Postdoctoral Research Fellow in New Media Art

The UmArts Research Centre at Umeå University is seeking a postdoctoral fellow in New Media Art. The position  is based at the Department of Creative Studies (Crafts/Sloyd, Music, Visual Arts) in partnership with the Department of Informatics to contribute to the interdisciplinary artistic research within UmArts. The position is full-time for two years, starting on January 1, 2024, or by agreement. The application deadline is May 15, 2023 at 4pm CET.

Scope of research
This call is for a postdoctoral fellow in interdisciplinary artistic research within the field of New Media Art. The position is within one (or several) of the artistic practices of crafts (textile, wood/ metal), music or visual arts intersecting areas of Human Computer Interaction or Information Systems.

The broad aim of the position is to: a) establish a critical framework for interdisciplinary research across one of the artistic practices: crafts/music/visual arts and new digital technologies; b) investigate how new digital technologies can shape the creative context and process, and the generated artwork; c) generate new knowledge through the production of new creative practice-based research.

Candidates should apply with a research plan for their project proposal. We are looking for proposals that explore the interplay between materiality in crafts/music/visual arts (e.g. textiles / wood / metal, instrument, gesture / sound etc.) and emerging digital technologies (e.g. including but not limited to Arduino and bio sensors, Digital Fabrication, Internet of Things, AI, Environmental Sensing etc.). Proposals can develop and critically explore new interdisciplinary approaches for practice-based research, experimenting with new methods and theoretical perspectives. We especially welcome, but the call is not limited to, proposals focusing on human and more-than-human perspectives on interactive and participatory art and how the interactive technology/ interfaces can shape the roles of and interactions between the artwork, the artist and the exhibition visitors/spectators/audience. In addition, we welcome proposals which adopt educational research perspectives in the creative processes of working within interactive or participatory art. 

Job description
The postdoctoral fellow will work independently on their own creative project with support from supervisors in the two departments and UmArts. The postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to produce a range of research outputs including open access research articles, exhibition-making, performance (music), craft outputs (textile, wood, metal), prototyping, digital interventions, which drive the role of societal development forward. The postdoctoral fellow will play an active role contributing to the two departments’ research environments, including leading and participating in research seminars and workshops. The postdoctoral fellow will also be part of the UmArts programme, participating in interdisciplinary working groups, leading research workshops and reading groups, and presenting their work in the new UmArts’ Research Studio.  

The postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to work in the crafts / music / art studio environments at the department of Creative Studies as well as the facilities / environments available at the department of Informatics. The studio environments include: a machine park for working with wood, metal-working studios, a small SloydLab with laser cutter, vinyl cutter, 3D scanner and printer as well as a cnc milling machine, dye- and print lab (textiles), knitting- and embroidery machines with software for design, handlooms, and sewing lab. The studio environments also include a modern music studio and studios for sculpture making.

Application details here:  New Media Arts postdoc.