Senior Lecturer in Interaction Design

Reference number PAR 2024/704

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

About the department

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering is now looking for one or two senior lecturers in Interaction Design towards tangible prototypes with an emphasis on education, including opportunities for pedagogical development and research. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering is strongly international, with approximately 270 employees from over 50 countries. The Department is a fully integrated department with the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology as principals. The positions are placed at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, with University of Gothenburg as the employer.

You will work within the Division of Interaction Design and Software Engineering, which contains one of Sweden’s largest Interaction Design units. It is a highly interdisciplinary group, with ca 20 researchers working in areas such as human-robot interaction, human-computer interaction, aesthetics of computational technology, intelligent user interfaces, computer game design, and tangible user interfaces. The unit is responsible for approximately 20 courses, mainly but not only at the master’s level, and runs two master programmes: Interaction Design & Technologies and Game Design & Technology.

The position primarily concerns teaching but includes time for pedagogical development and potentially research related to pedagogy. Nevertheless, good knowledge of relevant and current research is important, since our teaching aims to be well connected with the research front. The main research areas of relevance for the position are pedagogical research, and topics related to the subject of the position.

The department welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experience. Being a workplace with a majority of men and with many senior researchers, we actively embrace the opportunities that diversity and gender balance would add to the organization. We are a parent-friendly organization and work hard to ensure a good balance between work and private life for our employees. We look forward to welcoming you as a new and engaged lecturer to our world-class academic teaching teams.

We are now looking for a person who has skills and technical competence in at least one of the following:

  • Maker space prototyping
  • Embedded technologies and sensors
  • Tangible interaction
  • Game development
  • Mobile computing
  • Artificial intelligence

Subject

Interaction Design

Subject area description

This position in Interaction Design is geared towards tangible prototypes, focused on teaching and pedagogical development. Our society is full of interactive technologies, many of which have become integral parts of our daily lives. Efficient, rich, and well-designed interaction between humans and both simple and advanced technologies is crucial in many areas of society, for our well-being, efficiency, safety, inclusion, and pleasure. Interaction Design is all about understanding the methods, technologies, ethics, and aesthetics behind the design of such interactions.

Job assignments

We offer a position with an emphasis on education that in addition to teaching and student supervision leaves ample room for pedagogical development, research, and personal development within education and otherwise. We are looking for a person who can strongly contribute to the department's aim to conduct education and research at the highest international level. The following will be your main assignments:

  • Your main activity will be teaching and supervision in the courses and programmes given by the unit.
  • You will take responsibility for the management and development of educational activities, and more generally for promoting excellence in education both within the department and at the university level. This may also include pedagogical development and research in the educational domain, which can be funded within the scope of this position.
  • You will also be expected to take part in the planning of teaching, and the development of the courses and course clusters, supervise thesis projects at various levels, and take part in other faculty activities.
  • You are encouraged to collaborate with the surrounding society, for example in collaborative projects and in popular science activities.
  • Your own research and research supervision is possible and encouraged if external research funding is available.

The division between teaching and pedagogical development within the position will be 75%/25%.

More specifically, you will teach at the master programs given by the Interaction Design unit, in topics such as prototyping, embedded technologies and sensors, tangible interaction, and game design and development. You will actively take part in the development of these courses and programmes. Supervision of projects and thesis work is also included in your tasks.

Eligibility

The qualifications for academic positions are given in Chapter 4, Sections 3–4 of the Higher Education Ordinance and in the University of Gothenburg’s Appointments Procedure for Teachers. You have a PhD in a topic related to interaction design, and documented teaching experience within the subjects that define the position.

Assessment

Regulations for the evaluation of qualifications for academic positions are given in Chapter 4, Sections 3–4 of the Higher Education Ordinance and in the University of Gothenburg’s Appointments Procedure for Teachers.  

The applications are assessed based primarily on pedagogical merits and potential, and secondarily on scientific merits.

A requirement is for you to have deep knowledge within the topic of interaction design, especially within areas of prototyping, embedded technologies, and tangible interactions. Further, well-documented relevant teaching experience and teaching skills at university level are required.

Good knowledge of current research is required, since our teaching aims to be well connected with the research front. When assessing scientific competence, special attention is paid to research documented through high-quality publications.

The ability to work both independently and in teams is a requirement, as is the ability to positively contribute to the work environment.

Demonstrated excellence in teaching, as well as experience and familiarity with course development and/or program management is desirable. Pedagogical qualifications shall be well documented; both extent and quality must be possible to assess. Emphasis is placed on the ability to plan and teach courses in the subject area. Supervision on all levels is meritorious.

A documented ability to initiate, plan and implement research after the doctoral degree, international scientific collaboration, and ability to obtain research funding in competition will also be meritorious.

Practical and industrial experience in the field is meritorious.

You are very comfortable with spoken and written English. Proficiency in Swedish is considered meritorious.

Courses in higher education teaching and learning of at least 15 credits or equivalent competence is necessary for the employment. If this is lacking at the time of employment, the employee is expected to acquire such an education within one year.

After a weighted assessment of merits and development potential in all areas, we will select the candidate that is judged to have the best qualifications to carry out the tasks included in the employment, collaborate with other staff members, and contribute to a positive development of the department.

Employment

Type of employment: Permanent positions

Extent: 100 % of full time

Location: Department of Computer Science and Engineering / Division of Interaction Design & Software Engineering.

First day of employment: 2025-01-01, or as agreed

Appointment procedure

In addition to external expert reviews, interviews, trial lectures and references can be a part of the following recruitment process.

For further information:

Head of Division, Eric Knauss, phone +46 31-772 10 80 or email: eric.knauss@cse.gu.se

Head of the Interaction Design Unit, Mohammad Obaid, phone +46 31-772 19 82, or email: mobaid@chalmers.se

Human Resources Officer, Sanna Staf, phone +46 31-772 1540 or email: sanna.staf@cse.gu.se

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg: http://www.gu.se/english/about_the_university/job-opportunities/union-representatives

How to apply
In order to apply for a position at the University of Gothenburg, you have to register an account in our online recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline. The publications that cannot be attached to the application digitally must be sent to: The Faculty of IT, University of Gothenburg, 412 96 Gothenburg and must be received no later than 2024-09-04.

The application is to be written in English.

The following documents are to be attached:

  • Resume / CV and data
  • Degrees and diplomas, certificates, or other documents
  • Letter of intent of maximum one A4 page, where you state what you want to work with if you are offered the employment
  • A clarification of in which of the six subtopics listed on page 2 your expertise lies.
  • Presentation of scientific merits containing a list of the (maximum) 5 scientific papers cited, justification for the selection and concise statement of its own scientific activities.
  • Presentation of educational credentials containing educational training, a list of the (maximum) 5 pedagogic / teaching materials cited and concise statement of educational activities and reflection. Qualitative reviews, course evaluations or equivalent should be included or referenced in the appendices.
  • Summary of leadership and administrative qualifications and cooperation merits
  • References

Closing date 2024-09-04

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.