PhD Fellowship position in artistic research - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Artistic research on the Futures of Living Technologies

The PhD fellow will be part of FeLT- Futures of Living Technologies, a three-year artistic research project financed by The Norwegian Artistic Research Programme (NARP). FeLT engages in the interrelations and intersections that occur between human beings, living environments and machines, relations on the edge of how we experience aliveness today- i.e. how we sense life in the environment, in other beings and ourselves in an existence being constantly enhanced by technology. Questioning this situation evokes a sense of the uncanny and a fear of being dominated by the machine, but also reveals possibilities for the creation of new forms and behaviors. Could we develop aliveness and create a more balanced existence? Can we enhance our senses and communication abilities to become beings that are more adept at co-existence? The core of FeLT is to investigate such ambiguous questions by artistic means in proximity to computer science research. State-of-the-art scientific research provides inventories of living systems and their functions: intelligence, evolution, reasoning and learning. This is made available as an artistic material that is discursive and performative, rather than representational.

Area of research

The successful PhD candidate should be able to contribute to building a research environment in an internationally well-connected transdisciplinary research project, employing contemporary artistic methods and aesthetics from bio-art and techno-ecologies as well as state of the art technological competence. An artistic project looking at the convergence of humans, other living organisms and machines, should be at the core of the research of the successful candidate. Also topics at the intersection of art, artificial intelligence, artificial life and robotics, contemporary perspectives on sensory experience and materiality in artistic production and research are of interest. The PhD project will be carried out as part of the FELT - Futures of Living Technologies project.

The PhD fellow will work at the Art in Society Research Hub and the Living Technology Lab (part of the OsloMet Artificial Intelligence Lab), in close collaboration with Makeriet (OsloMet’s makerspace), at the faculty of Technology, Art and Design (TKD) at OsloMet.

The PhD fellow will have the possibility to work with research robots that are already part of the Living Technology Lab environment. We also expect that the PhD-fellow has both artistic and technological experience to qualify for universitetslektor/ assistant professor level.

The fellowship is for a period of 3 years, andrequires admission to a PhD program approved by the Head of Department.

Main duties of the position

• Develop an artistic research project within the scope of FeLT.
• Contribute to residencies and field trips arranged within FeLT
• Contribute to the overall project development

We are looking for applicants who have

• Master’s degree in visual arts, arts & technology studies or media arts.
• Artistic merits on the level of assistant professor is required.
• Artistic practices of interest are bio-arts, techno-ecologies and other artistic advanced practices relevant to the FeLT- Futures of Living Technologies project.
• Admission to a relevant doctoral programme is a prerequisite
• Final project plan for the fellowship period is required completed and acknowledged within 3 months after accession
• Proficiency in both written and spoken English

Applicants from non-European countries where English is not the official language must present an official language test report. Applicants who have completed one year of university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the US are also exempt from handing in the test.

The following tests can be used as such documentation: TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE). Minimum scores are:

TOEFL: 600 (paper-based test), 92 (Internet-based test),

IELTS: 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5 (only Academic IELTS test accepted)

CAE/CPE: Grade B or A

We are looking for applicants who

are able to develop independent artistic ideas within the field.

You should be proficient at sharing and presenting your ideas and results within artistic research communities, as well as publicly through exhibitions, publications and other presentations. The PhD fellow should contribute to building and maintaining our artistic network. The project is highly experimental as an artistic research project and the PhD fellow is expected to contribute to the transdisciplinary collaborations we are building.

It is important to OsloMet to reflect the population of our region, and all qualified candidates are welcome to apply. We make active endeavours to further develop OsloMet as an inclusive workplace and to adapt the workplace if required. You are also welcome to apply for a position with us if you have experienced periods where you have not been in work, education or training.

We can offer you

• An exciting job opportunity at Norway’s third largest and most urban university
• Opportunities for artistic and professional development in a transdisciplinary research environment
• An internationally well-connected transdisciplinary working environment
• Beneficial pension arrangements with the Norwegian State Pension Fund
• Good employee welfare arrangements
• Free Norwegian classes to employees
• Working location in downtown Oslo with multiple cultural offers

Practical information about relocation to Oslo and living in Norway

Other information

If you would like more information about the position, feel free to contact:

• Professor, project leader Kristin Bergaust +4799693513
• Associate professor, ICT-researcher Stefano Nichele +4745134015

The salary for the position is in accordance with the pay scale for Norwegian state employees, position code 1017 NOK 479 600 - 504 700 NOK per year. By law 2% of the salary is deducted as to the Norwegian State Pension Fund.

If you wish to apply for the position, please apply electronically by clicking the button at the bottom of the page.

Requirements for the application

You must upload the following documents together with your application by the final date for applications:

• CV, references and all pages of certificates/diplomas. The certificates/diplomas must include ECTS grades (A–F). Foreign diplomas must be translated into English by the degree-conferring institution. Education taken abroad should preferably be recognised in advance by NOKUT, and a confirmed copy of the letter of recognition should be enclosed.
• Your master's degree/second degree thesis (and any other scholarly work that you wish the expert committee to take into consideration) and a list of your publications, if relevant.
• Documentation of artistic practice, a presentation of 5 to 10 projects or works. Uploaded as a pdf or linked to a website.
• Documentation of language skills, if required

You must upload all of these documents. Original documents and valid passport must be presented if you are invited for an interview. OsloMet performs document inspections in order to give you as a candidate a proper evaluation and ensure fair competition.

If you have documents that cannot be uploaded electronically, please contact mahj@oslomet.no

Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered. The application must state your reasons for applying to the project and what makes you particularly qualified to carry out this PhD work.