Assistant professorship in the history and theory of ecological thinking

At Aarhus School of Architecture, we wish to strengthen our knowledge foundation in the areas of humanistic knowledge adjacent to architecture with a particular emphasis on the interdisciplinary field one might call ‘the history and theory of ecological thinking’. Architecture, and consequently also the architectural profession, is faced with a radical process of transformation that requires a deeper understanding of the external world that we, the architects, operate in. As such, Insight into Nature and Cultural Understanding are two of the overlapping lenses through which we wish to direct the school's and our students' aesthetic and creative gazes in years to come. We thus need strong academic skills capable of connecting concepts across different knowledge fields and of helping to develop a more nuanced and powerful foundation for the discussion of architecture at the school, one based on ecological thinking.

For this reason, we announce an assistant professorship with a focus on ecological thinking that addresses architecture as an artistically based science and practice. We are looking for a profile with strong academic skills within the areas of humanities that border on architecture, such as sociology, philosophy, aesthetics or anthropology, but in particular with a view toward these areas’ overlapping architectural perspectives and non-human entanglements. We are, in other words, looking for an academic with a broad theoretical profile who has an understanding of and interest in architecture as a social art that is inextricably embedded in the cycles of nature.

At Aarhus School of Architecture, we aim for ambitious research and teaching that combine the different scales of architecture - from landscape to the urban scale to building scale and details – with aesthetics, technology, nature and culture. We will soon implement a new way of structuring our teaching and a new curriculum. In this, the above concepts will precisely constitute the backbone of the education we offer; a backbone that will also have an impact on the direction our research in the coming years.

Aarhus School of Architecture has built up robust research environments in areas such as urban and landscape development, the art of building, climate adaptation, sustainability, materials, aesthetics, tectonics and cultural heritage. The school has strong digital skills, first-class workshop facilities and a clear focus on incorporating practice-oriented experiments into research and teaching. With a deep culture of cooperation as our starting point, our aim is to constantly strengthen teaching and research within the development of sustainable architecture. One way we achieve this is by incorporating new technologies into the methods we use in our work and by connecting new ecologically oriented theories with creative thinking and the development of ideas. Therefore, in developing the school's teaching and research agendas, this assistant professorship is connected to a main focus on the link between physical creation and ecological thinking.

The principal tasks of the position are research and teaching in a 50/50 ratio. The position may also, to a limited extent, include administrative work, visionary work, and cross-institutional and external cooperation. Aarhus School of Architecture ensures that the assistant professor receives supervision and opportunities for the development of pedagogical skills.

The position is announced as a three-year assistant professorship, with a possibility of moving to a permanent position as an associate professor. This means that the person we hire, after a period of at least three years, may become an associate professor. A transition into an associate professorship requires that the candidate is assessed as qualified as an associate professor.

The position is open from 1 November 2023 – or subject to further agreement.

Remuneration will be in accordance with the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC-fællesoverenskomsten).

The affiliation of the assistant professorship

The assistant professorship will, by agreement, be affiliated with one of the school's three research labs Transformation (Research Lab 1), Technology, Building Cultures and Habitation (Research Lab 2) or Emerging Sustainable Architecture (Research Lab 3). Read more about the three research labs here: Research labs - Aarhus School of Architecture (aarch.dk)

The teaching part of the position will involve lectures, workshops, study groups, and courses that run across the subject area of the assistant professorship. The research part of the position will focus on developing further the subject area of the history and theory of ecological thinking according to the motivations outlined in the above.

What we can offer you

At Aarhus School of Architecture, we can offer you a creative and innovative research and teaching environment. You will have a share of the responsibility for developing further the school's research and teaching in the area of the history and theory of ecological thinking.

We recently moved into Denmark's first new-built school of architecture located in the heart of Aarhus: a building with greatly expanded workshop facilities that contribute to strengthening our practice-oriented teaching and our potential for experimenting with materials and building technical solutions through our research. See the new facilities

The new building has made the school a more integrated part of the city and the surrounding area, which is now a laboratory for creativity and social commitment. It is a laboratory where tomorrow's architecture is created in collaboration with architectural practices and other stakeholders of the building industry, entrepreneurs, the municipality, the citizens of Aarhus, and the partners we cooperate with from all over the world.

As an employee at the Aarhus School of Architecture, you will have the opportunity to work with people in different age groups from many different cultures. We work together across the institution, with each person playing an important role and a having voice regardless of position. We believe that with mutual recognition and a focus on collaboration, we can create the best framework for an attractive and vibrant workplace.

We encourage all interested applicants who possess the relevant qualifications to apply for the position.

Requirements for applicants and applications

Employment as an assistant professor requires research skills at a PhD level within the subject area of the position.

At Aarhus School of Architecture, Danish is used as the first language and English as the second language. If you do not speak Danish, we expect you to gradually build up an understanding of Danish.

The form will require you to upload an application in which you describe one or more possible research areas and/or projects within the subject area of the call and explain your thoughts on teaching. The total length of the application should not exceed six pages (A4).

You are also required to upload the following:

• A copy of your certificate for the exams you have passed on the master level and at PhD level
• Your CV
• A portfolio containing selected examples of your professional, artistic, academic and/or teaching-based practice (no more than 20 MB)
• A list of publications

Deadline

Upload the application via the link. Your application must have been received by Aarhus School of Architecture no later than Friday, 4 August 2023 at 1:00 (noon).

Shortlisting

Aarhus School of Architecture shortlists applicants. Shortlisting means that only those applicants who best match the needs of the school are selected for academic assessment. This selection is based on the formal and academic requirements for applicants stated in the call. All applicants will be informed of whether or not their application has been shortlisted for academic assessment.

More information

Please direct any questions about the position to Head of Research Thomas Bo Jensen - T: (+45) 89360300 or E: [email protected].


Kilde: Jobnet.dk