The Graduate School of Arts, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University invites applications for a PhD scholarship in Digital Heritage and Virtual Culture. Proposals for PhD projects should focus on research in and development of methods, tools and applications for production, representation and dissemination of digital heritage and virtual culture, and may involve applied research in the development and deployment of GIS-based projects, digital heritage archives, 3D visualizations, interactive digital simulations, design or evaluation of cultural simulations in virtual environments, or game-based learning for digital archaeology and interactive history projects.

Presentation

Digitized and digital resources with archival institutions such as museums, libraries and research institutions are increasingly being made accessible for research, educational and public use and interaction. Digital resources and data may be both cultural heritage and everyday culture resources, and making such resources accessible and enriching them for innovative research, educational and public use and interaction are central tasks of the digital humanities.

The Danish Digital Humanities Lab (DIGHUMLAB DK), anchored at Aarhus University, is a national consortium engaged in digital humanities projects and in developing digital research infrastructures for the humanities and social sciences. With interdisciplinarity and collaborative research at the core of our vision, DIGHUMLAB can offer the PhD scholar collaborative networks with AU research centres (e.g. Centre for Advanced Visualization and Interaction, Centre for Participatory IT) and with interdisciplinary research environments including Smart Aarhus and the university’s research programmes in digital design, information science, media studies, archaeology, museology, anthropology and experience economy, as well as with international research networks and projects.

Proposals for PhD projects should focus on research in and development of methods, tools and applications for production, representation and dissemination of digital heritage and virtual culture, and may involve applied research in the development and deployment of GIS-based projects, digital heritage archives, 3D visualizations, interactive digital simulations, design or evaluation of cultural simulations in virtual environments, or game-based learning for digital archaeology and interactive history projects.

There is also a related research application to set up a network of digital heritage research, which Aarhus University is pursuing with other leading European Universities. If that grant is successful, the applicant may work as part of this new international network in digital heritage, or the research could be fractionally combined with the PhD scholarship in Heritage Studies.

Application guidelines

This scholarship is available as of 1 September 2013 for a period of up to three years (5+3) or of up to four years (4+4). Candidates who are awarded the scholarship must commence their PhD programme on 01 September 2013.

If you require academic guidance regarding your application for a PhD scholarship/SU PhD scholarship please contact the head of the PhD programme ICT, Media, Communication and Journalism: http://talent.au.dk/phd/arts/contacts/

Applications for the PhD scholarships/SU PhD scholarships and enrolment in the PhD degree programme can only be submitted via Aarhus University’s web-based facility.

Guidelines for the application facility: http://talent.au.dk/phd/arts/application/application-guide/

Application deadline: 15 March 2013 at 23:59

Reference No: 2013-218/1-116

Practical arrangements about the submission of application:

• Applications for the PhD scholarships/SU PhD scholarships and enrolment in the PhD degree programme can only be submitted via Aarhus University’s web-based facility.
• Applicants may only submit one application per call/job advertisement.
• Mandatory fields that must be completed are marked with a star *.
• Attachments must be uploaded in PDF format (black and white, max 20 Mb).
• Applications cannot be saved. The Graduate School does not grant an exemption of the application deadline due to internet problems. The application will be evaluated on the basis of the documents received by the application deadline.
• You cannot send appendixes other than the Master’s degree certificate after the application deadline.
• Once an application has been submitted, you cannot withdraw it. If you wish to withdraw your application, you must contact the Graduate School (bha@hum.au.dk).

Criteria of selection

The selection process is based on standard academic assessment criteria, with emphasis on assessing the applicant’s academic qualifications and the scholarly strengths and weaknesses of the proposed PhD project. 

In assessing the applicant’s personal qualifications, the committee considers the applicant’s previous academic progress, examination marks, special qualifications essential for completing the proposed research project (for instance, language skills and familiarity with particular theories and methods), as well as other experiences or competencies that would support the successful completion of the doctoral degree. The committee also considers the applicant’s scholarly publications and experiences at research and higher education institutions abroad. In the assessment of the PhD project, emphasis is placed on the scholarly originality of the project, its methodological and theoretical consistency, the possible contributions of the project to the scholarly development of the particular academic field, and an evaluation of the feasibility of the applicant completing the project within the prescribed time frame. Also important is an assessment of the possible integration of the project into the existing active research environments within the particular research field, including specific institutional recruitment needs.

Selection Board

• Kirsten Frandsen, Department of Aesthetics and Communication  (chairman)
• Finn Olesen, Department of Aesthetics and Communication  (substitute)
• Jakob Isak Nielsen, Department of Aesthetics and Communication  
• Christian Ulrik Andersen, Department of Aesthetics and Communication
• Inka Salovaraa-Moring, Department of Aesthetics and Communication

Working conditions, expends and facilities

Apart from working on the PhD project and taking part in PhD courses the PhD degree programme normally requires that the PhD student places a certain number of working hours at the department at which he or she is associated. The PhD student and the department agree on the tasks. This might for instance be teaching, instructor lessons or assistance to project applications, conferences or other research activities at the department.

As a PhD student (5+3 programme or 4+4 programme, part B) you are salaried in accordance with the collective agreement between the state and the academic unions. This means that you will have a monthly income at approximately 25,000-30,000 Danish Kroner before tax (depending on seniority).