At the Department of Communication and Psychology, the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Aalborg University, a position as Postdoc in Interdisciplinary Concert Research will be open for appointment from 1st of October 2025, or as soon as possible after this date (dependent on sufficient funding).
The employment will be a fixed-term (30-month), full-time position. The Postdoctoral position is primarily affiliated with the project Collective Applause in the Symphonic Concert Hall (CLAPS) but there is also a possibility for limited teaching activities. The successful applicant will be expected to be present at the research location in Aarhus on a daily basis, with regular daytrips to AAU’s campus in Aalborg.
The position is primarily affiliated with the section Art, Aesthetics and Health (AAH). AAH constitutes an interdisciplinary group of scholars investigating art forms, aesthetic experiences and their meaning, value and interaction with people and society, especially in relation to health, technology, and sustainability.
About research
We are looking for an innovative researcher with a background in music cognition, psychology, music technology, or musical data science, ideally with a specialization in experimental concert research and/or collection and analysis of continuous audiovisual or physiological data.
The successful candidate will play a crucial role in the Collective Applause in the Symphonic Concert Hall (CLAPS) research project, led by Associate Professor Niels Chr. Hansen. They will join the newly established Cognitive Musicology and Performance Science Lab (CoMPS), co-located at Aalborg University (AAU) and The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg (RAMA).
CLAPS utilizes cutting-edge camera and microphone technology along with insights from social and experimental psychology to exploit applause behavior as a hitherto untapped data source for investigating the socio-cognitive mechanisms of live music appreciation. Via systematic video recordings and questionnaire surveys of audience behavior during three full concerts seasons with Aarhus Symphony Orchestra (ASO), we aim to understand how and why audiences express enthusiasm through collective applause in the classical concert hall. Later stages of the project will involve smaller-scale concert experiments with advanced music performance students from RAMA.
Musikhuset Aarhus is Scandinavia’s largest concert hall complex, housing, amongst others, ASO and RAMA. Other key project collaborators will include colleagues from RITMO Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Rhythm, Time and Motion at University of Oslo (Norway) and Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body, & Brain at University of Jyväskylä (Finland). The successful candidate will be expected to partake in one or more joint research visits to these two leading Nordic music research centers. CLAPS is funded via a Sapere-Aude DFF-Research Leader starting grant from Independent Research Fund Denmark awarded to the Principal Investigator.
The Postdoc is expected to undertake, publish and present research of an internationally recognized quality in a timely fashion. This will involve collaborating on—and possibly taking a lead on—the following project-related tasks: Establishing an efficient and robust pipeline for collecting video, audio, survey, and contextual data from weekly concerts in Symphonic Hall, Musikhuset Aarhus; Developing applause-based candidate metrics of live concert experiences; Devising new research questions and experimental hypotheses that can be answered and tested using our rich, multidimensional concert data; Identifying musical and contextual factors that predict the magnitude and spatiotemporal dynamics of applause behavior. The postdoc will also be expected to participate actively, constructively and respectfully in the academic life of CoMPS and the Department, as a competent scholar, as a team player, role model and mentor for junior researchers, and as an embracer of ethical open-research practices. They will altogether play a key role in building a new, dynamic–and world-class–performance science research environment based on strong principles of kind, inclusive, and flexible leadership.
Applicants should document (essential):
- Experience, skills, and achievements that demonstrate the ability or potential to produce high-quality research in relation to the CLAPS project and publish it in international journals. This may entail capacity to develop robust experimental designs, to conduct data processing and statistical analysis with relevant programming language(s) (such as Python and R), and to handle high-dimensional research data to a high scientific standard.
- An international research profile.
- A personal research statement (max 2 pages) that demonstrates the potential to develop new research projects within the context of CLAPS and CoMPS.
- Experience, skills, and achievements that demonstrate the ability or potential to develop external networks and collaborations.
- Experience, skills, and achievements that demonstrate the ability or potential to collaborate with partners outside of academia to enhance the impact of research.
If relevant, applicants should aim to highlight any (beneficial):
- Hands-on experience with experimental concert research
- Own musical performance training, skills, or experience
- Other technical know-how with relevance to CLAPS (or other CoMPS activities)
About teaching
Aalborg University’s music program is part of the Department of Communication and Psychology. The applicant will primarily teach within the music program, which offers two bachelor’s tracks—'General Music' and 'Popular Music and Sound Production’—and single and joint master's programs.
Successful applicants are expected to deliver a limited amount of quality teaching, and potentially supervision and examinations as required in the Music program. An individual agreement on possible teaching contributions will be made with the postdoc.
To the extent possible, applicants should document:
- Experience, skills, and achievements that demonstrate the ability or potential to deliver high-quality teaching using various pedagogical approaches, including problem-based learning, project supervision, group work, interactive seminars, and lectures.
Other expectations
Applicants should:
- Document experiences, achievements, and skills that demonstrate the ability or potential to collaborate with colleagues within the department and with colleagues in other departments.
- Demonstrate outstanding written and oral communication skills, with fluency in English.
- Participate fully in the department's and section's day-to-day activities and encourage and foster a positive, collegial working environment.
- Demonstrate the ability to link theory and practice in research and teaching.
Who are we?
The Department of Communication and Psychology is a part of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The department has campuses in both Aalborg and Copenhagen. Our department is dedicated to enhancing human and community participation in society through interdisciplinary research and education. We combine classical and modern humanistic disciplines and promote innovative thinking, and we are committed to contributing positively to society. As part of our large and diverse Department, you will work alongside over 150 scientific staff and more than 2,000 students. In addition, we have over 30 PhD students and an administration team of 35 staff members. Join us in making a positive impact on society! More information about the Department's research profile can be found here: https://www.communication.aau.dk.
How to apply
Your application must include the following:
- Application, stating reasons for applying, qualifications in relation to the position, and intentions and visions for the position
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Diplomas (master's degree diploma and PhD diploma)
- List of publications, with an indication of the attached publications that you wish to be taken into account in the assessment. You may attach a maximum of ten publications. If you are applying for a position at The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH), you must submit a co-author statement, see template for co-author statement
- Documentation of teaching qualifications. Depending on which faculty you are applying for employment, please see guidelines for teaching portfolio at The Technical Faculty of IT and Design, The Faculty of Engineering and Science and The Faculty of Medicine or guidelines for teaching portfolio at The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. If this is not enclosed, the applicant must enclose the reasons for this .
- Dissemination qualifications, including participation on committees or boards, participation in organisations etc.
- Additional qualifications in relation to the position
- References/recommendations
- A personal research statement (max 2 pages) that demonstrates the potential to develop new research projects within the context of CLAPS and CoMPS
You can read more about the requirements for your application here.
The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website.
Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.
Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.
Further information
Read more about our recruitment process here
The appointment process at Aalborg University involves a shortlisting process. You can read more about the shortlisting and appointment process here.
The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.
Salary and terms of employment
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish).
Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (only in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (only in Danish).
Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.
INFORMATIONER OM STILLINGEN:
- Arbejdspladsen ligger i:
Aalborg Kommune
-Virksomheden tilbyder:
-Arbejdsgiver:
Aalborg Universitet, Rendsburggade, 9000 Aalborg
-Ansøgning:
Ansøgningsfrist: 08-08-2025;
Se mere her: https://job.jobnet.dk/CV/FindWork/Details/e575f29e-c145-4fac-97ff-dfdf1cb4aa19
