows three cross-cutting themes: sustainable solutions, entrepreneurial mindset and radical creativity. Aalto University has six schools with nearly 12 000 students and more than 400 professors. Our campuses are located in Espoo and Helsinki, Finland.  

The Aalto School of Arts, Design and Architecture (ARTS) is a Nordic leader in higher education for design, fashion, games, media, architecture, film, art education and fine art. We produce world-class research e.g. in design, digital media and visual culture, art education, urban planning and architecture. Our graduates innovate in and beyond their fields, drawing on over a century of tradition of our institution, a humane and forward-looking approach, and the latest technologies. The Department of Design is a community of creative and responsible researchers and design experts. We educate front-line design professionals and visionaries for established, changing and emerging fields of design. (https://www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-design ). 

Post-doctoral researcher in creative practices

The position will begin by the 1st of May 2022 or as agreed. Duration of the contract will be for 2 years. 

Your role and goals

The research profile of the presently open post-doc position is to help the Department of Design to establish and develop creative practices, tools and methods especially in textile or fashion design or in textile /fashion research in connection to other disciplines such as material science or technology. A cross- and transdisciplinary approach to creative practices is appreciated. The Department of Design in Aalto University is a globally leading unit in the research and practice of sustainable fashion and textile design and Fashion/Textile FUTURES the research group is specializing on this topic. Close research collaborations are undertaken with industry but also with the School of Chemical engineering, in particular Aalto Bioproduct center and the newly established BioInnovation center. Important collaborations are also emerging with the School of Electrical Engineering , especially with the Wearables Systems Lab in the field of e-textiles.

Aalto is the global thought leader in cross- and transdisciplinary creativity offering radical perspectives to shape the future through sustainability. Aalto is also known for its experimental and transdisciplinary research and education, and one of its strategic areas in Aalto is radical creativity. This post-doctoral position in creative practices is especially connected to this radical creativity theme in combination with sustainability. The research profile of the post-doc is thus to research and design/create experiments, tools and methods in cross- or transdisciplinary setting to enhance creative practices through design approach. Selected post-doc will have possibility to connect her/his research activities to ongoing research projects in the Fashion/Textile Futures research group.

The overall job-profile of the post-doc includes 50% teaching component in suitable design courses in Fashion BA major and/or FaCT MA major and advising MA thesis students. Possibility to contribute to teaching in CHEMARTS courses or in BioInnovation center multidisciplinary doctoral school is highly valued.

Your Experience

We are looking to hire an ambitious colleague who has the capacity to contribute to continuous renewal of education and research. We expect you to have:  

• Demonstrable competence in creative practices and a research-through-design field. Cross- or multidisciplinary approach in research is appreciated.
• Experience in university education, having undertaken training in university pedagogy is an additional merit.
• A doctoral degree in design.

The successful applicant is expected to take on the following responsibilities, depending on the level of appointment:

• Conducting individual- and group-based research meeting high international standards, including publishing and participating in funding applications,
• Offering student-oriented, high-quality teaching, and supervising undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students’ work. Teaching comprises 50% of the workload. 
• Participating in regular research activities, such as research seminars, workshops and conferences.
• Interacting in various ways with society, in particular with Aalto University’s stakeholders.

What we offer

We offer the opportunity of working in a dynamic world-class community of creative professionals and researchers, with a remit to continuously explore the frontiers of design research and practice. The salary is determined according to the applicant's experience and qualifications. Activities are mainly located in the Otaniemi campus of Aalto University in Espoo, part of the capital region of Finland.

Aalto University provides its employees with occupational health care services and excellent learning and development opportunities. Finland is a healthy and safe living environment, offering many excellent state-subsidized services including affordable day care and free schools and universities, which are consistently ranked among the best in the world. 

More information about living and working in Finland:

Get to know Finland and Aalto | Aalto University

Aalto University follows EU rules and regulations on HR policies. Based on the regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems, full-time employment at Aalto University is inconsistent with residence abroad. Employment duties need to be performed in Finland. The specific responsibilities and salary are determined based on the applicant’s qualifications and level of position. In addition, Aalto University provides its employees with occupational health care services.

Ready to apply?

To apply, please submit the following application materials through our recruitment system Workday no later than April 15th 2022, at 23:59 EET (UTC+2). Aalto University’s employees and visitors should apply for the position by using their existing Workday user account!

The application material must be in English and must include the following documents in PDF format (‘lastname_firstname.pdf’): 

• Cover letter with a statement of interest in the post that you are applying for 
• Curriculum Vitae — please use the template recommended by The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity 
• List of publications, with the maximum three most significant publications highlighted including at least one solo or first authored article. 
• Research portfolio —a concise (max 3 pages) self-reflection on the merits, long-term vision, and research plan.
•  Teaching portfolio according to Aalto’s guidelines Teaching competence assessment_Guidelines_for_candidate_2020_Aalto University[1].pdf

We reserve the right, for justified reasons, to leave the position open, to extend the application period, and to consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.

For more Information

Please contact Associate Professor Kirsi Niinimäki [email protected] or Associate Professor Pirjo Kääriäinen, [email protected]

In questions related to the recruitment process, please contact HR
Coordinator Katju Helminen, [email protected]  

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