Open call for applications for postdoctoral research positions in the ERC group Coded Secrets: Artistic Interventions Hidden in the Digital Fabric (COSE) [codedsecrets.eu]. COSE studies net art since the 1990s, develops methodologies and strategies to communicates born-digital art’s aesthetic dimensions, technical aspects, and its position within the different strata of the internet in an integrated way. The project is funded by the European Union until end of 2028 and seeks to fill three postdoc positions asap.

Responsibilities: You conduct independent research into internet art, with a special focus on technical aspects and the situatedness of such programmed online artworks. You engage in shared interdisciplinary projects (experiments, publications, exhibitions, presentations). You contribute to the development of an infrastructure to analyse net art as well as to the COSE Media Wiki, a database for sustainably sharing information about the researched artworks.

Required qualifications: You are a tech-philic researcher passionate about digital art that deals with the substrates of the internet. You hold a PhD in art history, cultural heritage or neighboring fields (Position 1); art history, cultural studies, slavic studies or neighboring fields (Position 2); art history, visual, performing and media arts or neighboring fields (Position 3). You have experience with quantitative and/or qualitative research methods as documented in the curriculum vitae. You have competences in archival work, oral history/interviewing, historiography, iconology and media analysis of visual networked art.

Working place: The Free University of Bozen-Bolzano ¹ is located in one of the most fascinating European regions, at the crossroads between the German-speaking and Italian economies and cultures. Its trilingualism in teaching and research, its high level of internationalisation as well as an ideal study environment guaranteed by its excellent facilities are some of the reasons why unibz regularly reaches top positions in national and international rankings.

Employment details:
Employment level: 100%
Gross annual remuneration: 45.000,00 Euro

Start date: January 15, 2027 or as soon as possible
Duration: Contract is initially 12 months, and extendable within the project duration (until end of 2028)

Appliation modalities: The applications are open to postdoctoral researchers (PhD must be fully completed by the time of application). The application is to be submitted in English via the application form (links see below). It includes a CV and a portfolio of past projects. Please submit your application exclusively via the online platform that you find here below:

Position 1: Postdoc with a particular focus on internet projects from Italy:
https://www.unibz.it/en/home/position-calls/positions-for-academic-staff/8499-art-history-prof-hinterwaldner-inge-pos-1?group=76

Position 2: Postdoc with a particular focus on internet projects from Eastern Europe:
https://www.unibz.it/en/home/position-calls/positions-for-academic-staff/8500-art-history-prof-hinterwaldner-inge-pos-2?group=76

Position 3: Postdoc with a proven expertise and research in the field of internet art, the networked art/art of networking, with a particular focus on the technical aspects of the projects:
https://www.unibz.it/en/home/position-calls/positions-for-academic-staff/8501-art-history-prof-hinterwaldner-inge-pos-3?group=76

The deadline for applications is October 30, 2026 at noon (CET).

For further information about the research context, please visit the COSE website: https://codedsecrets.eu
Questions about the academic profiles of the positions may be directed to:
Prof. Dr. Inge Hinterwaldner
Professor for History of Contemporary Art
Faculty of Design and Art
Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
Piazza Università 1
I-39100 Bolzano
https://www.unibz.it/en/faculties/design-art/academic-staff/person/53246-inge-hinterwaldner