CALL FOR PROFESSOR: ASSOCIATE OR FULL PROFESSOR IN ART, SOCIETY AND TECHNOLOGY (DEADLINE: AUGUST 31 2026, FINLAND)

Aalto University
School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Otaniementie 14
Espoo, 02150
Finland

Application deadline: August 31, 2026, 11:59pm

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Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture (Aalto ARTS) is a global leader in higher education in design, fashion, games, media, architecture, film, art education and art. We also conduct world-class research in art education, design and design thinking, digital media and visual culture, urban planning and architecture. Our graduates are innovators in and beyond their fields, drawing from over a century of tradition, a humane and forward-looking approach, and the latest technologies. Our campus in Espoo, just west of Helsinki, makes working together within and across disciplines easier than ever before. 

The Department of Art and Media invites applications for the position of: Associate or Full Professor in Art, Society and Technology.

The successful candidate will be appointed for an Associate or Full Professor position in the Aalto University tenure track system.  The employment will begin in August 2027 or as agreed. 

The position will strengthen the department’s capacity to develop socially grounded frameworks for understanding how technological transformations (digital platforms, algorithmic systems, artificial intelligence) and complex societal and systemic changes are affecting creative work, cultural production, contemporary art and civic life. 

Generative AI, datafication, and platform-driven economic models are already reshaping the conditions under which artists, designers, and media practitioners work. Consequently, established assumptions about authorship, compensation, and the distribution of cultural value are shifting rapidly. This professorship will offer a systemic and critically informed perspective on these transformations, drawing on transdisciplinary studies on topics such as politics, economy, digital transformation, and their impact on art and society.

The Professor in Art, Society and Technology has a cross-disciplinary, and integrative understanding of how art & media, technology and work, intersect and are informed by research on themes such as political, economic and digital infrastructures. This international and comparative outlook complements the department's existing strengths in new media, visual cultures, game studies, transdisciplinary art studies, art education and contemporary art by situating research within wider social contexts.

Responsibilities and goals   
The professor is expected to carry out, lead and supervise research, to engage in educating students at all degree levels, and to contribute to curriculum development. Professors of the Aalto University also participate in university administration and service. A particular expectation for this professorship is to build networks with researchers and practitioners within Aalto University and internationally.

At all levels of the tenure track system, the professor is expected to conduct high-quality research with societal impact as well as to teach at the doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s levels, to be an active member of the international research community, and to demonstrate academic leadership. 

Your experience  
The candidates for the Associate or Full Professor position are evaluated based on the criteria established by the School of Arts, Design and Architecture. For this professorship, a successful candidate is expected to have:  

–A doctoral degree in a relevant field. 
–Broad and advanced professional knowledge, including a strong track record and expertise in carrying out and leading research.   
–Strong and consistent publication record.   
–Substantial experience in crossdisciplinary and international networks in versatile collaborations with relevant partners.  
–Success in applying for significant external research and/or project funding.  
–Excellent track record in teaching and supervision in higher education, including doctoral education. Pedagogical training is a merit.   
–Experience in academic leadership roles or other relevant responsibilities.  
–Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. 

These criteria are meant to support the holistic evaluation of candidates who are evaluated on the overall combination and balance across the dimensions relevant to the field and the type of the professorship. Particular emphasis is given to their potential to complement the existing research expertise of the school.  

The position will require working at the  Aalto University campus in Finland.  

What we offer  
The professor will be part of an inspiring and supportive community of experienced professionals and highly motivated students. The professor will also have the opportunity to use the department’s extensive research and artistic networks both nationally and internationally. Aalto University also offers great artistic and technical infrastructure and workshops. 

The salary will be defined based on the candidate’s qualifications and level of the position and will follow the  Aalto University salary system.  In addition to the salary, Aalto University offers its employees occupational health care and excellent learning and development opportunities.

Ready to apply
To apply, please submit your application materials on August 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Eastern European time UTC +3) at the latest. For more information about the application materials and a link to apply, please see the job posting on our website).