Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 12 000 students, 400 professors and close to 4 000 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community. 

The Aalto School of Arts, Design and Architecture (ARTS) is a Nordic leader in higher education for design, fashion, games, media, architecture, film, art education and fine art. We produce world-class research e.g. in design, digital media and visual culture, art education, urban planning and architecture. Our graduates innovate in and beyond their fields, drawing on over a century of tradition of our institution, a humane and forward-looking approach, and the latest technologies.

We are looking for Doctoral Researcher or Project Employee to work with us on the Sonic Move - Creative and Expressive Sonification of Human Movement project. The project investigates the use of human body movements in the synthesis of sonification for music and its use in dance and augmented game applications.

Your role and goals 

You will be developing interactive sonification models that are more directly linked to supporting creative exploration of dance movements and seek to understand how these models impact dance practices. You will develop and implement algorithms for real-time sonification of human body movements as well as collaborate with choreographers and dancers to create dance and game applications that use the sonification system. You will also publish research papers in journals and present research findings at international conferences and workshops.

The Sonic Move - Creative and Expressive Sonification of Human Movement is a joint research project in collaboration with SOPI research group Aalto University School of ARTS, Sensing Solutions VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, HUMEA Lab University of Eastern Finland, Genelec and Minimi Dance Company. The project is supported by Business Finland funding.

Your experience and ambitions 

You should have a firm interest and understanding of data sonification applied to arts and music, as well as advanced programming skills and knowledge in audio processing and synthesis. Familiarity with creative AI methods and deep learning models for data analysis and sonification is a plus. You should have a MA / MSc in music technology or a closely related field. Fluency in English, good communication and teamwork skills is also required.

What we offer

The position is fixed term from May 2023 until September 2025. Aalto University offers occupational health care services and a good opportunity for different learning options. Salary will be determined following the salary system of Finnish universities. The starting salary for doctoral researcher or project employee is approximately 2550 euros. The position is located in Otaniemi, Espoo in a new campus building made and designed for the School of ARTS. Consistent with EU insurance and pension regulations, Aalto expects full-time academic employees to reside and work in Finland. More about working at Aalto here.

If you are chosen for this position, you can apply the study right for doctoral studies in Aalto University Arts, Design and Architecture. Please check the student information and admission criteria Aalto Doctoral Programme in Arts, Design and Architecture | Aalto University. Another option is to work as a project employee if you are not doing your doctoral studies at Aalto University.  

Ready to apply? 

The applications for the position are to be submitted through our recruitment system no later than 17 April 2023.

Aalto University’s employees and visitors please note: you should apply for the position via our internal system Workday -> Career -> find 

The position will be filled as soon as possible, therefore we encourage to apply whenever they are able.

The application for the position should contain the following documents in pdf format:

•  CV
•  Motivation letter (max 1 page)
•  Study transcripts 
•  The most relevant (max 3) projects in particular sonification and audio synthesis techniques developed / applied (as attached files with project descriptions and links to online material) 
•  Name and contact information of three referees. You will later be asked to provide these three reference letters if your application will be shortlisted.

All material should be submitted in English.

More information

For additional information regarding this position, please contact the head of Sound and Physical Interaction - SOPI research group, Koray Tahiroglu ([email protected]). Questions regarding the recruitment process however should be directed to HR Partner Karoliina Walldén ([email protected]). Aalto University reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, to extend the application period and to consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.

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About Finland 

Finland is a great place for living with or without family – it is a safe, politically stable and well-organized Nordic society. Finland is consistently ranked high in quality of life and was just listed again as the happiest country in the world: https://worldhappiness.report/news/its-a-three-peat-finland-keeps-top-spot-as-happiest-country-in-world/. For more information about living in Finland: https://www.aalto.fi/services/about-finland. 

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