PhD Student in Lighting Design

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A brighter future! How does lighting design affect future design and product development processes and how digital tools such as VR/MR can contribute to experimentation and evaluation.

The aim of the postgraduate position is to explore how lighting design strategically contributes to the development of future products and product systems, for example cars, forestry machinery, forklifts or autonomous vehicles. Lighting design of products differs in many ways from lighting of buildings, parks and communities. Mobility in products means that many lighting ergonomic phenomena such as glare and contrast are more difficult to work out and evaluate. Passive users and passers-by can in many cases be negatively affected by a product's lighting very quickly. Climate such as bright summer days, driving snow and dark nights also have a major impact on lighting and can strongly influence a lighting experience. Colored light affects us instinctively, especially if it has a semantic meaning such as a red stop light or the police's blue light. Good lighting design can significantly affect the experience of form, surfaces, textures and color.

The PhD student is expected to contribute new theoretical and practical knowledge, develop lighting design processes and clarify how lighting design as an area of expertise can contribute to strategic design. Part of the doctoral student's service will focus on "Research Through Design". Various physical and digital visualization tools will be tested to better understand and investigate new lighting design processes.

As a PhD student, you devote most of your time to doctoral studies and the research projects of which you are part. Your work may also include teaching or other departmental duties, up to a maximum of 20 per cent of full-time.

You have graduated at Master´s level in lighting design, industrial design/product design (physical products) or technical design, or have completed courses of a minimum of 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits (hp) at an advanced level in design, lighting design or technical design, or have otherwise acquired essentially equivalent knowledge. You must have a master's degree, a civil engineering degree or international equivalence. Of the 60hp at advanced level, 30hp must constitute an approved degree project. Your degree must have been completed no later than the time the employment decision is made.

Since parts of the research project are intended to be carried out close to design, i.e. "Research Through Design" in lighting design, it is an advantage if the applicant can demonstrate work experience or student project work in lighting design, e.g. lighting of products/premises/scenes, or product design with lighting elements. The merit can be proven visually via a digital portfolio such as a PDF, video or website.

It is also an advantage if the applicant has or can demonstrate an interest in working with digital software for visualizations, e.g. Unreal Engine or other lighting software for architecture, stage lighting, or film, e.g. BIM, MagicQ.

The majority of all scientific publishing will be in English, therefore the applicant needs to have very good ability to write and speak English. Parts of the research will be conducted with Swedish companies, therefore it is an advantage if the applicant speaks Swedish.

The Product Realization Department focuses on design, product development, construction and production; and works with the entire product realization cycle from the idea stage to the physical realization of products and production systems. This includes both technical design aspects, product development processes, industrial design and production technology. At the department we work with industry-related projects in both research and education, and they often result in prototypes and demonstrators.

When taking up the post, you will be admitted to the program for doctoral studies. More information about the doctoral studies at each faculty is available at Doctoral studies at Linköping University

The employment has a duration of normally four years’ full-time equivalent. Extension of employment up to five years is based on the degree of teaching and institutional assignment. Further extensions may be granted in exceptional circumstances. You will initially be employed for one year, after which your employment will be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time, depending on your progress through the study plan. 

Starting date by agreement. 

Background screening may come to be carried out before any decision on employment is made.

The salary of PhD students is determined according to a locally negotiated salary progression.

More information about employment benefits at Linköping University is available here.

Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants .

Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must reach Linköping University no later than 18th of August 2025.

Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered.

We welcome applicants with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives - diversity enriches our work and helps us grow. Preserving everybody's equal value, rights and opportunities is a natural part of who we are. Read more about our work with: Equal opportunities .

We look forward to receiving your application!

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