Doctoral candidate in Artistic Research
Immigration Policy Lab
Doctoral candidate in Artistic Research
100%, Zurich, fixed-term
Art in Space and Time (AISAT) - ETH Zurich invites applications for a doctoral position within a newly funded interdisciplinary research project at the intersection of
Art and Physics, centered on light, quantum physics and observation.
The 4-year fully funded doctoral project is part a unique research collaboration between Prof. Dr. Rosa Barba (Chair of Art in Space and Time, ETH Zurich) and Prof. Dr.
Puneet Murthy (Department of Physics, ETH Zurich). And it explores how fundamental phenomena of light and matter-particularly in the quantum physical realm-can be approached through a synthesis of artistic and scientific perspectives.
Job description
The transdiciplinary research will specifically combine:
- Artistic inquiry and expanded cinematic / installative practices.
- Setting up of an Art-Science laboratory for exploratory experiments.
- Engagement with concepts and techniques from quantum optics.
- The development of public-facing artistic installations grounded in real physical systems.
The study is hence inherently exploratory and research-driven, and it treats Art and Science as equal, complementary, and interwoven modes of inquiry.
The doctoral researcher will essentially be based at the Chair of Art in Space and Time, at the Department of Architecture and will work closely with the Nanoscale Quantum Optics group in the Department of Physics. This joining provides a singular, experimental and generative ground to foster novel epistemologies from within a distinctive perspective and related methodologies.
Profile
We are looking for an artist and researcher with:
- A strong curiosity about the natural sciences and a desire to work across disciplinary boundaries.
- More specifically, the candidate should have a body of work that already expresses crucial inquiries in light, matter, perception, and physical phenomena -and is truly experimental.
Building on the artist researcher's standing, she/he/they would contribute to the course Understanding Light we are conducting, which is embedded in AISAT; and the doctoral candidate will also be involved in co-shaping the further building of the Art & Physics lab.
The selected candidate will be the first artistic practice-based PhD position at the ETH. And it assumes both theoretical and practical outcomes.
The ideal candidate:
- Has a background in art, architecture, film, media arts, or a related field.
Excellent written and verbal English is required. Fluency in other languages is an asset. Taught languages are English and German, however a broad base of languages is present in the team, such as German, English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Hindi, and Spanish.
Workplace
Workplace
We offer
- A fully funded 4 year doctoral position at ETH Zurich. The doctoral fellow needs to be based in Switzerland. The standard salary is in accordance with ETH's policy of basic starting salaries for doctoral students (https://ethz.ch/en/the-eth-zurich/working-teaching-and-research/welcome-center/employment-contract-and-salary/salary.html).
- A rare opportunity to work at the interface of art and fundamental physics.
- Access to physics laboratories, artistic research spaces, and interdisciplinary networks.
- Close mentorship from both artistic and scientific supervisors.
- An intellectually open environment encouraging experimentation, reflection, and innovation.
We value diversity and sustainability
Curious? So are we.
We look forward to receiving your online application, ritten in English, compiled into a single PDF file with the following documents:
- Verification of a Master's degree
- Statement of Motivation relevant to the position (8 pages max)
- Portfolio (20 pages max)
- A write-up on the candidate's Work to date
- Curriculum Vitae (4 pages max)
- Two references with contact details (including name, email address, phone number, affiliation)
For additional information or in case of any queries, please contact, doctorate-aisat@arch.ethz.ch.
Successful candidates will be enrolled in the program of Art in Space and Time within the Department of Architecture at ETH. For general information on the doctoral program in the Department of Architecture, please visit our website.