PhD Scholarship in Art, Design and Responsible AI (100%) at the Inter-Actions research unit

Job title:

PhD Scholarship in Art, Design and Responsible AI (100%) at the Inter-Actions research unit

Company

LUCA School of Arts

Job description

PhD Scholarship in Art, Design and Responsible AI (100%) at the Inter-Actions research unit from LUCA School of Arts, Campus C-mineLUCA School of Arts is a multidisciplinary educational and research environment in which creative talent can develop on an artistic, performative and technical level. LUCA promotes the practice of art and creative design and believes that art and design have the power to inspire new perspectives and foster imaginative solutions to pressing social issues.LUCA combines the strength and expertise of five renowned institutions: Sint-Lukas Brussel, Narafi Brussel, C-mine Genk, Sint-Lucas Gent and Lemmens Leuven. With over 700 staff members and about 4000 students, LUCA School of Arts is a creative hub for over 4,500 artists, musicians, theatre and film-makers, photographers and designers.All teaching and research activities within LUCA are guided by a basic attitude of respect and integrity. Thereby our core assets are sustainability and diversity with quality as the driving force. In the coming years, we want to give LUCA more identity as an important actor in debates on societal topics, make our educational institute part of a laboratory, supplement our educational and research offer with demand-driven initiatives, and open up our multi-campus reality into a network.LUCA School of Arts wants to create an environment in which all talents can develop to the fullest, regardless of gender, age, cultural origin, nationality or disability. We therefore welcome all people with talent who recognize the added value of diversity and an inclusive organization. #weArtThe research unit Inter-Actions is one of the 4 research entities of LUCA and currently has a vacant doctoral position to pursue a PhD in the Arts at LUCA/KU Leuven. The position resides under its research clusters “Art, Design & Technology” and “Future Framing” and aims to explore the role of arts and design in the creation and use of Responsible AI.All projects in the Inter-Actions research unit critically study the interplay between maker, artefact and environment. The maker explores, reflects, and creates within and beyond the technological boundaries of existing artistic fields. We applaud research proposals that embrace interdisciplinary and participatory approaches, with a focus on (audio)visual arts and design.The research clusters “Future Framing” and “Art, Design & Technology” focus on practice-based research that is situated at the interplay between art, design, science and technology. Within these clusters, researchers, build knowledge on the impact of “emerging technologies” on the design/art-making process and the changing role of the designer/artist in the creation process and the final result. The Future Framing cluster explores how new forms of image-making (genAI, XR, VR, AR), machine vision, and computational imaging, in combination with other experimental visual methods, expand the possibilities for attunement, reflection, experimentation, and creation in relation to the world. The Art, Design and Technology cluster researches human-technology interaction that starts from systemic thinking and positions technology within a social, cultural and spatial context. Both research clusters strive for an inclusive, future-oriented, and critical dialogue, with other contexts and disciplines, on urgent matters such as ecology, care, and inclusion.PhD project proposalResponsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the development and use of AI technologies in a manner that is ethical, transparent, fair, accountable, inclusive, and sustainable. As AI continues to rapidly advance and integrate into various aspects of daily life, the demand for responsible AI practices becomes increasingly urgent. The responsible growth of AI stresses the importance of ensuring that novel AI technologies have a positive impact on society, preventing any unintended adverse effects or deepening of inequalities.The field of art and design can play a pivotal role in the development of responsible AI by fostering interdisciplinary collaborations that critically assess and innovate existing AI paradigms. Through critical approaches and creative methodologies, art and design have the unique ability to facilitate discussions on complex societal implications, imagine alternative operational modes, and make abstract AI concepts tangible. Additionally, art and design research can critically reflect on AI’s impact within its own domains, examining how AI technologies can transform artistic and design practices themselves.We are searching for research proposals that emphasise collaborative practice-based art and design research, in which the candidate experiments with the technology rather than merely reflects on the topic of the technology.PROFILEYou have a Master’s diploma.You propose a PhD project that is relevant to the research objectives of LUCA’s research unit Inter-Actions and the research clusters “Art, Design & Technology” and “Future Framing” in particular.You are willing to work in a team and to play an active role within your research unit.You have the skills to complete a comprehensive, long-term research project within the given time frame.You have a strong research oriented artistic/design portfolio.You have experience (as a master student or researcher) in artistic or design research.You are willing to communicate your research at conferences, through artistic presentations and through academic publications.You have the ambition to become an outstanding researcher and to share your knowledge in higher arts education.THE POSITIONThe position is a PhD-scholarship at LUCA starting on May 1st, 2025.More information about the salary scales can be found on the website of the Department of Education (www.ond.vlaanderen.be).You will perform research activities at LUCA (100%). A maximum of 10% may be asked to participate in education or 20% in research support activities.APPLICATIONSYour candidature contains: (1) an up-to-date and comprehensive CV, including an art or design portfolio and (if applicable) a list of publications (2) a letter of motivation stating your qualifications and reasons for interest in the position, and (3) your research proposal (see below).Only complete candidatures will be accepted for evaluation. Uploaded documents cannot exceed 5 MB. If the portfolio requires a higher resolution, please insert a hyperlink to an online portfolio.The deadline for applications is the 6th of January 2025 via the job posting at CV Warehouse.RESEARCH PROPOSALYour research proposal should provide the following information and structure, which is based on the template for applying to the : * Title and summary (max. 200 words) of the research proposal;

