PhD Fellowship in Applied Information Technology: Emerging AI/XR Technologies as Mediators and Co-creators of Human Experiences

The School of Arts, Design and Media 
 
The School of Arts, Design and Media is Norway’s largest higher education environment for creative and art-related disciplines, with more than 1,700 students and 130 full-time academic positions. The school offers education and research across film and television production, music and sound, performing and written arts, communication, design and computer arts. Research and teaching are closely connected to professional working environments and the creative industries, linking artistic practice with technological innovation and international collaboration. 


About the position 
 
Kristiania University of Applied Sciences is offering a fully funded PhD fellowship in Applied Information Technology. The successful applicant will be included in a team of researchers with ambitious plans to further develop research and pedagogical activities related to Applied Information Technology at the university.  

The position is part of the MishMash Centre for AI and Creativity, a national research centre funded by the Research Council of Norway (2025–2030) and will contribute to advancing research at the intersection of artistic innovation, technological mediation, and cultural heritage. The chosen candidate will be working with experts from both the School of Arts, Design and Media and the School of Economics, Innovation, and Technology in a strongly interdisciplinary environment. 

The PhD project should aim to investigate how artificial intelligence and extended reality (XR) systems can be designed and applied to advance creative solutions for cultural production. The research will explore how generative and immersive technologies mediate human experience, influence creative agency, and shape cultural memory. Central questions include how AI and XR can enhance creative collaboration, enable the reinterpretation of cultural heritage, and promote sustainable, inclusive, and ethically responsible innovation in artistic and institutional contexts. 

The project may involve developing or testing creative AI-based XR prototypes in collaboration with artistic, cultural, or archival institutions, applying methods from human–computer interaction, computational creativity, or digital curation. Ethical, ecological, and accessibility concerns will be central, ensuring that creative AI and XR systems promote cultural diversity, transparency, and respect for human and artistic integrity.  


The PhD candidate will have the opportunity to: 

• Design and evaluate creative AI-based XR systems or workflows that support artistic production and cultural innovation 
• Explore the use of generative and immersive technologies for creative reinterpretation and public engagement with cultural heritage 
• Analyse human–AI interaction patterns and collaborative authorship in creative and cultural contexts 
• Implement ethical, sustainable, and inclusive design approaches for responsible AI in artistic and cultural environments 
• Disseminate findings through exhibitions, conferences, and publications, and collaborate with research and cultural-sector partners 

The candidate will join a cross-disciplinary supervisory team and will collaborate with national and international partners in the MishMash network. 


More about the MishMash Centre for AI and Creativity   

MishMash Centre for AI and Creativity is a Norwegian AI centre funded by the Research Council of Norway (2025–2030). It comprises more than 200 faculty members from higher education institutions across Norway, in collaboration with numerous public and private partners.  

The centre’s primary objective is to create, explore, and reflect on AI for, through and in creative practices. MishMash researchers investigate AI’s impact on creative processes, develop innovative co-creative AI systems and educational strategies, and address AI’s ethical, cultural, legal, and societal implications in creative domains. See mishmash.no for more information.  

It is expected that the appointed candidate will join one or more of MishMash’s work packages, collaborate across the MishMash network, and participate in all relevant MishMash activities.  


The candidates must have: 

• Master’s degree (120 ECTS or equivalent) in a relevant subject area with a grade B or better on the master’s thesis and for the master’s degree overall. The master’s thesis must be a minimum of 30 ECTS or equivalent. The relevance of the subject areas is dependent on the type of project proposed by the candidate 
• Relevant 180 ECTS bachelor’s degree 
• Analytical and technical skills relevant to applied information technology, particularly in human–computer interaction, with focus on frontend AI development 
• Experience with programming and digital tools used in AI, immersive, or interactive system development (e.g., Python, Unity, Unreal, TouchDesigner, or similar) 
• Demonstrated creative or artistic competence, such as experience in digital art, media production, creative coding, or interaction design 
• Understanding of user-centred or participatory design methods, with an interest in applying them to creative, cultural, or archival contexts 
• Relevance to MishMash’s aims and objectives 
• Proficiency in both written and spoken English (interviews, and all communication will be in English) 

In line with the objectives of the MishMash Centre for AI and Creativity, candidates should demonstrate interest in interdisciplinary collaboration across technology, arts, and design, and an ability to engage in cross-institutional research networks. 


Ideally, candidates should have: 

• Familiarity with ethical, cultural, or societal perspectives on AI and digital creativity 
• Knowledge of evaluation methods for user experience, creative collaboration, or audience engagement 
• Motivation to contribute to responsible, inclusive and sustainable uses of AI in artistic and cultural contexts 

Personal qualities:  

• Curiosity and a strong motivation to carry out independent interdisciplinary research 
• Good communication and cooperation skills 
• The ability, desire and capacity to work independently, systematically and purposefully 
• Orientation toward the completion of projects and the attainment of goals 

Emphasis will be placed on personal suitability for the position. 

Benefits: 

• High salary compared to international standards (NOK 550,800 per year) 
• Equipment at your disposal during employment (e.g., high-end laptop, mobile and mobile subscription) 
• NOK 50,000 per year to support travel to conferences and other running costs 
• Free health insurance, travel insurance, and pension plan 
• Strong labour laws (e.g., fully paid parental and sick leaves, 25 paid days of vacation and paid sick leave) 

The application must include: 

• Motivation letter for the position 
• Approved diplomas and transcripts (in Scandinavian or English language) 
• CV  
• At least two references 
• Master’s thesis 
• A project proposal of up to 4 pages (max. 2,000 words, excluding references), written in English, outlining the candidate’s intended PhD research in relation to the described PhD project, including background, relevant literature, objectives, methods and expected contributions 

Admission to the PhD programme is a requirement for taking up a position as a research fellow. The application must be submitted to School of Doctoral Studies within three months of the start date. For more information, see the Regulations relating to conditions of appointment for research fellowships: https://lovdata.no/forskrift/2024-06-28-1392/§3-19. 


The PhD fellowship period is 3 years, and the earliest start date is 01.09.2026. 


Working place is the School of Arts, Design and Media. The school is located in Oslo, with numerous amenities, recreational spaces and urban fun right next door.  


Kristiania University of Applied Sciences welcomes and encourages applications from diverse backgrounds. Women and persons with minority backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply. 


For more information about Kristiania, visit: https://www.kristiania.no. To learn more about the PhD in Applied Information Technology, visit: https://www.kristiania.no/en/research/phd. 


If you have any questions regarding the PhD project, please contact Synne Tollerud Bull (SynneTollerud.Bull@kristiania.no). 

If you have questions regarding the PhD programme, please contact Asle Fagerstrøm (asle.fagerstrom@kristiania.no). 


Application deadline:

02.02.2026. 

Only applications received through our application portal will be considered. 


We use Semac background checks in our recruitment process. 


The employment is to be made in accordance with the regulation to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to Kristiania.