With around 2,100 Bachelor and Master students, Zurich University of the Arts is one of the major and most diverse universities of the arts in Europe. The study and research programme covers the areas of art education, design, film, fine arts, music, dance, theatre and transdisciplinary studies. 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. The university has numerous exhibition and performance venues, where students projects can be shown to the public.
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In the Department of Performing Arts and Film, Immersive Arts Space, we are looking for
the project Performing AI (funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), a
(fixed-term for 2 years)
Performing AI is a 4-year project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF). The interdisciplinary project assembles social, human and natural science researchers from the Universities of Fribourg and Lausanne and the University of Tokyo, with backgrounds in STS, sociology, performance studies, media arts and artificial life/artificial intelligence.
Performing AI asks multiple questions: How is AI enacted in governmental policy? What does artistic practice do to AI and what does AI do to artistic practice? How is AI reconfigured in interdisciplinary scientific domains such as complex systems and artificial life (as opposed to computer science)? How is AI taken up, resisted or reconfigured, in the public sphere, including schools, museums and festivals focused on the intersections of art, technology and society?
The outcomes of Performing AI include artistic exhibitions and performances, workshops with international cultural venues, journal articles, conference proceedings and other publications and a series of interdisciplinary team summits in Switzerland and Japan.
The research will be conducted at the Immersive Art Space (ZHdK) and in close collaboration with the Ikegami Laboratory (University of Tokyo, AISAC – Atomi Information Science and Arts Centre). It builds on previous work using biological AI techniques such as spiking neural networks and cellular automata to explore new possibilities for an "aesthetics of behaviour" in the field of A-Life performance.
We are looking for a senior researcher to join the ZHdK team to practically explore human-machine performativity in live artistic performance settings where robotic (non-anthropomorphic) and AI systems (LLMs-driven machines, Agential AI, biological AI techniques) are coupled with theatre machinery (e.g. lighting, sound). The goal is to develop new dramaturgical and technological techniques to translate the “liveliness” of human action into material, mechanical, and embodied systems that can interact with performers and audiences on stage and in installations settings.
The working language is English; however, knowledge of French and/or Japanese would be an asset.
The position is 100% for 2 years starting March 2026 or later, upon agreement.
Requirements profile:
- PhD in Computer Science, HCI, Computing Arts or related fields
- Strong background in artificial intelligence, machine learning, interactive systems or
programming applied to creative contexts
- Experience in kinetic, robotic, mechantronic, or similar design
- Experience working in professional artistic projects in the media, digital, immersive
or performing arts
- Programming skills related to AI (e.g. PyTorch, MCP, LangChain…) and multimedia creation
(e.g. Max/MSP, OpenFramework, Touch Designer)
- Interest in critical reflection on topics such as human-robot interaction, and artistic and
cultural uses of AI
We will gladly accept your application with
- Biosketch outlining your background, research statement, and intended contribution to
the topic (max. 2 pages)
- Curriculum vitae (CV) (max. 3 pages)
- Portfolio (e.g. publication list, code repository, writing sample, creative output, artwork)
(max. 3 pages)
- Contact information for two academic or professional references