• Research subject (min. 400, max. 800 words):
• Describe the artistic or design field or disciplines in which your doctoral research can be situated;
• Describe as clearly as possible the research topic, research questions and the objectives of the research.
• Research process (min. 300, max. 600 words):
• Describe in practical terms how and by which methods you will give shape to the research process;
• Demonstrate how your own art or design practice is an integral part of your research methods;
• Demonstrate how artistic skills, creativity and imagination are part of the research (refer to your portfolio if necessary).
• Work planning:
• Planned duration of the research (set at 4 years);
• Describe the objectives per year, in relation to the planned duration (min. 150, max. 300 words).
• Contribution to knowledge and the arts and design practice (min. 250, max. 500 words):
• Describe how this research is original and innovative with regard to existing research, projects and practices (artistic, design-based, others);
• Describe how you expect the research results to contribute to the research community, the arts and design practice and the broader social context in which the research is situated;
• Describe how this doctoral research will influence your personal practice as an artist or designer.
• Presentation, dissemination and valorization (min. 150, max. 300 words):
• The PhD in the Arts consists of a written dissertation and creations in the arts or design. Indicate the possible format(s) for the presentation of these creations in the framework of the PhD defence;
• Indicate how your project and its results can otherwise be brought to the attention of researchers, artists and the wider audience, during and after your doctoral study;
• Make a suggestion on how the research results can be valorized beyond their dissemination or presentation.

SELECTION PROCEDUREA preliminary selection is made on the basis of the written application by the research unit of the candidate. The selected candidates will be invited for an interview with a committee, headed by the research unit coordinator Dr. Niels Hendriks. The interviews will take place via video call in the week of 13th of January, 2025 and an invitation link will be sent to the candidates. The candidates will be informed of the decision by the research council one week after the interview. The selected candidate should then also submit his/her/their research proposal to the doctoral committee (if the proposal has not been accepted on the forehand).The candidate selected for this position must present a letter of acceptance by the doctoral commission in order to proceed with his/her/their activities. Failure to achieve the acceptance letter of the PhD commission will lead to not being accepted in this position.You can apply for this position via the job posting at CV Warehouse no later than the 6th of January 2025?LUCA C-Mine is a campus of and for everyone. We have the ambition to create an environment in which all talents can develop to the maximum, regardless of gender, age, cultural origin, nationality or disability.We want to be a campus where everyone feels welcome, valued, seen and heard. As a campus, we believe the more inclusive and sustainable we are, the better we can perform. We therefore strive to see the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives reflected in the workforce and teaching and research results of our degree programme. Regardless of gender, age, cultural background, who you love and what you believe: we cordially invite you to apply!For more information please contact Dr. Kristof Vrancken (kristof.vrancken@luca-arts.be), Dr. Veerle Van der Sluys (veerle.vanderluys@luca-arts.be), or Dr. Niels Hendriks (niels.hendriks@luca-arts.be).

Expected salary

Location

Genk, Limburg

Job date

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 23:06:12 GMT

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