University of Tübingen 
Tübingen, Germany Résumé de l'offre
The University of Tübingen seeks a Research Associate for the Design Stream within the ERC-funded APORIA project. This fixed-term position, running until October 2031, involves leading multi-sited ethnography of AI practices in Berlin’s design landscape and co-developing speculative prototypes with designers and clinicians. The role requires a completed or advanced doctorate in HCI, design research, anthropology, or STS, alongside experience in qualitative, practice-based research. Key responsibilities include organizing design sprints, conducting microphenomenological interviews, publishing in relevant venues, and curating exhibitions. Candidates must demonstrate strong English skills and familiarity with digital design and generative AI. The position offers an 80% FTE contract at E13 TV-L salary scale, situated within a leading machine learning cluster. Applications are due by November 11, 2026.
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Description du projet
The Cluster of Excellence “Machine Learning: New Perspectives for Science” (EXC 2064) at the University of Tübingen invites applications for a
Research Associate – Design Stream
(m/w/d, E13 TV-L, 80&, 32 hours/week, fixed term until 31 October 2031),
in the ERC-funded project APORIA, starting on 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The project
APORIA (“Augmenting Poiesis: Relational Inquiries in the Age of AI”), led by Dr. Maxime Le Calvé and funded by the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant), studies everyday AI practices in three epistemic communities where making and knowing are deeply embodied yet increasingly digital: neurosurgery, design and anthropology. The project develops a theory of Aporetic Intelligence: how practitioners sustain, lose or cultivate productive puzzlement when AI tools promise to resolve it. It combines multimodal ethnography, microphenomenological interviewing, workshop based research and exhibition-as-research, and co-creates “aporetic field devices”, speculative prototypes and workshop formats that invite practitioners to reflect on their relations to AI. The team works between Tübingen and Berlin, with field sites in both cities.
Your tasks
- Lead the design stream of APORIA: multi-sited ethnography of AI practices in Berlin’s digital design landscape, in partnership with the Node Institute
- Co-convene the “school for aporetic devicing”: three annual design sprints (September– November 2027–2029) with a cohort of mentors and early-career designers, from open call to final presentation
- Co-develop aporetic prototypes with designers, including speculative surgical-planning interfaces developed together with clinicians of the neurosurgery stream, and ethnographic tools for the anthropology stream
- Conduct microphenomenological interviews with designers and contribute to the project’s training protocol
- Publish in anthropology, STS and design research venues, and co-curate the mid-term and final exhibitions
Your profile
- Completed university degree (Master’s or equivalent) and a doctorate, completed or well advanced, in human–computer interaction (HCI), design research, design anthropology, anthropology, STS or a closely related field
- Experience of qualitative, ethnographic or practice-based research with designers, creative technologists or other practitioners
- Research experience at the interface of digital design and clinical or medical practice is a strong advantage
- Knowledge of contemporary digital design practice and critical interest in generative AI tools; hands-on prototyping, co-design or creative coding experience is an advantage
- Experience in organizing workshops, collaborative projects or exhibitions with non-academic partners
- Very good English; German is desirable
- Openness to multimodal and experimental methods; experience with microphenomenology or other first-person methods is welcome but not required
We offer
A fixed-term position until the end of the project (31 October 2031) in an ERC funded, internationally oriented team; the opportunity to shape a research stream and to publish independently and as co- author; training in microphenomenological interviewing; the research environment of one of Germany’s leading clusters for machine learning, together with long standing field partnerships in Berlin. Salary and benefits follow the TV-L (collective agreement for the public service of the German federal states).
This position is funded by the European Union (ERC, APORIA).
The University aims to increase the proportion of women in research and teaching and therefore particularly encourages qualified women scientists to apply. The University of Tübingen is committed to equal opportunities and diversity and actively promotes gender equality. Disabled candidates will be given preference over other equally qualified applicants.
The appointment will be made by the Central Administration.
How to apply
Please send your application as a single PDF, in English or German, by 11 November 2026 to Dr Maxime Le Calvé maxime.le-calve@uni-tuebingen.de , with the subject line “APORIA Research Associate – Design”. It should contain: a cover letter (max. 2 pages) setting out your interest in APORIA and how you would approach the design stream; a CV with a list of publications; a writing sample (article or chapter, max. 30 pages); optionally, a short portfolio or links to multimodal, curatorial or design work; copies of your university degree certificates and, if applicable, your doctoral certificate (if your doctorate is not yet completed, a short statement on its status and expected completion); and the names and contact details of two referees. Interviews are planned for 27–28 October 2026 and may be held online. We regret that travel and accommodation costs for interviews cannot be reimbursed.
Informal enquiries are welcome at the address above.
