PhD student Exploring spatial (re)presentations and imaginations through image-making

Background

ArcK is the research group of the Faculty of Architecture and Arts that focuses on research in architecture and interior architecture. We conduct fundamental and applied research on the built environment. In a multidisciplinary team we work on important societal challenges, such as a purposeful and adaptive reuse of our heritage, the inclusion of diverse groups in spatial transformation processes, critical reflection on and contribution to the environmental impact of our built environment, inclusive design, design for wellbeing and experience,...These challenges are covered in 5 research domains:  ‘spatial capacity building’, ‘sustainability’,  ‘designing for more’, ‘Trace: heritage & adaptive reuse’ and ‘FRAME’.

More information:
www.uhasselt.be/arck

Job content

The FRAME research cluster of the Faculty of Architecture and Arts at UHasselt offers a full-time doctoral position of 2 years, extendable by 2 years after positive interim evaluation, for candidates interested in working on spatial representations and imaginations through image-making. The PhD research will focus on the use of media such as photography, video and drawing, or a combination of these in hybrid constellations.The project should engage with art-as-research-practice. This entails integrating both a theoretical approach through writing and critical thinking, and a practical approach through making. When you apply for this PhD position, we ask you to upload your portfolio and a PhD proposal with a description of your proposed project. 

We welcome proposals that explore spatial (re)presentations, montage and assemblage as methodologies, photography and moving images as critical praxis, or drawing and other visual art practices as mediums of reflection. Thematically, these proposals can relate to landscapes and embodied knowledge, deep time perspectives for narratives and design, borders and liminality, or fragile environments. The topic will be defined more specifically in consultation with the PhD supervisor. In line with the overall ambition of the research at our faculty, the research proposal should also critically consider its potential to contribute to societal and spatial transformation processes, and to shape the future of education in the related fields.

As part of this project, you will closely collaborate with researchers, architects and artists from the research domain FRAME, which explores unconventional forms of knowledge gathering and transfer leading to new frameworks for thinkingin and through images and spaces. FRAME particularly focuses on the use of creative-critical writing, photography and video, maquettes and drawing. You will also work together with other research groups of ArcK and PXL-MAD.  

Deliverables for application

• CV
  

• letter of motivation + contact details of up to 2 referees
  

• portfolio (max 5 MB - or link to online portfolio) uploaded in online application module
  

• PhD proposal with a description of the project (problem statement, methodology, artistic and/or theoretical references, expected outputs. Max 4 pages, 10.000 characters) uploaded in online application module
  

Profile

• You have a master's degree in (interior) architecture or visual arts (or equivalent)
• You have an artistic practice or experience in architectural design (demonstrated through a portfolio).
• You have demonstrable research skills.
• You have an affinity with the proposed research methodologies.
• You have strong oral and visual communication and presentation skills.
• You speak and write English fluently. A good knowledge of Dutch will be considered an important asset.
• You are able to work fluently with various ICT applications and with software for visual communication in particular (e.g. Adobe suite).
• You are willing to take on teaching assignments on a limited basis.
• You are interested in interdisciplinary research.
• You can work both independently and as part of a team.

Offer
You will be appointed and paid as PhD student.
PhD fellowship for 2 x 2 years with mid-term evaluation.

Selection procedure
You can only apply online up to and including 15 October 2024.
The selection procedure consists of a preselection based on application file and an interview.
Start PhD on 01.01.2025.

Further information
Prof. dr. Nicoletta GRILLO, nicoletta.grillo@uhasselt.be

For questions about the selection procedure, please email jobs@uhasselt.be.