Postdoctoral Researcher In Design 4 AI

Organisation / Company ELISAVA Department ELISAVA RESEARCH Research Field Other Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Postdoc Positions Country Spain Application Deadline 8 Dec 2025 - 23 : 59 (Europe / Madrid) Type of Contract Permanent Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 30 Offer Starting Date 19 Jan 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Elisava, Barcelona School of Design and Engineering (UVic-UCC), understands design and industrial design engineering as tools for transforming the world through innovation and critical thinking. Elisava is a facultyfor questioning pre-established ideas, experimenting with new paths, connecting with the professional world and finding alternatives.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the landscape of cultural production, redefining the ways in which art and cultural content are created, distributed, and consumed. While AI offers powerful tools to enhance human creativity, it also raises fundamental questions about authorship, aesthetic diversity, and the ethical implications of its widespread adoption.

In this context, Elisava, Barcelona School of Design and Engineering of Barcelona (UVic-UCC), invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher position supervised by Professor Dr Massimo Menichinelli to further develop knowledge, strategies and contents for integrating Design with Artificial Intelligence. Ideally the candidate already has experience on both technical and cultural and social aspects of AI and is expected to develop research at the intersection of both dimensions, especially with a focus on systems, worldviews, posthumanist philosophies, more-than-human approaches, and social innovation and social change.

The position is a full-time postdoctoral appointment (Profesor / a Doctor / a in Spanish, equivalent to Lecturer). The candidate is expected to develop successful acquisition of external research funding, including competitive grant applications, and to establish a line of research on AI and Design and will be supported in its development and in career planning.

The selected candidate will :

a) develop research on AI and Design, for example on training programs for enabling designers, architects, and creative professionals to integrate generative AI, digital fabrication, and sustainable design into their work.

b) work on European, national and regional research and innovation projects.

c) grant writing for European, national and regional research and innovation projects on AI and Design.

d) contribute to the discussion on, research on and adoption of AI in Design in the Elisava Research department.

Where to apply

E-mail

Requirements

Research Field Other Education Level PhD or equivalent

Skills / Qualifications

• Fluency in written and spoken English.A good level of Spanish or Catalan is preferred. Candidates without this skill should be willing to learn Spanish or Catalan as part of the role.
• Knowledge of design (strategic design, service design), media, digital culture, data analysis and visualization.
• A strong interest in social innovation, intersectionality, social impact, sustainability.

Specific Requirements

A PhD in Design, New Media, Computer Science or related field, with a solid academic record.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Languages SPANISH Level Good

Research Field Other Years of Research Experience 1 - 4

Additional Information

The contract is worth €32,000 per year.

Eligibility criteria

While we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, please note that due to the timeline of this role, we are prioritizing candidates who already have a valid work permit for Spain or who can obtain one quickly (such as EU nationals).

Selection process

Inquiries on the position can be directed via mail to :

Candidates shall submit these documents :

A board will assess the evaluation of the curriculum vitae and arrange an interview.

Additional comments

Elisava, Barcelona School of Design and Engineering of the Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya (UVic-UCC), fourth best Catalan university and sixth in Spain, promotes education, knowledge and research in the fields of design, industrial design engineering and communication.At Elisava we understand design and industrial design engineering as instruments to transform the world through innovation and critical reflection. Located on an urban campus in the centre of Barcelona, we have a direct impact on the city and are closely involved in its cultural life. Elisava Research , the research department of Elisava, is a vibrant community of academic researchers in the fields of design and engineering and a solid ecosystem of international partners and collaborators. We lead the official Consolidated Research Group ‘Research through Design’ (GRC – 2021 SGR 01497) and publish Temes de Disseny , a diamond open-access scientific journal currently a second quartile journal (Q2) in the ‘Architecture’, ‘Cultural Studies’ and ‘Visual Arts and Performing Arts’ categories, according to the SCImago Journal & Country Rank.

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