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 13 000 students, 400 professors, and close to 4 500 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 Department of Art and Media conducts research and artistic activities across a broad range of fields. These include art education, contemporary art, curating, game design, new media, photography, visual communication design and visual culture. The department provides education in Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral levels. The department was formed in 2022 as a merger of two departments, both of which were recognized internationally for high-quality artistic outputs, media productions and art pedagogical activities, scholarship, and research. The Department of Art and Media, with approximately 800 students and over 100 staff members, is the largest department in the School of Arts, Design and Architecture.
The Department of Art and Media is looking for an
Assistant or
Associate professor in New Media within the
Aalto University tenure-track system. The full-time position will begin in Spring 2025, or as agreed.
The pioneering New Media Master’s program was originally founded in 1994 within the Media Lab Helsinki. Building on this program, New Media has become a major in the Master’s program in Art and Media in the School of Arts, Design and Architecture since 2022. The New Media major provides the opportunity to study the impacts that media technologies have on individuals, organizations, industry, culture and society. This includes exploration of the opportunities and challenges that new and emerging digital technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence and Extended Reality, open for media, art and design. The department provides a constructive environment for artistic, technical, and professional development, giving the New Media major graduates unique competences to take on existing as well as emerging careers across the broad spectrum of the New Media industries, as interdisciplinary experts within the private and public sectors, or in academia. In addition, for the past three decades, our faculty and students have fostered and produced impactful research in the area of New Media and its effects in art and design, as well as on culture and society in general.
New media is a rapidly evolving field that is being impacted by various technological advancements, societal challenges, and ethical needs and practices. For instance, AI, XR and other computational technologies are increasingly being integrated into different media and contemporary art and design practices. These developments impact the teaching and research beyond the New Media major, to the other majors in the department’s Master’s in Art and Media program, and the Design and Media BA program, that the department jointly has with the Department of Design.
Criteria and Requirements
The potential candidates for this position should be established or promising professionals with clear vision for the field of New Media. They are expected to have proven track-record of research publications and/or artistic activities contributing to high-level international conferences, journals and other forums.
The selected candidate is expected to contribute to the academic content of the aforementioned programs and engage in research and/or artistic activities in New Media. The selected candidate will help to guide the development of the field and will strengthen it as one of the department's focus areas. In addition to experience of conceiving, developing, and implementing cutting-edge artistic and design research projects, a deep understanding of New Media culture, and command of the relevant technologies and various tools are important.
The selected candidate will bring their particular expertise to the vibrant and developing environment of the Department of Art and Media. The selected candidate will help to develop a vision for innovative BA/MA (and DA) education and guide and strengthen existing research and/or artistic practices at all levels within the department. They are also expected to actively participate in service to the Aalto University community, take part in societal interactions, and collaborate with others, nationally and internationally.
However, please note that the abovementioned criteria are meant to support the holistic evaluation of the potential candidates. This means that the selected candidate will be evaluated on the overall combination of criteria and balance across the dimensions relevant to the field of New Media and the level of professorship (Assistant or Associate).
The requirements for this position are:
- A master’s degree in a relevant field is considered as a minimum requirement.
- A doctoral degree in a relevant field and/or equivalent artistic merits are considered to be an advantage.
- Demonstrated track-record in research and/or artistic activities in the field of New Media.
- Demonstrated teaching experience at the university level in a relevant field. Pedagogical training is considered to be an advantage.
- Experience with holding academic and leadership responsibilities in university education and research, relevant to the level of professorship.
- Experience with interdisciplinary collaboration with relevant partners in the field of New Media, nationally and internationally relevant to the level of professorship.
Education in the Department of Art and Media is provided in English, Finnish and Swedish. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are expected. Verbal and written communication skills in Finnish and/or Swedish are considered to be an advantage.
The position will require relocation to Finland for the selected candidate, if not already living in the country.
What we offer
The selected candidate will be part of an inspiring and supportive community of experienced professionals and highly motivated students. The department and university value an entrepreneurial mindset.
The selected candidate will also have the opportunity to use the department’s extensive networks, both nationally and internationally, and have access to great resources to pursue artistic activities, education and research with the help of
Aalto Studios and
numerous workshops.
In addition, Aalto University offers competitive salary and occupational health care services, as well as great possibilities for competence development and learning.
The Aalto University campus is a thriving and connected community of 100 nationalities, 13,000 students and 4,500 employees. Life at the transformed campus is vibrant and filled with amazing architecture, calming nature, and a variety of cafes, restaurants, services and great public transport through metro, tram and bus lines.
How to apply
The applications for this position are to be submitted by no later than on
Thursday 17 October 2024 (UTC+3).
External applicants should apply using Aalto online application system (see the “Apply” link below). Existing Aalto employees and visitors please should apply using their own internal Aalto user account (go to: Workday -> Career -> find jobs).
The application for the position should contain the following documents in pdf format:
All material should be submitted in English.
For more information
For additional information regarding this position, please contact the chair of the Departmental Committee, Prof. Masood Masoodian (masood.masoodian(at)aalto.fi). If you have any questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact HR Partner Katja Korpinurmi (katja.korpinurmi(at)aalto.fi).
Want to know more about us and your future colleagues? You can watch these videos:
Aalto University - Towards a better world,
Aalto People , and
Shaping a Sustainable Future. Read more about
working at Aalto.
Check out our
new virtual campus experience!
About Finland
Finland is a great place for living with or without family - it is a safe, politically stable and well-organized Nordic society. Finland is consistently ranked high in quality of life and was just listed again as
the happiest country in the world. For more information about living in Finland:
https://www.aalto.fi/en/careers-at-aalto/living-in-finland
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