Assistant Professor of Aesthetics and Culture

The School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University invites applications for the position of assistant professor of aesthetics and culture based at the Department of Art History, Aesthetics & Culture and Museology.

The assistant professorship is a full-time, three-year fixed-term position, and subject to appropriate funding, there will be an opportunity to apply for a subsequent associate professorship. The position begins on 1 August 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The School of Communication and Culture is committed to diversity and encourages all qualified applicants to apply regardless of their personal background.

The position

Aesthetics and Culture is an interdisciplinary research community and study programme focusing on the interdependencies of artistic and cultural practices. We research aesthetic phenomena and experiences in the arts and everyday life, as well as cultural institutions and policies in modern and contemporary society. We are looking for an applicant who can contribute to further developing the study of these interdependencies.

We welcome applicants who have an interdisciplinary profile of relevance to the study of art, aesthetics and culture, who have practical and/or research experience in the artistic, cultural and creative sectors, and who show an interest in developing methodological frameworks for analysing the interdependencies of art, aesthetics and culture.

The successful applicant will primarily be expected to teach on the BA and MA degree programmes in aesthetics and culture.

A majority of Aesthetics and Culture graduates find employment within the artistic, cultural and creative sectors, while others build careers in adjacent fields. A common thread in our pedagogical philosophy is the ambition to encourage students’ creative and societal agency when engaging with art and culture. The successful applicant shares this ambition, which should be documented in their academic qualifications and/or practical experience.

In sum, we are looking for an innovative and dedicated applicant who will strengthen the research and teaching profiles of the department both nationally and internationally, as well as contributing to Aarhus University’s core activities in the areas of research, teaching and supervision, talent development and knowledge exchange.

Research

The Department of Art History, Aesthetics & Culture and Museology at Aarhus University has a pronounced international profile and a robust research network. In the Aesthetics and Culture section, the research is interdisciplinary and often collaborative at a local, national or international level. Based on a broad conception of aesthetics, the focus is on analysing art and aesthetic phenomena and the roles they play in culture from a contemporary yet historically reflected perspective. Theories and methodological approaches which transcend the boundaries of individual art forms and traditional research fields are incorporated and developed.

We are looking for an applicant who has produced high-quality research within the interdisciplinary field of aesthetics and culture and who will contribute to further research on the interdependencies of artistic and cultural practices, aesthetic phenomena, and experiences in the arts and everyday life, as well as cultural institutions and policies in modern and contemporary society.

We particularly welcome applicants who

• have an interdisciplinary profile of relevance to the study of art, aesthetics and culture
• have practical and/or research experience in the artistic, cultural and creative sectors
• are interested in developing methodological frameworks for analysing the interdependencies of art, aesthetics and culture.

The successful applicant will be expected to develop research projects that result in academic, peer-reviewed publications. The successful applicant will also be expected to participate in the research community at the department in terms of collaborative research projects with internal and external partners, as well as participating in applications for external research funding.

Teaching and supervision

The successful applicant will be expected to take part in the department’s teaching and supervision activities and to teach and supervise on the department’s Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes, particularly the degree programmes in aesthetics and culture. Please indicate in your application which courses you could teach. The successful applicant will also be expected to apply innovative teaching methods and to practice problem- and project-oriented, interdisciplinary and team-based teaching.

The successful applicant will be expected to develop supervision capabilities at both BA and MA levels and may also be asked to teach academically relevant courses at other departments within the school.

Given the international focus of the degree programmes, the successful applicant will be expected to teach in both Danish and English. Applicants who do not speak Danish are expected to learn Danish within a three-year period. For more information regarding language requirements for the position, please see “International applicants” below.

The person appointed to the position of assistant professor must complete Aarhus University’s teacher-training programme for assistant professors, which is designed for university teaching.

