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The Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences of Tampere University invites applications for a four-year Doctoral Researcher position, starting 1st of March 2025. 

The project “InterReal – Exploring Interreal Translation in the Media Multiverse” will take place at Tampere University, from January 2025 to December 2029. The project is funded by European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant 2024) and led by Associate Professor Mattia Thibault. The project offers a supportive and enthusiastic working environment, and excellent opportunities for career-development in an international and interdisciplinary setting. 

The InterReal project proposes that our mediascape is developing towards a Media Multiverse, which will encompass a multi-faceted array of media-generated alternative “realities” from immersive Virtual Reality (VR) to layers of Augmented Reality (AR) visualized over the physical world, and the virtual worlds of digital games. The Media Multiverse is permeated by mechanisms of interreal translation, which are intersemiotic transfers of objects, subjects, and spaces from one form of reality to another. InterReal aims to develop an innovative approach to study and understand how translations between realities take place and how they could influence our future. 

The project is articulated around two key approaches: an Analytical approach, which will provide a nuanced understanding of the current state of interreal translations, and a Speculative approach, which will offer a critical look to the current ideologies and future possibilities related to the development of the media multiverse. The two approaches will be in constant dialogue, which will intensify in a final Synthesis phase.  

JOB DESCRIPTION 

We are looking for a Doctoral Researcher in the areas of Semiotics, Translation Studies, and similar. The Doctoral Researcher will work primarily on intersemiotic translations across different virtual spaces (XR, video games, virtual platforms). 

The candidate’s work will be focused on conducting doctoral research towards the completion of a doctoral dissertation within the InterReal project. This will mainly consist of research activities including research planning, selection of corpora, case studies, semiotic analysis, article preparation, dissemination, and publishing. Moreover, the candidate is expected to participate in project-wide research efforts, in regular project meetings and in the activities of the multidisciplinary research team. The candidate is expected to present their research at seminars and academic conferences.   

In particular, the Doctoral Researcher will focus on intersemiotic translations of objects, avatars, and spaces across different virtual environments. The work will include semiotic and translational analysis on several case studies making use of methods such as shift analysis, Actor-Network mapping, introspective methods, or other applicable methods utilised in semiotics and translation research. Additionally, the candidate will realise a few self-made intersemiotic translations to critically engage with the translation process as well. 

The selected candidate will pursue a doctoral degree at Tampere University. Full-time doctoral studies are expected to be completed in four years. 

The selected candidate can influence the emphasis of their own research within the scientific scope of the InterReal project. A successful candidate is expected to show interest and enthusiasm towards working in a multidisciplinary team.  

QUALIFICATIONS 

The selected candidate must hold a Master’s Degree in a relevant field. The degree must be completed before the end of the application period. The selected candidate will have the ability to conduct independent scientific research with different methods from any branch of semiotics (generative semiotics, semiotics of culture, sociosemiotics, cybersemiotics, etc.) and/or from translation studies (intersemiotic and multimodal perspectives, translation as human-computer interaction, critical approaches to translation, etc.). The candidate will have good critical and methodological skills and be able to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a research team. Competence in written and oral English are required. 

The successful candidate needs to apply for and be granted a study right for a doctoral degree in the doctoral program of the discipline at Tampere University. Please visit the admissions webpage for more information on eligibility requirements. Pay special attention to the language requirements. 

We warmly welcome candidates able to bring different and diverse perspectives in our project. Therefore, we welcome proposals from researchers from all kinds of backgrounds. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply for the position even if the preferred qualifications listed below do not apply directly.  

Possible applicant’s qualifications include: 

• Track record on conducting research on intersemiotic translations. 

• Experience with semiotic analysis. 

• Experience with methods from translation studies. 

• Basic skills in design and/or development of digital content (XR, games, virtual spaces, avatars and similar).  

Please be prepared to provide proof of your merits upon request. 

WHAT WE OFFER 

• Duration: Fixed-term position of four years, starting from first day of employment. 

• Start date: Immediately on March 1st, 2025, or as soon as possible. A trial period of six (6) months applies to all new employees at TAU.  

