Zürcher Hochschule der Künste · Education
PhD Artistic Researcher in Post-Instrumental Spatial Practice (f/m/d)
With around 2100 Bachelor's and Master's students, the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) is one of the largest and most diverse art academies in Europe.The fields of study and research include Art Education, Design, Film, Fine Arts, Music, Dance, Theatre and Transdisciplinarity. In the centre of Zurich, the ZHdK is a dynamic place where passionate people from over 75 countries work, study, teach, research and further their education.
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The Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST) brings together scientists and artists from diverse backgrounds—ranging from computer science and engineering to composition, media art, and performance—to critically explore the relationship between technology and musical practice.
Starting February 2027, or by mutual agreement, we are looking for a:
PhD Artistic Researcher in Post-Instrumental Spatial Practice (f/m/d)
A fully funded doctoral position is available as part of a four-year ICST research project, "Animated Objects and Moving Sound Sources: Expanding Spatial Audio in Post-Instrumental Practice," supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation. The project investigates the gap between high-resolution 3D spatial audio and the embodied, physical nature of post-instrumental performance — where musical thinking meets tangible objects, theatrical sets, and choreography. It asks: How can spatial audio better integrate bodies and objects? Which instrument designs best connect 3D sound rendering with kinetic interaction? How does scale shape aesthetic meaning in performance? Working across composition, instrument design, spatial audio, object theatre, computer vision, and kinetic systems, the project unfolds through practice-based case studies — from tabletop instruments to mobile loudspeaker choreographies to large-scale site-specific installations.
Your tasks
- Creative Prototyping & Composition: Drive the artistic design and compositional application of new interactive performance systems.
- Doctoral Dissertation: Synthesise findings into a new theoretical model integrating post-instrumental and spatial audio practices.
- Qualitative Documentation: Document the design process using methods such as grounded theory and autoethnography.
- Academic Dissemination: Contribute to publications, present at conferences (e.g., NIME, ICMC, SMC), and support the project's open-access platform.
- Expert Workshops: Help design and evaluate expert-led workshops assessing how practitioners experience the developed systems.
Your profile
Degree & Practice: An excellent Master's degree (or equivalent) in Composition, Computer Music, Interactive Media, Performance Studies, or a related field, ideally with experience in audio-visual performance, sound installation, or post-instrumental practice.
Programming & System Design: Experience with real-time audio environments (Max/MSP, Pd, Super Collider) and strong interest in instrument design for object performance. Python skills desirable.
Physical Interaction & Spatial Audio: Experience or interest in physical computing (Arduino, Raspberry Pi), real-time computer vision, mechatronics, and spatial audio rendering (HOA, WFS).
Artistic-Scientific Sensibility: Commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry, combining technical design with critical reading, writing, and qualitative research methods.
Communication: Excellent written and spoken English.
We offer
This position offers the opportunity to complete a doctoral degree in a world-class research environment, with full access to ICST's state-of-the-art facilities — including HOA and WFS studios, motion capture labs, and a hardware prototyping lab — and leading international networks in computer music. The position is fully funded per SNSF standards for 4 years, based at ZHdK's Toni-Areal campus in Zurich in cooperation with HfMT Hamburg. We offer competitive salary rates and comprehensive social benefits. The employment conditions are governed by cantonal personnel legislation.
Please apply online via the "Apply online now" link below; we only accept online applications. Required documents:
- Doctoral Research Exposé (7–15 pages): Describe your artistic practice and research interests within the Animated Objects project, how you'll integrate its core inquiries into your doctoral research, and how your work fits the project's collaborative framework, including methodology (e.g., grounded theory), provisional bibliography, and timeline. Refer to the project summary at this link for more information:Link Project Summary
- Cover Letter (max. 2 pages)
- CV
- Writing sample (e.g., Master's thesis)
- Project Portfolio (with links to videos/documentation)
- Two references' contact details
Timeline: Application deadline 1 November 2026; interviews week of 16 November 2026. The selected candidate submits their exposé to HfMT Hamburg's doctoral program (deadline 1 December 2026), with a final interview in Hamburg, February 2027. Anticipated start at ZHdK: Spring 2027 (exact date to be coordinated).
For questions regarding the position or application process, please contact Prof.Dr. Rama Gottfried (rama.gottfried@zhdk.ch).