Research Assistant for AUFF Recruitment Grant at the Department of Digital Design & Information Studies at the School of Communication and Culture

The School of Communication and Culture invites applications for the post of research assistant within the field of science and technology studies (STS) and Information Studies at the Department of Digital Design and Information Studies. The position is affiliated with the research project Governance by Infrastructures funded by the Aarhus University Research Foundation.

The position of research assistant is a part-time (30 hours a week), fixed-term (23 month) academic position. The position begins on 01 June 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The main responsibilities involve research.

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 research assistant position is affiliated with the research project Governance by Infrastructures funded by the Aarhus University Research Foundation. The overall Governance by Infrastructures project tackles in a comparative way historical and contemporary practices of informationally infrastructuring territory and population, the two main assets of modern institutions. The project builds on scholarship in STS, information infrastructures and organization studies to research how the modern institutional order that has emerged from the datafication of territory and population since the 17th century (and featured prominently in various projects of state building and colonization) is being challenged by current digital developments in information infrastructures for territory and population management. The overall research project asks how new forms of de facto governance are being shaped by information infrastructuring for managing territory and population. The working language of the project is English.

The successful applicant will be expected to support the PI in developing the part of the Governance by Infrastructures project that concerns the informational management of populations. The researcher will engage with literature review retrieval; archival, technical and design documentation collection; and empirical sociological research tasks (e.g., transcribing interviews and observations, negotiating access, co-design of mixed methods). The dataset collected will then be contextualized in relation to the key issues addressed within the Governance by Infrastructures project.

Notably, the person appointed to this position will be required to

• conduct preliminary mapping of the literature using literature management tools (e.g., Zotero)
• conduct a thorough review of the ongoing European initiatives concerning the digital identity wallet and data space, including desktop data collection and an understanding of the actors involved
• conduct a thorough review of Danish Demographic Database and similar resources, including the data collection and an understanding of the actors involved
• support the PI in establishing and developing networks with stakeholders
• editorial support and research management (e.g. meeting scheduling).

A minor part of worktime is allotted to professional development as well as participation in staff meeting and teaching team meetings as well as relevant administrative work at the department. The position requires regular attendance at the department and office facilities will be provided.

Qualifications

Applicants must hold an academic degree in Information Studies, STS or neighbouring disciplines (e.g., social, anthropological or political sciences) or a relevant related field at master’s degree level or higher. Applicants should demonstrate relevant qualifications within literature review in the humanities and social sciences, research methods in information studies or STS, research management. All research takes place in English, and applicants therefore written and spoken proficiency in English is required. Knowledge of Danish constitutes a plus. Preference will be given to applicants with recent research experience within the specific areas mentioned.

The department

The place of employment is the Department of Digital Design and Information Studies located at Helsingforsgade 14, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.

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 transform social, political, economic, and cultural dimensions of modern society. Diverse and innovative methodologies are represented and encouraged in the department.

Prospective applicants are invited to view the department’s website.

School of Communication and Culture

The School of Communication and Culture is one of three schools at the Faculty of Arts. It covers a wide range of subject areas, including foreign languages.

For more information, please see the school’s website.

Place of work

Helsingforsgade 14, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark

Further information

If you have any questions about the position, please contact please contact the principal investigator (PI), professor Annalisa Pelizza by e-mail: [email protected]

If you need help uploading your application or if you have questions about the recruitment process, please contact Arts HR support by e-mail: [email protected].


Formalities

Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).

• Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities .
• Further information on the application and supplementary materials may be found in Application Guidelines.

Shortlists may be prepared with the candidates that have been selected for a detailed academic assessment. A committee set up by the head of school is responsible for selecting the most qualified candidates. See this link for further information about shortlisting at the Faculty of Arts: shortlisting

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners: http://ias.au.dk/au-relocation-service/. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here: http://international.au.dk/research/

Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Arts is one of five main academic areas at Aarhus University.

The faculty contributes to Aarhus University's research, talent development, knowledge exchange and degree programmes.
With its 550 academic staff members, 275 PhD students, 9,500 BA and MA students, and 1,500 students following continuing/further education programmes, the faculty constitutes a strong and diverse research and teaching environment.

The Faculty of Arts consists of the School of Communication and Culture, the School of Culture and Society and the Danish School of Education. Each of these units has strong academic environments and forms the basis for interdisciplinary research and education.

The faculty's academic environments and degree programmes engage in international collaboration and share the common goal of contributing to the development of knowledge, welfare and culture in interaction with society.

Read more at arts.au.dk/en

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.


Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/