PhD Studentships x 2 Dundee   £To be Discussed at Interview

ARTS AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL FUNDED

KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE HUB, DESIGN IN ACTION (DiA)

UNIVERSITY OF ABERTAY DUNDEE

Institute of Arts, Media and Computer Games

PhD Studentships x 2

Design in Action PhDs at The University of Abertay’s School of Arts, Media and Computer Games - Innovative PhD opportunities working at the interface of industry, society and design.

The University of Abertay’s School of Arts, Media and Computer Games is part of Design in Action (DiA), an innovative Knowledge Exchange Hub funded by the AHRC. This Scotland wide partnership includes the University of Dundee, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, University of St Andrews, University of Abertay Dundee, University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh College of Art), Robert Gordon University (Gray's School of Art) and The Glasgow School of Art.

DiA is a national network of organisations (academia and industry) committed to working in effective collaborations, through the ethos of knowledge exchange. The aim is to create employment in new products, processes and services through the strategic application of design principles. DiA will drive innovation through the operation of a radical 'sandpit' methodology. This design led innovation will ensure that Scotland can maximise its capacity to operate effectively and meet the imperatives of the new economies in future world markets.

Each institution will host two PhD candidates working with a post-doctoral researcher and a senior Co-Investigator. Each team will work as part of the collective whole to deliver the methodology and study its application and outcomes. 

The University of Abertay’s School of Arts, Media and Computer Games is offering the following two PhD opportunities:

1. The purpose of this study will be to gain insight into how the process of design used as a strategy for innovation is understood within the participating partnerships within Design in Action in the context of one of the initiative's targeted sectors (food/wellbeing/sport/ICT) and the rural economy. It is anticipated that the successful applicant will participate in DiA sandpit events involving their identified sector, and will follow successful sandpit initiatives through the process of development of the prototyping stages to commercialisation.
2. The purpose of the second study will be to gain an understanding of ‘Interactive Design Engineering’ methodologies and to investigate new methodologies for the design of interactive digital technology based products. It is anticipated that the successful applicant will use a number of case studies for testing ‘Interactive Design Engineering’ through involvement with the businesses involved in the DiA project and sandpits.

The PhDs will form a significant part of the research portfolio and will form a peer group with a collective task of understanding design at a strategic level. We are offering an opportunity to be a significant player in a dynamic and vibrant research and innovation environment.

Over the last 20 years, the City of Dundee has been transformed into a vibrant cultural city that contributes some of the brightest young talent into the creative and cultural sector. Abertay’s internationally recognised excellence in arts, media and computer games has made a significant contribution to the cultural development of the City as well as digital media industries across the UK.  The Institute of Arts, Media and Computer Games has expertise in a range of creative and cultural practices and contributes to the understanding of new digital cultures in the following areas.

Dr Louis Natanson leads Abertay’s contribution to the AHRC Knowledge Exchange Hub 'Design in Action'.  Aligned with the V&A at Dundee initiative, Design in Action is a Scotland wide project that seeks to transfer expertise across the range of design research from Universities and Colleges of Arts into the Scottish economy. 

The two PhD studentships will be supervised by Professor Natanson and Dr Suzanne Prior, and will be focused around the early intervention of design methodology, in business and social enterprise contexts within the rural economy, and will engage with the existing network of SMEs and micro-businesses that are involved with the projects described above.

Candidates should hold a first degree at undergraduate level and a masters degree or have a proven track record of working continuously within industry for at minimum of three years.

We will acknowledge receipt of your application by email, using your contact email address given on the application form. Following the closing date and review of the applications, applicants will be notified if they are to be called for the interview stage of the process. Expected start dates: Monday 10 September 2012.

Enquiries should be directed to Prof Louis Natanson (L.Natanson@abertay.ac.uk) and Dr Suzanne Prior  S.Prior@abertay.ac.uk).

The closing date for applications is 29 July 2012 with interviewing of short-listed candidates planned for the week beginning 13th August 2012.  Completed applications should be returned to Human Resources via the Hirewire link which can be found by clicking the "Apply" button.

Committed to Equal Opportunities

The University of Abertay Dundee is a Scottish Registered Charity,

No: SC016040

Job Reference:   THW/12/059651/054

Closing Date:     29-Jul-2012

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