Junior Professor / Researcher (RTD Junior) in Product Design (in its expanded interpretation) / Digital & Materials

Freie Universität Bozen

Faculty of Design and Art

Junior and Senior University Researchers with fixed-term contract (RTD) in Design and Art - Product Design (at large) / Digital & Materials

Position type: Full time, 3-Year Contract
Scope: Academic Teaching and Research

Call for Applications - Junior Professor Positions in Design and Art

The Faculty of Design and Art at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy) is opening an exciting junior academic position for outstanding candidates in the fields of Design and Art. We invite applications from artists, and designers holding a PhD (or equivalent international doctorate), who are passionate about innovative teaching, research, and artistic/designerly practice in a highly interdisciplinary, trilingual and international environment.

Profile: we invite applications from candidates specializing in innovative product design (in its widest sense), focusing either on cutting-edge digital fabrication and computational design (e.g. CAD-CAM workflows, AI-supported prototyping, physical computing), or on progressive material-driven design—ranging from bio-based and regenerative materials to speculative material futures— both with strong ties to maker culture, distributed production, and experimental processes.

Research and Teaching Focus:

This position’s research activities are embedded within the Design Friction Lab (designfrictionlab.com), a design research lab exploring speculative, critical, and experimental approaches to design in digital and material contexts.

• Advanced product design, computational design, AI-augmented workflows, robotic fabrication, and distributed rapid manufacturing OR Next-generation material innovation—emphasizing regenerative systems, bio-fabrication, and speculative material ecologies
• Open-source micro-production and experimental design approaches
• Participation in the Faculty’s research clusters and interdisciplinary projects
• Teaching within the Bachelor and Master programs in Design, in either digital fabrication–related design or material-based design.

Requirements:

• PhD or equivalent international doctorate in relevant fields
• Proven experience in academic teaching environment
• Strong design and research Portfolio demonstrating original, innovative and interdisciplinary design approaches
• Active participation in international design communities

Contract:

• Fixed-term, full-time position (3 years)
• Teaching load: 60-120 hours/year
• Workplace: Bolzano - Bozen, Italy
• Selection includes evaluation of qualifications, portfolio, publications, and language exam.

Languages: Discussion in English, German, or Italian.

Why Join Us? The Faculty of Design and Art offers a vibrant academic environment with excellent facilities and strong international networks. Located at the crossroads of Italian and German-speaking cultures in South Tyrol, our university offers unique opportunities for intercultural and interdisciplinary work, in one of Europe's most fascinating Alpine regions.

Further details on our faculty and programs:
https://www.unibz.it/en/faculties/design-art/
https://designart.unibz.it
https://designfrictionlab.com/

Application Process: Applications must be submitted following the instructions provided on our official calls webpage: https://www.unibz.it/en/home/position-calls/positions-for-academic-staff/?departments=44&group=16&year=2025