Knowledge exchange

The successful applicant will have excellent opportunities to engage in collaborative initiatives with partners inside and outside Aarhus University. It is expected that the successful applicant will engage in knowledge exchange through, for instance, research collaboration with cultural institutions and organisations, private companies, policymakers and civil society and the public dissemination of knowledge.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a PhD degree or must document equivalent qualifications in an academic field of relevance to aesthetics and culture, as well as teaching and research experience equivalent to that attained through a PhD degree. Applicants must be able to document, relevant to the position:

• an internationally oriented research profile within arts, aesthetics and culture as documented by a PhD dissertation and/or research publications
• relevant teaching experience at university level, including innovative teaching methods documented through a teaching portfolio.

Furthermore, it will be considered an advantage if applicants can document

• a track record of research publications of a high international standard, as commensurate with the length of the applicant’s academic career
• an outstanding and innovative doctoral dissertation or publications commensurate with a doctoral dissertation in an area related to and relevant for the position
• experience of participation in national and international research networks
• collaboration with and/or time spent abroad working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions
• experience of knowledge exchange.

Applicants are asked to provide a research plan for the next three years. This can include a strategy/vision for their contribution to future developments within the field, plans for publication, funding applications and collaborations with external partners. Finally, applicants should describe their experiences with research dissemination and external collaboration.

Please note that although the application process can be completed on the Aarhus University system without uploading publications or a teaching portfolio, applications that do not include uploaded publications (maximum five) as well as a teaching portfolio (or equivalent documentation of teaching experience and qualifications) will not be considered.

Although the Aarhus University application system includes an option to upload letters of recommendation, please do not include letters of recommendation or references with the application. Applicants who are invited to an interview may be asked to provide references.

Work environment

Active participation in the daily life of the department is a high priority, and we emphasise the importance of good working relationships, both among colleagues and with our students. To maintain and develop the department’s excellent teaching and research environment, the successful applicant is expected to be present at the department on a daily basis.

We respect the balance between work and private life and strive to create a work environment in which that balance can be maintained. You can read more about family and work-life balance in Denmark.

International applicants

International applicants are encouraged to read about the attractive working conditions and other benefits of working at Aarhus University and in Denmark, including healthcare, paid holidays and, if relevant, maternity/paternity leave, childcare and schooling. Aarhus University offers a wide variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including a relocation service and an AU Expat Partner Programme. You can also find information about the taxation aspects of international researchers’ employment by AU.

An appointee who does not speak Danish will be required to acquire proficiency in Danish sufficient to handle tasks, including administrative and managerial responsibilities, and to participate fully in the activities of the School of Communication and Culture within approximately three years of commencing the appointment. These include, but are not limited to, reading work-related texts and participating in meetings and collegial gatherings in Danish.

The department

The place of employment is the Department of Art History, Aesthetics & Culture and Museology, Langelandsgade 139, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Prospective applicants are invited to view the department’s website.

School of Communication and Culture

The school is a part of the Faculty of Arts. You will find information about the school and its research programmes, departments and diverse activities on its website.

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact Lise Skytte Jakobsen, Head of the Department of Art History, Aesthetics & Culture and Museology, by tel.: +45 61303916 or by email: kunlsj@cc.au.dk.

If you need help uploading your application or have questions about the recruitment process, please contact Arts HR support by email: hsi@au.dk.

Qualification requirements

• Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).
• Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities .
• Further information on the application and supplementary materials may be found in Application Guidelines.
• The application must outline the applicant's motivation for applying for the position, attaching a curriculum vitae, a teaching portfolio, a complete list of published works, copies of degree certificates and examples of academic production (mandatory, but no more than five examples). Please upload this material electronically along with your application.

Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Arts consists of the School of Communication and Culture, the School of Culture and Society, the Danish School of Education, and the Centre for Teaching Development and Digital Media. Each of these units has strong academic environments and forms the basis for interdisciplinary research and education.

The faculty's academic environments and degree programmes engage in international collaboration and share the common goal of contributing to the development of knowledge, welfare and culture in interaction with society.

Read more at arts.au.dk/en

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/