Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Full Professor of Interaction Design

The School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University invites applications for a position as assistant professor, associate professor or full professor of interaction design, based in the Department of Digital Design and Information Studies.

The assistant professorship is a full-time, three-year fixed-term position. Subject to the availability of funding, there will subsequently be an opportunity to apply for an associate professorship. The associate and full professorships are full-time, tenured positions.
Applicants must apply for only one position category. Applicants who do not specify a category or apply for more than one category will not be considered.

The appointment will begin on 1 November 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The School of Communication and Culture values diversity and welcomes all qualified applicants, regardless of their personal background.

The position

The position will be based in the Department of Digital Design and Information Studies, which offers a wide range of humanistic approaches to the study of the relationship between humans and information technology, from the granular analysis of the agency of code to the ways in which information technology challenges and transforms the social, political, economic and cultural dimensions of modern society. The department supports and encourages diverse and innovative methodologies.

We are seeking an applicant with a well-documented academic background in interaction design who can strengthen our research profile in interaction design theory, methods and practice. The successful applicant’s research must be firmly rooted in interaction design as a discipline and should explore how information technology interacts with people, organisations and cultures, or how it relates to broader societal issues.

We invite applications from researchers with expertise in the study of interaction design and in the role of digital technologies in everyday practices. The successful applicant will be expected to contribute to interdisciplinary research environments and to advance responsible, sustainable, critical and ethically grounded approaches to interaction design. Applicants should demonstrate a clearly articulated research profile and explain how their research agenda and scholarly output both shape and are shaped by intellectual and scholarly traditions. Applicants’ scholarly profile should be situated within one or more key research communities in the field, such as human-centred design, human–computer interaction, participatory design and the design of interactive systems.

We are seeking an innovative and dedicated applicant who will strengthen the department’s research and teaching profiles nationally and internationally and contribute to Aarhus University’s core activities in research, teaching and supervision, talent development and knowledge exchange.

If appointed as assistant professor, the successful applicant must complete Aarhus University’s teacher-training programme for assistant professors designed for university teaching.

Research

The Department of Digital Design and Information Studies at Aarhus University has a strong international profile and a well-established research network. The successful applicant will join an interdisciplinary faculty with thriving research fields such as interaction design, participatory design, innovation and entrepreneurship, critical data studies, science, technology and society studies, and digital aesthetics.

The successful applicant will be expected to publish original, peer-reviewed research at an international level and make scholarly contributions to developments in the field. Furthermore, the successful applicant will be expected to contribute to research initiatives within both interaction design and the department’s broader research environment, with the aim of developing new collaborative research projects with internal and external partners and attracting external research funding.

Teaching and supervision

The successful applicant will contribute to the department’s teaching and supervision activities, including courses on the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Digital Design – IT, Aesthetics and Interaction and the Master’s Degree Programme in Digital Design. Applicants are asked to indicate in their application which courses they are qualified to teach. The successful applicant will also be expected to apply innovative teaching methods.
If appointed as associate or full professor, the successful applicant will be expected to supervise and support the career development of early-career researchers, including recruiting and supervising PhD students and contributing to the development and delivery of PhD courses in the field.

If appointed as full professor, the successful applicant will also be expected to take a leading role in the ongoing development of degree programmes in digital design and information studies and to participate actively in maintaining a healthy, collegial and ethical academic environment, including supporting junior researchers in their academic development. In this context, experience in degree programme development at universities or similar institutions will be an advantage.

Given the international focus of the degree programmes, the successful applicant will be expected to teach in both Danish and English. The successful applicant may also be asked to teach relevant courses at other departments within the school.

Knowledge exchange

The successful applicant will be expected to engage in knowledge exchange, for example through research collaboration with private companies, government consultancy, engagement with civil society and the public dissemination of knowledge.

The successful applicant will have excellent opportunities to engage in relevant collaborative initiatives with partners both within and beyond Aarhus University.

Qualifications

Assistant professor

Applicants for the position of assistant professor must hold a PhD or document equivalent qualifications in a relevant field related to interaction design. Applicants must also be able to document the following, as relevant to the position:

• an internationally oriented research profile in interaction design, as documented by a PhD dissertation and/or research publications
• relevant teaching experience at university level, including the use of innovative teaching methods, as documented in a teaching portfolio.

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

• experience of participation in national and international research networks
• time spent abroad working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions.

