The Graduate School at Arts, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University, in collaboration with the Carlsberg Foundation/Semper Ardens, invites applications for three fully funded PhD fellowships in Human Agency in Data-Intensive Surveillance provided the necessary funding is available. The PhD fellowships are available as of 1 February 2025 for a period of up to three years (5+3). The candidate who is awarded one of the fellowships must commence his/her PhD degree programme on 1 February 2025.
The 3 PhD fellowships will be part of and contribute to the collective Carlsberg Semper Ardens: Accomplish project SURVEILLANCY AGENCY. This larger project aims to introduce a new perspective foregrounding the human condition that we are not just observed objects, but also subjects who experience and practice data-intensive surveillance. The health domain is particularly relevant to focus attention on, as it intersects with many aspects of the broader surveillance landscape.
The project aims to gain valuable insights into the broader implications and challenges of surveillance technologies by scrutinizing experiences and practices within the health domain. This requires thorough empirical research into both the subjective, cultural, and social situatedness of surveillance as well as the technological designs and processes enabling it. Using case studies, the project examines how we encounter surveillance through different aspects of our participation in the Danish welfare society:
1) as patients receiving care and treatment. The case explores the integration of surveillance technologies in the lives of people and their caregivers, addressing ethical complexities. It examines the delicate balance between control and care, especially when dealing with individuals who lack full autonomy. This involves theoretical discussions on agency, rationality, autonomy, and consent within surveillance practices.
2) as citizens being governed and registered. This case delves into data-intensive surveillance in public health, with a focus on Denmark’s long-established system of population data collection. It highlights the data flow between citizens, healthcare providers, and authorities through electronic patient records and centralized web portals. The aim is to analyse privacy concerns and the collision of personal data with the common good, exploring tensions and various forms of resistance, conflict, and negotiation.
3) as private individuals using commercial self-surveillance technologies to take care of ourselves. This case study explores technologies used for self-tracking in health and fitness contexts. It addresses issues of agency, control, and data ownership as users interact with these technologies, looking at their role in reshaping self-perception and how users relate to their surroundings. The case explores the deep integration of technology into intimate spheres of life, sparking critical discussions about consequences and boundaries.
The 3 PhD fellowships are expected to each contribute to at least one of these aspects by developing an individual project within the overall framework.
Applicants should have knowledge of and preferably experience with qualitative methods such as interviews, document analysis and participant observation. Relevant academic backgrounds include information studies, surveillance studies, science-technology-studies, design studies, media studies, health informatics, global health, anthropology, critical algorithm studies and computer science.
Enrolment and place of work
The PhD student must complete the studies in accordance with the valid regulations for the PhD degree programme, currently the Ministerial Order of 27 August 2013 on the PhD degree programme at the universities: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/thephddegreeprogramme/
Description of the graduate school’s PhD degree programme: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/phdstudystructure/
Rules and regulations for the PhD degree programme at the Graduate School at Arts: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/thephddegreeprogramme/
The PhD fellow will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Graduate School at Arts, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University, with the aim of completing a PhD degree at the School of Communication and Culture, Aarhus University.
The PhD student will be affiliated with the PhD programme ICT, Media, Communication and Journalism.
The PhD student’s place of work will be the School of Communication and Culture, Aarhus University. In general, the student is expected to be present at the school on an everyday basis.
The PhD degree programme is expected to include a lengthy research stay at a foreign institution, cf. Description of the graduate school’s PhD degree programme.
School of Communication and Culture’s research programme: http://cc.au.dk/en/research/research-programmes/
5+3 programme
When you apply for a 3-year PhD fellowship (5+3), you must have completed your two year Master’s degree (120 ECTS) no later than 31 January 2025.
The PhD fellow will be employed as a PhD student at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University. The terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (see section 6.1.4), as well as with the protocol to the agreement covering staff with university degrees in the state sector (see enclosure 5). The agreement and the protocol including amendments are available online: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/thephddegreeprogramme/
Salary: http://phd.arts.au.dk/financing/salary-and-employment/salary-5-3/
How to apply
The application must include:
Please see a detailed description of the requirements for the application in the guide for the application facility: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/how-to-apply/
Application
If you require professional guidance regarding your application for the PhD fellowship please contact the PhD programme director at ICT, Media, Communication and Journalism: http://phd.arts.au.dk/about-us/contact/
For further information, please contact professor Anders Albrechtslund, School of Communication and Culture, alb@cc.au.dk.
The application must be submitted in English.
All applicants must provide documentation of excellent communication skills in English which are considered essential, and you must therefore be able to read, write, and speak academic English fluently. English language requirement is comparable to a minimum of TOEFL 83 or IELTS 6.5. Please see this page for further information: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/english-test/
Child protection certificate
In accordance with Ministerial Order no. 554 of 23 May 2023, Aarhus University is obliged to obtain a statement of no previous convictions in respect of children in connection with the appointment and employment of staff whose work will involve direct contact with children under the age of 15. If you, in connection with your PhD project, will be in direct contact with children under the age of 15 who are not accompanied by a parent or guardian, childcare professional or teacher, you will be covered by the requirements of the ministerial order.
If you are covered by these requirements and read Danish, please complete the section “Samtykkeerklæring” (declaration of consent) in the police form and upload the file under “Other information to consider” in the application form. You can download the form here: https://politi.dk/-/media/mediefiler/landsdaekkende-dokumenter/straffeattest/brneattest-p274.pdf
If you are covered by these requirements and do not read Danish, please upload a brief statement with the headline “Child protection certificate needed” under the field “Other information to consider” in the application form.
Applications for the PhD fellowship and enrolment in the PhD degree programme can only be submitted via the application form in Aarhus University’s web-based facility.
Deadline for applications: 1 October 2024 at 23.59 Danish time (CET/CEST).
Reference number: 2024-16
During the assessments, Aarhus University can conduct interviews with selected applicants.
