PhD in more-than-human landscapes of design

PhD in more-than-human landscapes of design

Are you fascinated by the more-than-human world? Are you eager to develop ways for designers to be more ecologically conscious?

Position

PhD-student

Irène Curie Fellowship

No

Department(s)

Industrial Design

FTE

1,0

Date off

30/04/2023

Reference number

V51.6489

Job description

Human-centered thinking has contributed to problems of our time, including climate change and social inequality. More-than-human theories, philosophies and approaches offer alternatives to this central mode of understanding the world, and our design practices. While the importance of these approaches is increasingly recognized as important in the fields of design and HCI, there are relatively few design examples, and rarely do they account for the materials, tools and processes of design itself.

There is a need to engage with more-than-human thinking and its open challenges more deeply, both in and through design. What are the interrelations of more-than-human thinking and decolonialism? How might we design tools to help us listen to the land? What might be considerations of nonhuman justice and material ethics? Such challenges require a humble approach, in which we as designers are finding ways to be comfortable with, and act within the unknown.

The concept of the landscape allows for a broader understanding of the larger ecology and multitude of relations at play in design. This PhD will engage with these topics and engage with indirect land-relations that are at the infrastructure of human-computer interaction, such as underwater cables enabling internet networks, and negotiations of 4G architecture. There is an opportunity - and a responsibility - to better understand these relations through design. This is an intentionally broad framing that can include, for example, enabling creative collaborations with the weather, telling soil stories about cloud technologies, finding ways to speak for the needs of trees and investigations into the politics of land in more-than-human thinking.

Job requirements

A master's degree (or an equivalent university degree) in a design related field.

A research-oriented attitude and an open, curious mind.

A willingness to stay with the trouble and to simultaneously learn and unlearn.

Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).

Conditions of employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.

Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 27 (min. €2,541 max. €3,247).

A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.

High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self- aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.

An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.

An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.

A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

Information and application

About us

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands- on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow.

Curious to hear more about what it's like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact Doenja Oogjes (d.j.oogjesattue.nl).

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact HR Services Industrial Design, email: HR-IndustrialDesignattue.nl.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the 'apply now'-button on this page. The application should include a:

Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position and your specific interest and view on the topic of the PhD.

Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of two references.

Academic transcripts and any other supporting documents such as example publications, design portfolio, awards.

We look forward to your application and will screen it as soon as we have received it. Screening will continue until the position has been filled.