Associate professor

Applicants for the position of associate professor must hold a PhD degree or document equivalent qualifications in a relevant field related to interaction design, as well as teaching and research experience commensurate with that typically acquired in an assistant professorship. Applicants must also be able to document the following, as relevant to the position:

• an internationally oriented research profile, as documented by a strong record of international peer-reviewed publications in interaction design
• experience of participation in international research projects and in national and international research networks
• experience of knowledge exchange
• teaching and supervision experience at BA and MA levels, including curriculum development, as documented in a teaching portfolio. The portfolio must also include a teaching statement describing the applicant’s approach to teaching, with practical examples illustrating their teaching philosophy
• completion of a teacher-training programme designed for university teaching or documentation of equivalent qualifications.

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

• periods spent abroad working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions
• experience of applying for external research funding.

Full professor

Applicants for the position of full professor must hold a PhD or document equivalent qualifications in a relevant field related to interaction design, as well as teaching and research experience commensurate with that typically acquired in an associate professorship. Applicants must also be able to document the following, as relevant to the position:

• a record of original peer-reviewed research publications at the highest international level, contributing to developments in interaction design
• a strong track record in research management and in attracting external research funding
• experience of participation in international research collaboration and in national and international research networks
• extensive and relevant teaching and supervision experience at BA, MA and PhD levels, as well as experience of curriculum development, as documented in a teaching portfolio. The portfolio must also include a teaching statement describing the applicant’s approach to teaching, with practical examples illustrating their teaching philosophy
• completion of a teacher-training programme designed for university teaching or documentation of equivalent qualifications
• extensive experience of supervising and supporting the career development of early-career researchers (PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and assistant professors) and of developing PhD courses
• a substantial record of knowledge exchange.

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

• periods spent abroad working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions.

Finally, all applicants are asked to submit a three-year research plan outlining how they envision their own and the department’s contributions to future research developments in the field, including plans for publications, funding applications and collaboration with external partners. The research plan (maximum three pages) must be uploaded as a separate document via the “Research plan” option in the Aarhus University application system.

Please note that although the application process can be completed in the Aarhus University system without uploading publications or a teaching portfolio, applications that do not include publications (a maximum of two for the assistant professor position and a maximum of five for the associate professor or full professor position) and a teaching portfolio (or equivalent documentation of teaching experience and qualifications) will not be considered.

Although the Aarhus University application system allows applicants to upload letters of recommendation, applicants are asked not to include them with their applications. Applicants invited to an interview may be asked to provide references.

Work environment

Active participation in the department’s daily life is a high priority, and we emphasise the importance of good working relationships among colleagues and with our students. To maintain and further develop the department’s strong teaching and research environment, the successful applicant is expected to maintain a regular and engaged presence in the department.

We respect the balance between work and private life and strive to create a work environment that supports this. 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 taxation when working or conducting research at Aarhus University.

An appointee who does not speak Danish will be required to acquire sufficient proficiency in Danish to manage relevant 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 conducted in Danish.

Department of Digital Design and Information Studies

For further information, see the department’s website.
The place of employment is the Department of Digital Design and Information Studies, Helsingforsgade 14, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.

School of Communication and Culture

The school is 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 Morten Breinbjerg, Head of the Department of Digital Design and Information Studies, by tel.: +45 87161997 or by email: mbrein@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.

If you have a profile within Full professor, please apply online HERE

If you have a profile within Associate professor, please apply online HERE

If you have a profile within Assistant professor, please apply online HERE

Qualification requirements

Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.

Formalities

• 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 Finance 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, research plan, copies of degree certificates and no more than five examples of academic production (mandatory). Please upload this material electronically along with your application.

If nothing else is noted, applications must be submitted in English. Application deadline is at 11.59 pm Danish time (same as Central European Time) on the deadline day.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Shortlists may be prepared with the candidates that have been selected for a detailed academic assessment. A committee set up by the head of school is responsible for selecting the most qualified candidates. See this link for further information about shortlisting at the Faculty of Arts: shortlisting

About Arts

The Faculty of Arts is one of Northern Europe’s most significant faculties for research and higher education in the humanities, theology and education. Within this broad academic scope, the faculty comprises approximately 700 researchers, 200 PhD students, 9,000 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students, and 1,500 further and continuing education students. We believe that the best ideas arise when different perspectives meet – and that research, teaching and innovation are best developed in dialogue with the surrounding society.

You can find more information here: Faculty of Arts | Aarhus University

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 37,000 students (FTEs) and 8.700 employees and has an annual revenue of EUR 1.106 billion. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/