Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 120 nationalities, 14 000 students, 400 professors and close to 5000 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.
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).
We are now looking for a
Doctoral researcher in Design Participation 2+1-year funded position
We are now looking for a Doctoral Researcher to support the Material Democracy project at Aalto University’s Department of Design. The doctoral researcher should have an interest to conduct research related to Design Participation to support the development and research activities in setting up the Material Democracy Hub as part of the Material Democracy project.
Your role and goals
The Material Democracy project is an ambitious 3 + 3 years project funded by the Strategic Research Council. The project is led by Professor Sampsa Hyysalo and includes partners from five different Finnish universities and organisations (www.materialdemocracy.fi). Material Democracy explores the future of democracy amid major societal changes related to climate change, urbanization, the green transition, and species loss. These complex challenges have widespread consequences, creating unequal public participation and inclusion opportunities. To address this issue, Material Democracy creates a new innovative approaches into developing the formats and practices of democratic participation in infrastructure, energy, and environmental policies and citizens everyday lives. An important part of the project is to establish the Material Democracy Hub, which will document, display, compare and further develop democratic practices and democratic innovations. The doctoral researcher will have an important role in the team that ideates, sets-up and designs the Material Democracy hub and its potential multiple components (activities, platform, practices) and/or conducts further research through the case materials documented in the Hub.
The selected applicant will have to also apply successfully to the ARTS Doctoral programme during the six-month probation period for the position. The selected applicant is thus expected to to be able to develop a high quality research plan for the ARTS Doctoral programme soon after being hired. The target graduation time in doctoral studies is four years at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture.
You can find more information about the ARTS Doctoral Programme and how to apply for doctoral studies here:
Aalto Doctoral Programme in Arts, Design and Architecture | Aalto University.
Your network and team
The doctoral researcher will be under the supervision of Professor Sampsa Hyysalo. The doctoral researcher will conduct research and design activities in the Material Democracy Hub theme of the Material Democracy project both independently and as part of a larger research team of 5-20 people. The team is committed to mentoring and supporting the new researcher throughout all stages of the research.
Your experience and ambitions
We are looking for a person with an experience or interest in researching and developing democratic practices and democratic innovation, including:
- Master’s degree in a relevant field such as design, media, science and technology studies, social sciences, political sciences, human-computer interaction or information systems
- Knowledge or interest in the topics of participation, participatory design, and participatory democracy
- Experience or interest in participatory design, service design, and workshop facilitation
- Experience or interest in designing or developing digital platforms and analyzing case studies on digital platforms
- Capacity to complete the doctoral studies within four years; Knowledge and experience in academic skills, prior experience in research and publishing is considered as an advantage.
- Good collaboration skills to work as a member of a multidisciplinary close-knit team and consortium formed by several universities.
- Proficiency in English is necessary for the position; Finnish language skills are considered an advantage
What we offer
We offer the innovative working community of Aalto University and meaningful and varied work as part of a high-level research team and consortium. The work includes the possibility of participating in interesting staff training at Aalto University.
The starting salary for this position is 3000 €/month. We work in a hybrid model, with the primary workplace located at the Otaniemi Campus in Espoo. Life on the revitalized campus is vibrant, featuring stunning architecture, tranquil nature, and a variety of cafes, restaurants, and services, all complemented by excellent public transportation connections.
Join us!
To apply, please share with us your
- CV
- max one page motivation letter
- 1-2 page doctoral research idea paper
through our recruitment site Workday ("Apply now!”) latest on
25th April 2025. The most promising candidates will be invited for interview and developing their research plan further as part of a time-limited assignment.
Please note: Aalto University’s employees should apply for the position via our internal HR system Workday (Internal Jobs) by using their existing Workday user account (not via the external webpage for open positions).
For more information about the role, please contact Professor Sampsa Hyysalo
sampsa.hyysalo(at)aalto.fi +358 505946138 or Senior Scientist Joanna Saad-Sulonen
joanna.saad-sulonen(at)aalto.fi +358 504722452. For questions related to the application process, please contact HR partner katju.helminen(at)aalto.fi.
Want to know more about us and your future colleagues
? You can watch these videos:
This is Aalto University!
Aalto University - Towards a better world
and
Shaping a Sustainable Future.
Read more about working at Aalto:
https://www.aalto.fi/en/careers-at-aalto
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https://virtualtour.aalto.fi/