• Salary: The salary will be based on both the job demands and the employee's personal performance in accordance with the University Salary System. According to the criteria applied to teaching and research staff, the position of a Doctoral researcher is placed on the job demands levels 2. A typical starting salary for a Doctoral researcher is approximately 2,700-2,900EUR/month. 

HOW TO APPLY 

Applications should be written in English and submitted electronically via the Tampere University’s electronic recruitment system (link below) by the 10th of February 2025 (at 23:59 EET/UTC +2). The interviews of the top candidates will be held in February. 

The following pdf-documents should accompany your application:  

       1. A motivation letter (max. 2 pages) consisting of  

• a brief description of previous education research experience and its relevance to this position.

• a brief statement on research interests and motivation for the position applied for. The selected applicant will have to apply and be admitted to the doctoral programme prior to the start of the work. The student needs to write a more detailed research plan at that stage.

1. A CV (TENK guidelines can be used as a template).  

1. Pdf copy of your MSc and BSc degree certificates, including transcripts of all university records and their English translations (Finnish and Swedish certificates are also accepted).  

1. One publication that is relevant for this position (e.g., a peer-reviewed article or a chapter from the applicant’s MA thesis). 

1. Either 2 recommendation letters or the contact details of two referees. 

Work environment 

The accepted candidates will work in the Language Unit of the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, within the InterReality Research Group (inter-reality.com). Led by Mattia Thibault, the group explores the dynamic interconnections between different virtual spaces and their interactions and connections with the physical world. Grounded in a rich multidisciplinary foundation, InterReality integrates insights from Humanities (Semiotics, Translation Studies, Speculative Design, Architecture) and Social Sciences (HCI, Media Studies, Game Research, User Studies), and is committed to advancing cutting-edge research and fostering the growth of young researchers. 

The InterReality Research Group is affiliated to the Research Centre in Gameful Realities and PLURAL.  The Research Centre in Gameful Realities is internationally renowned for seminal academic and societal contributions in the areas of novel technologies such as gamification, internet commerce, new media and human-computer interaction. See more: https://bit.ly/rcgrvideo 

PLURAL - Multidisciplinary research centre for languages and cultures aims to affect society by the means of multidisciplinary research on language. Among the research areas of Plural are language variation and change, language development and learning, multilingualism and -culturalism.  

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We are inviting you to be a part of a vibrant, active, and truly international research community. We value interdisciplinarity, as it allows you to expand your research network and exposes you to new perspectives and ideas to solve complex research problems and pursue novel research findings. We are strongly committed to the highest level of scientific research and the provision of high-quality doctoral education. 

As a member of staff at Tampere University, you will enjoy a range of competitive benefits, such as occupational health care services, flexible work schedule, versatile research infrastructure, modern teaching facilities and a safe and inviting campus area as well as a personal fund to spend on sports and cultural activities in your free time. Please read more about working at Tampere University. You can also find more information about us and working and living Tampere by watching our video: Tampere Higher Education Community - our academic playground.  

Finland is among the most stable, free, and safe countries in the world, based on prominent ratings by various agencies. Tampere is one of the major academic hubs in the Nordic countries and offers a dynamic living environment. Tampere region is one of the three most rapidly growing urban areas in Finland and home to a vibrant knowledge-intensive entrepreneurial community. The city is an industrial powerhouse that enjoys a rich cultural scene and a reputation as a centre of Finland’s information society. The city campus of the Tampere University, where the candidates will be located, is within walking distance of the city centre, and is an international centre of game research. For more information on Tampere and Finland, please visit: 

https://visittampere.fi/en/

https://www.visitfinland.com/

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

Inquiries 

For further information on the position please contact the InterReal PI Mattia Thibault, mattia.thibault(at)tuni.fi   

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HAKUOHJEET 

Lue tarkemmat tiedot tehtävästä ja hakuohjeet yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta. 

Jätäthän hakemuksesi yliopiston sähköisellä hakulomakkeella (linkki löytyy tämän ilmoituksen alta).  

Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy 10.2.2025, klo 23:59.