Postdoctoral position in Child–Computer Interaction

The Centre for Computational Thinking and Design at the Department of Digital Design and Information Studies within the School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University invites applications for a postdoctoral position in Child–Computer Interaction. The postdoctoral position is affiliated with the research project ‘Ultra:Bit’, funded by the Villum Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

The postdoctoral position is a full-time, 2-year, fixed-term position. It begins 1 June 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The School of Communication and Culture is committed to diversity and encourages all qualified applicants to apply regardless of their personal background.

Project

The Ultra:bit project is a collaboration among DR, Centers for Teaching Aids - Denmark, the Centre for Computational Thinking and Design at Aarhus University, and the LIFE Foundation. The project aims to strengthen children’s technological understanding and digital literacy, enabling them to critically engage with the digital technologies that permeate many aspects of children’s everyday lives.

Postdoctoral position

The successful applicant will conduct independent and collaborative research within the Ultra:bit project, with a particular focus on Child–Computer interaction, AI literacy, and computational empowerment.
The main tasks will consist of

• conducting research on participatory approaches to the design and study of AI literacy and technology comprehension tools for children
• investigating children’s understandings and conceptualisations of computational and AI-based systems
• designing and empirically studying learning activities and educational technologies in collaboration with project partners
• contributing to project activities, including Ultra:bit box hackathons and related design events
• publishing research results in leading international venues and contributing to the project’s overall research agenda

Teaching and supervision

As a postdoctoral researcher, your position is primarily research-based, but it will also involve a small degree of teaching and supervision. To that end, the successful applicant will be expected to participate in the department’s teaching and supervision activities and to teach and supervise at the BA and MA levels, as determined by the head of the department.
Given the international focus of the degree programmes, the successful applicant will be expected to teach in English as well as Danish.

Qualifications

Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent qualifications in a relevant field, such as Child–Computer Interaction, Human–Computer Interaction, Learning Sciences, Educational Technology, Computer Science, or related areas.

Applicants must be able to document relevant to the position:

• an internationally oriented research profile in Child–Computer Interaction, computational thinking, AI literacy, or related areas, documented through a PhD dissertation and/or research publications
• experience with the independent planning and execution of research projects
• excellent communication and collaboration skills, enabling productive work within interdisciplinary research teams and with external organisations and institutions

Furthermore, it will be considered an advantage if applicants can document

• a strong publication record in international venues related to children and computing and/or artificial intelligence
• experience with software development or prototyping
• experience participating in national and international research networks
• time spent abroad at one or more internationally recognised research institutions

Finally, applicants are asked to provide a research proposal outlining research to be undertaken within the stated framework of the Ultra:bit project (maximum three pages).
Please note that although the application process can be completed on the Aarhus University system without uploading publications, applications that do not include uploaded publications (a maximum of two) will not be considered.

Although the Aarhus University application system includes an option to upload letters of recommendation, please do not include them with the application. Applicants who are invited to an interview may be asked to provide references.

Work environment

Active participation in the department’s daily life is a high priority, and we emphasise the importance of good working relationships among colleagues and with our students. To maintain and develop the department’s excellent teaching and research environment, the successful applicant is expected to maintain a regular and active presence at the department.

We respect the balance between work and private life and strive to create a work environment in which that balance can be maintained. You can read more about family and work-life balance in Denmark.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU.

International applicants

International applicants are encouraged to read about the attractive working conditions and other benefits of working at Aarhus University and in Denmark, including healthcare, paid holidays and, if relevant, maternity/paternity leave, childcare and schooling. Aarhus University offers a wide variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including a relocation service and an AU Expat Partner Programme.