One post-doctoral position in Architectural & Design Research



The LUCID research lab (Lab for User Cognition and Innovative Design) of the University of Liège is seeking one highly motivated post-doctoral fellow to join the team and conduct research within the INTER’ACT research project. The successful candidate will be funded up to two years, full-time position.

Application deadline is March 1st, 2020.

 

Your missions within the INTER'ACT research projet

The INTER’ACT research project, funded by the F.R.S.-FNRS, tackles the under-studied societal and professional challenge of end-users’ (dis)satisfaction levels and low involvement towards architectural design processes. Building on qualitative inquiry, the team dedicated to this project (two PhD candidates and one post-doctoral fellow) will closely work together and research (i) current interactions, expectations and involvement modalities as well as (ii) best practices from related design disciplines. The main goal of the project is to help end-users maximize their positive input during architectural design processes and to develop dedicated models, methods and tools that will eventually provide users and architects with renewed ways of interacting together on an every-day basis.

Within this research project, as a senior researcher you will:

  • Overview the PhD students’ progress in designing and applying rigorous scientific methods for retrospective and on-field case studies;
  • Co-organize participative workshops with the PhD students, and support them in the iterative development of adapted protocols, tools and methodologies;
  • Help PhD students push forward their thinking and generate higher levels knowledge models on basis of the collected data;
  • Nurture the team thinking and the project with your international scientific culture; your scientific and theoretical background in human and social sciences;
  • Collaboratively write, overview and push forward the dissemination of research results through high quality Journal papers.

The position includes opportunities to present the results at national and international levels (included 10 k€ of running costs). Collaborations and exchanges (including short research stays) with Belgian and foreign universities will be encouraged.

 

Profile

Applicants for the post-doctoral position should have completed their PhD (and present no more than 5 years post-PhD experience) by July, 1st, 2020.

You hold a strong background in human and social sciences (in terms of theoretical background, qualitative methodologies, empirical field work) through your Master and/or PhD work.

This postdoctoral position is funded by F.R.S.-FNRS through University of Liège. This type of funding specifically targets postdocs with international mobility. Therefore, only candidates who did not stay/study in Belgium for more than 24 months during the past 3 years can be considered for the position (short stays in Belgium for leisure, participation to conferences etc. are not taken into account).

Published evidence of aptitude for high quality research in the field of human and social sciences is essential. We value your deep interest and/or prior (scientific) familiarity with architecture, design research or cognitive sciences.

You should demonstrate ability to generate, evaluate and validate disruptive ideas. You should be a constructive team player, actively sharing experience and knowledge with colleagues. You are an autonomous researcher, with a capacity to self regulate work-load and tasks.

We value your excellent networking and communication skills in English; they will be essential to your tasks of collaborative writing and increasing your research network. Excellent written and verbal French communication skills are a plus.

 

We offer

The successful candidate will join a dynamic research team within the Urban and Environmental Engineering Research Unit of the University of Liège (UEE). The UEE Research Unit welcomes more than 200 members, including 22 full-time academics, 70 PhD students, 80 senior researchers and 40 members of the support staff.

 

Within UEE, the LUCID team gathers two full-time professors and welcomes in average 15 researchers from various backgrounds (architecture, building and architectural engineering, computer sciences and cognitive sciences). Created in 2001, this interdisciplinary research team conducts research projects (both basic and applied; supported by qualitative and quantitative methods) in the fields of architecture, design research and design engineering, following one goal: to develop new methods and tools to support design and designers.

Moreover, University of Liège offers a comprehensive and innovative training program, which enables early-career scientists to carry out their research in the best possible conditions, in compliance with the European Charter for Researchers.

Through the INTER’ACT project, you will be offered the possibility to assist two PhD students in their day-to-day scientific tasks, which will in turn improve your aptitude to manage a project and to supervise young researchers.

The candidate will be fully funded for up to two years (tax-free allowance approx. 2400 €/month, net in accordance with university standards). The University of Liège will also provide support through the administrative procedures when preparing the arrival (VISA application, accommodation…) and while settling in our international-friendly environment (residence permit, registrations by the local authorities and services…).

 

How to apply?

Please send your cover letter describing your interests in the project and your previous relevant scientific contributions; CV and full list of publications; summary of the PhD thesis; full transcripts of Bachelor and Master studies, and two reference letters by email to Prof. Catherine Elsen, including the mention « Application for Post-doctoral position INTER’ACT ».

Application deadline is March, 1st, 2020.

The position will remain open until filled, but the selection process will start from March 1st, 2020. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview (preferably face-to-face; Skype is possible) during the second half of March. Starting date is expected in April/May 2020; July 1st at the latest.

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