IT:U is Austria‘s first public interdisciplinary university dedicated to digital transformation for the benefit of our society, economy, and environment.
Field of Research & Scope
Design Intelligences investigates how diverse forms of intelligence—human, artificial, and ecological—can be understood, designed, and integrated to foster regenerative and just futures. The field departs from dominant, human-centered and computation-centered models of intelligence to examine intelligence as relational, distributed, and situated across socio-technical and more-than-human systems. In our program, we are interested in:
Developing foundational concepts and theories of design intelligences that pluralize what counts as intelligence across humans, nonhumans, and AI systems.
Examining how interfaces, infrastructures, and materials mediate negotiations among these heterogeneous intelligences.
Translating these insights into experimental design methods, computational tools, and situated interventions that cultivate multi-intentional, multi-agential forms of world-making.
The two PhD students will collaborate on shared theoretical foundations while pursuing complementary trajectories aligned with their background. Together, they will bridge ecological knowledge and computational methods, integrating interdisciplinary literature with empirical and design-led research. Through iterative conceptual work and experimental prototyping, they will explore how human, artificial, and ecological intelligences co-construct shared forms of habitability and leadership, contributing to both the theoretical grounding and methodological advancement of Design Intelligences.
We offer
Collaborations: The program enjoys close collaborations with top research labs around the world, providing access to diverse more-than-human datasets (e.g., soundscapes, environmental sensing data, ecological indicators, spatial topologies) and sites (e.g., urban forests, transitional ecosystems, multispecies habitats). The program also collaborates with researchers within IT:U and supports co‑supervision with other IT:U founding professors.
International mobility and exchange: Selected candidates will have the possibility to visit Polimi (home of the PI and main supervisor) for up to 50% of their time, benefiting from the complementary research environments of both institutions. They will also engage with the PI’s international network of collaborators across Australia and South America, including RMIT Melbourne, University of Melbourne, and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Professional and personal development: Drawing on the PI and main supervisor’s experience navigating academic systems across five countries and funding innovative training, doctoral students will receive comprehensive mentorship throughout their PhD journey at IT:U and in preparing for international careers beyond it.
Responsibilities & Tasks
Conducting research
Writing academic publications
Attending national and international conferences
Collaborating with other research groups on an interdisciplinary basis
Performing auxiliary activities in academic teaching for up to 2 weekly credit hours
Helping to file applications for third‑party funding
Complying with the institution’s academic standards and ethical guidelines
Skills & Qualifications Needed
Motivated, with a strong interest in more-than-human design, AI, and ecological futures
A degree equivalent to a master’s degree in design, biology, ecology, environmental sciences, data science, computer science, or other relevant fields
For candidates with a biology/ecology background: experience with ecological systems thinking, fieldwork, environmental modeling, or multispecies research
For candidates with a data science/computational background: strong programming skills and experience with data analysis, machine learning, or AI systems
For candidates with a biology/ecology or data science/computational background: experience in design research, design methods, or practice-based/experimental design work (preferable)
Interest in interdisciplinary research bridging ecological knowledge, computational methods, and design experimentation
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a transdisciplinary environment
Fluent in English (CEFR C1)
What you can expect
Innovative and stimulating working conditions in an interdisciplinary, international research environment
Office kitchen with complimentary basic supplies
Climate Ticket Upper Austria (optimal public transportation connections)
We offer a gross salary in line with the FWF salary rate of EUR 2,832.10 (30 h).
Optional supplementary contracts (teaching or research) to an extent of up to 10 hours may be discussed during the hiring process.
Program Structure
IT:U offers a 4‑year, structured PhD program. In the first year, emphasis is placed on focused group work, research lab modules, and Project Integrated Courses (PICS). The first year concludes with a PhD Proposal Presentation. Over the next three years, students will develop and write their PhD theses, accompanied by interdisciplinary research seminars and work as a project assistant. The PhD program concludes after the 4th year with the submission and defense of the PhD thesis.
How To Apply
Please fill in the online application form and upload your files at: https://apply.it-u.at/
Curriculum Vitae
Bachelor’s and master’s diploma (or equivalent)
Bachelor’s and master’s transcript of records
Motivational letter (up to 2 pages)
Up to 3 contacts of professors/collaborators for recommendations
We look forward to receiving your online application. The call will close on 31.05.2026.
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