Assistant or Associate Professor in Creative Technologies (all areas)

Aalto University – in the top-20 young universities worldwide – invites applications for an Assistant or Associate level professor in all areas at the intersection of computational sciences and arts or design. We are particularly interested in candidates studying novel computational methods to augment human creativity and imagination, including but not limited  to fields such as:

• Artificial intelligence, especially applications in creativity, games, and arts;

• Computational design, creativity support;

• Visual computing, including computer vision and computer graphics;

• Speech and language technology, acoustics and audio engineering;

• Human-computer interaction, visualization, and human-robot interaction; 

• Augmented and virtual reality technology and applications;

• Game design, interaction design, architectural design and other relevant areas of design.

We are particularly looking for candidates interested in the augmentation of human creativity via computational methods; creation of novel interactive experiences, creation of novel design strategies in relation to complex global challenges for example, via virtual and augmented reality (VR, AR), and games; as well as technology-enhanced art, design, architecture and entertainment. 

Who are we?

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 12 000 students, 400 professors and close to 4 000 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland.

This call is carried out between three Schools of the university:

1 - The Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture (Aalto ARTS) is world-leading in higher education for design, fashion, game design, media, architecture, film, art education and fine art. We are a diverse community of professionals, with great appreciation for creativity and responsibility. We produce world-class research and educate front-line professionals and visionaries for established, changing and emerging fields. We are tackling societal grand challenges head-on and striving towards a sustainable, just society and environment. https://www.aalto.fi/en/school-of-arts-design-and-architecture

2 - The Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering promotes high-quality science, technology and innovations for the benefit of the Finnish society and all of humankind. In our research environment, the natural sciences, engineering and information technology intertwine to form smart systems and innovations that save energy and promote well-being. With our research, we seek to respond to many challenges posed by sustainable development and the results are applied, for example, in mobile devices, electrical networks, health care and in satellites. https://www.aalto.fi/en/school-of-electrical-engineering

3 - The Aalto University School of Science,  aims to change the world for the better by creating new knowledge, deepening our understanding and combining core research areas in novel ways. Through our internationally-acclaimed high-level research, we aim to make a significant impact on society. The research at our school focuses on advanced energy solutions, condensed matter, quantum and materials physics; creation and transformation of technology-based business; data science and artificial intelligence; health technology and neuroscience. https://www.aalto.fi/en/school-of-science

Aalto Art & Design is #6 in the world (QS ranking). Human-computer interaction research at Aalto University is ranked #2 in Europe and #15 in the World and Computer Graphics #11 in Europe (csrankings). Aalto CS research is ranked #3 in Europe and #33 in the World (US News).

What we offer

Creative technologies is at the center of Aalto University’s strategic plan and will see strong investments during next years.

Aalto Studios is one of the significant research and teaching infrastructures in Aalto University. Our new building, to be opened in the autumn 2023, will be the home for events, consultation, and production. Aalto Studios hosts MAGICS-Aalto, a multidisciplinary research community that provides excellence in VR, remote presence, and technologies for measuring human experiences under naturalistic conditions.
https://studios.aalto.fi/

Aalto Acoustics Lab has world-class research facilities for acoustics research, including anechoic and variable-acoustics rooms, and state-of-the art multichannel audio systems.
https://www.aalto.fi/en/aalto-acoustics-lab

Aalto Design Factory is a world-known interdisciplinary product design and learning hub.
https://designfactory.aalto.fi/

Finnish Center for AI (FCAI) is a nation-wide competence center for Artificial Intelligence. FCAI is one of the six Academy of Finland Flagships and brings together over 60 professors and over 20 companies in the capital region, and hosts the ELLIS unit Helsinki (ellis.eu).
https://fcai.fi/

Requirements and Process

Candidates applying to this call are considered for the position of either Assistant or Associate Professor. Applicants are required to have a doctoral degree in a field relevant to the area of the call, or expected to obtain their doctoral degree no later than March 31, 2022.

The applicants will be reviewed on the basis of their research or artistic achievements in relation to their career stage, their teaching merits, and activity in the academic community; recommendation letters will also be taken into consideration, and applicants are encouraged to solicit eminent scholars as referees. Short-listed applicants will be invited to present and discuss their research with faculty. Evaluation follows the tenure track system at Aalto University. At the Assistant Professor level it is mainly based on research or artistic merits as well as the applicant’s potential. At the Associate Professor level demonstrated research or artistic merits as well as teaching merits are required. A person at any level of the tenure track system is expected to produce world‐class research or art, to teach, advise and otherwise advance both graduate and undergraduate education, to be an active member of the international academic community, and to exhibit academic leadership. Career advances on the tenure track are based on scheduled performance assessments, which take into account the candidate’s merits in all these areas.

https://www.aalto.fi/en/tenure-track/tenure-track-career-path

Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. We warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

The contract includes occupational health benefits. Relocation services are also available for people coming from abroad.

How to Apply

Submit your application electronically through our recruitment system: Open positions - Workday (myworkdayjobs.com). Applications will close on October 24, 2021 at 23:59 EET (UTC+2). The application material must be in English and must include the following attachments in PDF format:

1. cover letter including a summary of merits and most important achievements relevant to the call (recommended length: 1 page),

2. curriculum vitae,

3. research statement (recommended length: 4 to 6 pages),

4. teaching statement (recommended length: 2 to 6 pages),

5. names, positions, affiliation(s) and e-mail addresses of up to five referees available to provide recommendations at a later stage of the application process,

6. list of publications, 

7. three most relevant publications of the candidate, provided as PDFs in the application system.

For candidates applying with artistic or design merits, we ask to submit an URL to a portfolio demonstrating cases relevant for the call.

If you are already working at Aalto University please apply internally via Workday HR-system.

Further Information

Please contact Professor Antti Oulasvirta or in recruitment process related questions HR Coordinator Laura Kuusisto-Noponen; emails firstname.lastname@aalto.fi.

Why Aalto University?

The university offers assistance with the relocation process for applicants selected to our tenure track positions, including finding housing and kindergartens / schools. Aalto University has six schools with nearly 11 000 students and nearly 400 professors committed to building both foundations and innovative applications that shape the future through science, technology, art, and business. There are also excellent opportunities for collaboration with local partners at both Aalto University and the University of Helsinki.

In addition to its strong academic community, the Helsinki region is a vibrant technology and innovation hub with easy access to major partners both private and public. The Otaniemi Campus of Aalto University is 15 minutes from the center of Helsinki by metro. The Helsinki International Airport (HEL) is one of the air traffic hubs between Europe and Asia, with direct flights to a large number of destinations on both continents. Virtual campus tour at the Aalto University campus: https://virtualtour.aalto.fi/. More information about Helsinki: https://welcome.helsinki/#/ 

Finland tops international rankings in education, equality, safety, and quality of life. Finland is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world; design, creativity, and startup culture are also important. Finland currently ranks at the top of venture capital investments relative to GDP in Europe. Finland is a great place for living with or without family. It is a safe, politically stable and well-organized Nordic society, where equality is highly valued and corruption is low. Extensive social security supports people in all situations of life, and Finland’s free high-quality education system is internationally acknowledged. In Finland, a low level of hierarchy is a cultural asset in working life and society. Finland has been ranked as the happiest country in the world in 2018 - 2021 according to the World Happiness Report (https://worldhappiness.report/).

More information about living in Finland:

https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/why-finland 

https://www.infofinland.fi/en/frontpage 

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