Post-doctoral researcher in transdisciplinary knowledge co-creation for more-than-human design

Post-doctoral researcher in transdisciplinary knowledge co-creation for more-than-human design

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 ). 

NODUS Sustainable Design Research Group, Department of Design, Aalto University (Finland) is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join our team working on the NorDark project. NorDark is a transdisciplinary Nordic consortium project funded by the Nordforsk Interdisciplinary Call. The project aims to develop urban lighting designs that will consider needs of humans and wildlife equitably during Nordic dark season. Aalto team is responsible to assist in development of a more-than-human design methodology and plays a significant role in facilitating transdisciplinary knowledge co-creation through implementation of methods from transdisciplinary research, creative practices, speculative design and experiential futures. The selected postdoctoral researcher will undertake research and engagement activities in alignment with the project’s goals (75%) and will have teaching and MA level student advising responsibilities in the department (25%) primarily in the Creative Sustainability Masters program and the bachelor program in design.

Post-doctoral researcher in transdisciplinary knowledge co-creation for more-than-human design

The position will begin as soon as possible, but latest on 1st of May 2022. The contract is until the end of 2024.  

Your Role and Goals

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 teaching, and supervising undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students’ work.
• Participating in regular research activities, such as research seminars, workshops and conferences.
• Taking up some administrative duties in the NorDark project.
• Engaging with the academic and non-academic partners of the NorDark project consortium.
• Participating in field trips to NorDark project sites (Ålesund, Norway and Uppsala, Sweden) and assisting in organizing research and engagement activities.
• Interacting in various ways with society, in particular with Aalto University’s stakeholders.

Your Experience

Qualified candidates for the postdoctoral position should hold a doctoral degree or should have submitted their thesis for examination (completion expected not later than summer 2022). They should have sufficient research experience and interest in one or more of the following: research through creative practices, speculative design, experiential futures, more-than-human design or other fields relevant to the position (e.g., social sciences, humanities, transformative sustainability science).

Adequate skills in qualitative and/or artistic research methods are required, and ability to operate in transdisciplinary research projects is considered to be highly advantageous. Applicants are expected to be at the early stages of their research careers and show potential for future development. Excellent English language skills are required and some grant application writing experience is a merit.

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 sustainable 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 March 1st 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’): 

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 Assistant Professor İdil Gaziulusoy [email protected] for questions about the position.

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

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