Postdoc – Lighting Design

At Aalborg University, The Technical Faculty of IT and Design, Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology (Copenhagen Campus) a full-time position as Postdoc is available for a period of 2 years from February 1, 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The Department of Architecture, Design, and Media Technology has as its goal the development of an innovative cluster of engineering-based environments for education and research which integrate creativity, engineering and technology within the disciplines of architecture, urban design, industrial design, lighting design, digital design and interactive media. The department is a leading research and educational environment in Denmark that addresses the challenge of the interplay between creativity and technology and develops new areas in research and education directed towards the end-user.

Your work tasks    
The successful candidate will contribute to research, supervision, teaching, and semester coordination within Lighting Design at the Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology, Aalborg University, Copenhagen.

Research activities will be conducted with the transdisciplinary Lighting Design Lab and will primarily contribute to externally funded research projects addressing societal challenges through lighting design, technology, and human-centric approaches.

Supervision responsibilities will primarily be associated with the MSc program in Lighting Design, which includes approximately 60 international students. Students work in project groups on semester-based lighting design projects and individually or in groups on master theses. The projects are grounded in a strong understanding of design-research processes and integrate theories, methods, and approaches across relevant academic disciplines. The position will also include coordination of semesters and related educational activities.

Teaching will primarily focus on the engineering and technical aspects of lighting design, particularly within courses such as Lighting Fundamentals and Evidence-Based Lighting Design. Topics include fundamental photometric and colorimetric concepts, lighting laws and principles, measurement quantities and methods, international standards, and objective methods for the measurement, observation, analysis, and evaluation of lighting conditions.

Your competencies
The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate the ability to identify emerging societal challenges and translate them into future competence and skill requirements for the lighting design profession. The candidate should also demonstrate an understanding of how these competences and skills can be integrated into teaching and research in lighting design at the highest academic level.

The candidate should demonstrate the ability to attract external research funding and to lead or contribute to interdisciplinary research projects involving multiple partners and stakeholders. Experience with innovation and cross-sector collaboration between academia, industry, and public-sector organizations is considered particularly relevant.

The candidate must have experience in relevant teaching and supervising diverse student groups, with a focus on developing an understanding of transdisciplinary design processes supported by relevant technical skills and a strong scientific foundation.

The candidate must demonstrate strong collaborative skills and the ability to work effectively as part of an international and interdisciplinary team of lighting designers, architects, engineers, and other researchers within the Lighting Design Lab in Copenhagen.

Who we are   
The Lighting Design Lab brings together lighting designers, engineers, architects, and researchers who work collaboratively to advance teaching and research in lighting design. The Lab supports a two-year international MSc programme in Lighting Design and a strong transdisciplinary research environment.

Our work integrates architecture, engineering, AI, and media technology and is often conducted in collaboration with private-sector partners to address relevant societal challenges. Research and experimental activities combine contextual and architectural analysis of the light environment, including daylight and electric lighting, with consideration of human visual and non-visual needs and dynamic lighting conditions.

Design solutions are based on a perceived understanding of light environments supported by advanced technologies such as lighting control, sensing systems, sky scanners, and smartphone-based applications, while remaining grounded in human and societal needs. The Lab also maintains a strong international network and collaborates with leading universities and research environments within lighting design.

You may read more about the department here: https://www.create.aau.dk/om-create

Qualification requirements 
Appointment as postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level. 

How to apply  
Your application must include the following: 

• Application, stating reasons for applying, qualifications in relation to the position, and intentions and visions for the position 
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) 
• Diplomas (master's degree diploma and PhD diploma) 
• List of publications, with an indication of the attached publications that you wish to be taken into account in the assessment. You may attach a maximum of five publications.
• Documentation of teaching qualifications if relevant.
• Dissemination qualifications, including participation on committees or boards, participation in organisations etc. 
• Additional qualifications in relation to the position 
• References/recommendations 

You can read more about the requirements for your application here.    

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website.  

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position. 

Aalborg University has a policy of parallel language use. International staff are encouraged, with support from the university, to learn Danish during their employment in order to support their integration into the workplace and Danish society. 

Danish language courses will be offered as part of the employment. 

Do you have any questions? 
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact associate professor Ellen Kathrine Hansen, ekh@create.aau.dk Phone: 0045 21723181 

Further information 
Read more about our recruitment process here   

The appointment process at Aalborg University involves a shortlisting process. You can read more about the shortlisting and appointment process here.  

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace. 

Salary and terms of employment  
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities. Furthermore, your terms of employment and salary are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities.

You can find information about the salary and salary structure for the position in the Salary Overview for Recruitment - Scientific positions (VIP). Please refer to the introductory section of the page and the section entitled “Postdoc”.

There is a mutual probationary period of 3 months for the position.

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.