The Department of Digital Design and Information Studies at Aarhus University, in collaboration with the Center for Computational Thinking and Design, invites applications for a fully funded 2-year postdoc position in Design Literacy for K12 Students in the field of computational empowerment.

The position is full-time and begins on 1 November 2018 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The position

Computational empowerment is an emerging field of research that focuses on how citizens, especially children and adolescents, with a deeper understanding of technology and computation, can engage actively in the design and use of digital technology to support their personal agency in a digitalised society. We are interested in learning activities that include design, computational thinking, digital making, critical reflection, understanding user contexts and the societal impact of digital technology as contributing to computational empowerment. Design competences have previously been described in the research literature within design studies and design thinking for professional designers. However, little is known about how to develop design literacy among children and adolescents, who do not necessarily have a professional interest in the design of digital technology.

The successful applicant will be expected to participate in research-based project activities, lectures, seminars, and workshops, as well as in supervising students.

Research

This project examines how we build and sustain computational empowerment among K12 students. The postdoc should build on current research on design thinking and conduct experimental design research in Danish primary and secondary schools to establish a framework for developing design literacy.

Teaching

The position may involve some teaching as agreed upon with the Department of Digital Design and Information Studies and the Center for Computational Thinking and Design.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a PhD degree or equivalent in child-computer interaction, interaction design, design studies, or a similar field, as well as strong technical, theoretical, and experimental proficiency. 

Applicants are expected to document excellence in research through publications in international journals and conference proceedings within child-computer interaction, design studies, or interaction design. Applicants with documented research experience in design with/for children will be preferred.

Read the full job description and apply online here.

Application deadline: 20/8/2018

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 40,000 students and 8,000 employees, and has an annual budget of EUR 860 million Learn more at www.au.dk/en.