Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 120 nationalities, 14 000 students, 400 professors and close to 5000 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

The Aalto School of Arts, Design and Architecture (ARTS) is a Nordic leader in higher education for design, fashion, games, media, architecture, film, art education and fine art. We produce world-class research e.g. in design, digital media and visual culture, art education, urban planning and architecture. Our graduates innovate in and beyond their fields, drawing on over a century of tradition of our institution, a humane and forward-looking approach, and the latest technologies.  

The Department of Design is a community of creative and responsible researchers and design experts. We educate front-line design professionals and visionaries for established, changing and emerging fields of design. (https://www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-design). 

We are now looking for a

Doctoral Researcher for the Finnish Design Push initiative (2-year funded position)

The Department of Design is looking for a doctoral researcher with an interest to conduct research in the intersection between design integration and design education to support the development and research activities pursued through the Finnish Design Push initiative. The Finnish Design Push is a joint research and development initiative on education – formed in partnership between the School of Arts, Design and Architecture and the Technology Industries of Finland to support the work-life transition of design students and further the employment of design within Finnish industry (Finnish Design Push | Aalto University).

The duration of doctoral studies is estimated to four years at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture and, in applying for the position, applicants are also expected to to apply to the ARTS Doctoral programme via School’s general call either in tandem with your application (preferred) or during the six-month probation period for the position.

You can find more information about the ARTS Doctoral Programme and how to apply for doctoral studies here: Aalto Doctoral Programme in Arts, Design and Architecture | Aalto University. In applying for the programme, please state your interest in this position (Doctoral Researcher Finnish Design Push) on the header of your research plan.

Your role and goals

As a doctoral researcher, you will take part in studying the development and educational activities pursued through the initiative as well as conduct additional research studies within the broader realm of interest for the initiative. Advancing your doctoral studies and accompanying research studies form the foci of the position. However, as a doctoral researcher, you are also expected to contribute to teaching and take part in the administration and research activities for the initiative.

Design is frequently brought forward as pivotal for companies to stay competitive and innovative across many industries – being an integral part when developing offerings, deepening engagements with customers, and expanding into new markets. In critically examining the basic premises of such propositions, with the Finnish Design Push, we are interested in better understand the processes by which companies – and especially small- and medium-sized technology companies – becomes interested and acquires capabilities in design. We are also interested in how design education can support students in acquiring the necessary skills, knowledge and interest to take on challenges and successfully pursue careers as designers in techology companies.

Following this, we invite research proposals for doctoral projects to further our understanding on these topics within the broader realm of research on design management, design policy, design integration, design methodology, design education and strategic design.

Your network and team

As a doctoral researcher at the Department of Design, you will be working in a multidisciplinary and international environment comprising researchers, teachers and students who all share a passion for design. You can read mor abou the Department of Design here: Department of Design | Aalto University

Your experience and ambitions

• Master degree in design, design management, business, education or another relevant field.
• Ability to work both independently and together with other resarchers executing assigned tasks.
• Capacity to complete the doctoral studies within four years.
• Strong profiency in English. Given the benchmark activities that are pursued through the initative, proficiency in a Nordic language is considered as an advantage.
• Knowledge and experience in academic skills, prior experience in research and publishing is considered as an advantage.

What we offer

The position is fixed termed for two years, and for conducting full time doctoral studies. Funding continuation might be possible after this period.

We offer the innovative working community of Aalto University and meaningful and varied work as part of a high-level research team and consortium. The work includes the possibility of participating in interesting staff training at Aalto University. More about working at Aalto here.

Join us!

Please send your application as PDF files through our online recruitment system by the 15th of March. Your application should include the following documents:

• a letter of motivation (max 2 pages)
• a doctoral research plan (max. 5 pages),
• CV and list of publication (if available)

Please note: The deadline for applying to Aalto Doctoral Programme in Arts, Design and Architecture | Aalto University is already on 6 March at 3 pm (UTC+2). So, if you are aiming to apply for doctoral studies, you need to submit the necessary material for that application already at that point.

Please also note: Aalto University’s employees should apply for the position via our internal HR system Workday (Internal Jobs) by using their existing Workday user account (not via the external webpage for open positions).

For more information about the role, please contact Associate Professor Oscar Person  oscar.person(at)aalto.fi.  For questions related to the application process, please contact HR Partner Katju Helminen, katju.helminen(at)aalto.fi.

Want to know more about us and your future colleagues? You can watch these videos:

This is Aalto University!
Aalto University – Towards a better world
and Shaping a Sustainable Future.
 

Read more about working at Aalto: https://www.aalto.fi/en/careers-at-aalto

Check out our new virtual campus experience: https://virtualtour.aalto.fi/
 

For more information about living in Finland: Aalto Careers for International Staff .

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