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PhD fellowship with the title Creativity and Co-Creation with Large Language Models (5+3)

The Graduate School at Arts, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University, in collaboration with Danish National Research Foundation, invites applications for a fully funded PhD fellowship in Creativity and Co-Creation with Large Language Models provided the necessary funding is available. This PhD fellowship is available as of 1 September 2025 for a period of up to three years (5+3). The candidate who is awarded the scholarship/fellowship must commence his/her PhD degree programme on 1 September 2025. 

TEXT: Center for Contemporary Cultures of Text at Aarhus University invites applications for a PhD fellowship to explore how co-creating with large language models (LLMs) is transforming writing practices.

The project will investigate empirically how writers engage with LLMs, with a particular emphasis on for example:

  • Creativity and the redefinition of creative processes.
  • Quality in text production, including standards and evaluation criteria.
  • Speech Writing as a specific domain where human-AI collaboration is emerging as a key innovation.

We are seeking a candidate with:

  • A strong interest in writing practices, text culture, and the impact of AI on creativity.
  • A relevant master’s degree, such as rhetoric, comparative literature, cognitive science, linguistics, or education.
  • Computational skills are an advantage, but not a requirement - curiosity and willingness to engage with LLMs are key.

Qualifications:

  • Ability to design and conduct empirical studies.
  • Strong analytical and/or statistical skills.
  • Interest in interdisciplinary collaboration.

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 Language, Linguistics, Communication and Cognition.

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 August 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: https://phd.arts.au.dk/4-4-part-b-and-5-3/salary-and-employment

How to apply
The application must include:

  • Motivation/cover letter (statement of motivation and research interests, max one A4 page of 2,400 characters including spaces)
  • CV (including a complete list of education, positions, publications and other qualifying activities)
  • Project description outlining how the candidate envisages completing the work to be undertaken during the course of the term of appointment.
    The overall project description (excl. list of project literature/bibliography/reference list and timetable) must not exceed 12,000 characters including spaces, tables, diagrams, footnotes, endnotes and illustrations (5 A4 pages of 2,400 characters each)
  • Project literature/reference list
  • Timetable (mandatory form)
  • Cover sheet (form stating your degrees)
  • Copies of educational certificates (Bachelor and Master’s degrees). The diplomas or diploma supplement/transcript of records must state: name of university, education (Bachelor or Master), duration (number of years, full-time), courses, marks and (if given) ECTS credits.

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 Language, Linguistics, Communication and Cognition:  http://phd.arts.au.dk/about-us/contact/

For further information, please contact Professor Mads Rosendahl Thomsen, School of Communication and Culture, madsrt@cc.au.dk, Phone + 45 31 14 14 19.

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: 15 March 2025 at 23.59 Danish time (CET/CEST).
Reference number: 2025-6

During the assessments, Aarhus University can conduct interviews with selected applicants.