Apply for AIAS-SHAPE Fellowships

SHAPE – Shaping Digital Citizenship is a research centre which aims to promote democracy and active citizenship in a world characterised by data and algorithms. The goal is to generate knowledge at a high international level as well as contributing to the public debate, the business community and civil society.

As an ‘Institute for Advanced Study,’ AIAS brings researchers together across disciplines, seniority and nationality. AIAS offers fellowships for excellent researchers from all core academic disciplines to pursue cutting-edge research projects for the benefit of society and humankind in optimal research conditions.

The Fellowship Programme

• The purpose of the joint theme-based fellowship programme between AIAS and SHAPE is to engage an interdisciplinary and international group of excellent researchers in the research projects and themes prioritized by SHAPE. The theme of this call is ‘Democracy and Digital Citizenship.’ Fellows will investigate the relationship between data/algorithms and democracy/citizenship and thereby contribute to SHAPE’s collective task of conducting research that helps solve problems related to democracy and citizenship in a digitalized world. SHAPE is particularly interested in projects that address the democratic fragility that comes with digitalization, for example the challenge of strengthening citizen participation in democratic processes and increasing the citizenship of (potentially) vulnerable groups.
• Applications are individual but the five selected fellows will work together with each other and with the relevant researchers at Aarhus University, during the ten months. Fellows will receive training in interdisciplinary dialogue and are expected to contribute, via their own research agenda, to the larger research aims defined by SHAPE.
• An AIAS-SHAPE fellowship provides fellows with the possibility of collaborating and sharing knowledge with other researchers with an interdisciplinary approach to research within the selected AIAS-SHAPE group, in the multidisciplinary and international environment of excellence at AIAS, and at SHAPE, Aarhus University.
• This offers the individual fellow a unique opportunity to focus on developing the research, while also interacting and collaborating with researchers with different research perspectives within the same research theme. In order to ensure the collegial and collaborative approach among the group, the fellowship will begin with a joint workshop hosted at AIAS or a remote location.
• During the course of the fellowship, a number of joint research activities will be organized depending on the need and interest of the fellows. The fellowship will end in June with a joint conference where key findings and ideas for further collaborations and research projects will be presented to relevant stakeholders and interested participants. The AIAS-SHAPE fellows must be based in Aarhus and situated physically in the AIAS building in order to participate in the academic life of AIAS and SHAPE.

The Fellowship Includes

• All fellows are offered:
  • a salary based on seniority (employment conditions and wages are regulated through the Danish collective union agreements),
  • relocation assistance
  • travel costs (up to a maximum of 2,000 euro).
  • Fellows will have office space at AIAS and can participate in academic training activities, conferences and workshops at AIAS. They will also be affiliated with relevant research environments at SHAPE and Aarhus University.
• Duration of the fellowship:
  • The duration of a fellowship is ten months. The fellowship period should be consecutive, and therefore it is not possible to split up the fellowship period into smaller parts. The fellowship is a fulltime position and it is not possible to prolong the fellowship by working part-time. The fellowship starts 1 September 2024 and ends 30 June 2025.

Eligibility Criteria

• The call is open for researchers of any nationality and from all academic disciplines with research profiles within the thematic scope of the call. The target group of the programme is talented researchers at all career stages with a minimum of a PhD degree at the time of application.
• AIAS and Aarhus University strive to create a multidisciplinary, inclusive academic environment and to be an inspiring workplace for all by fostering a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve, and develop. They view equality and diversity as assets, and they welcome all applicants.
• Applicants apply individually, but the five selected candidates are expected to also work together as a group during the course of the fellowship. Furthermore, relevant researchers from SHAPE will be affiliated with the selected group of fellows.
• Area of research
  • Please select your main area of research. The areas are compatible with the faculties of Aarhus University:
    • Natural Sciences
    • Technical Sciences
    • Health & Medical Sciences
    • Business & Social Sciences
    • Arts & Humanities

For more information, visit Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies.