Instructor Living station Lab, Willem de Kooning Academy

WdK Station Living

Our organisation

The Willem de Kooning Academy, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (WdKA/RUAS), offers a variety of bachelor and master’s programmes in the field of visual culture, art, design, education in arts, and leisure management. The curriculum of the Willem de Kooning Academy is founded on an interdisciplinary ethos. The Majors are the entry point of study for all Bachelor students; the Practices of the interdisciplinary research contexts in the second half of the Bachelor programs; and the highly unique Stations (advanced workshops focused on Research through Making) complete the three pillars of the institute.

The Stations

The stations are centers of knowledge and expertise. They are both physical and non-physical locations that cover traditional as well as innovative technologies. The stations are at the vanguard of the developments within the professional field and the processes of production that are relevant for the art and design practice. Stations are not only a space of execution and production, but also a space in which tutors, instructors and students question why we make, how we make and for whom we make.

About the Living Station Lab

The Living Station Lab is a research and learning environment focused on ‘living’ and biological systems. It supports bio-art and bio-design practices by providing facilities and technologies for investigation, creation, and collaboration. Sitting at the intersection of art, design, and biology, the lab offers space for creative exploration and critical reflection on the relationship between ecology and technology.

We have microscopes, a sterile bio cabinet, incubators, an autoclave and all the materials to work safely in the lab. Students can conduct research and explore diverse living materials and ecosystems, such as plants, mycelium, soil, waste streams, and microscopic species.

The Living Station Lab serves two purposes. It is a place to experiment with techniques and create biomaterials, including bioplastics, fabrics from waste streams, and other innovative materials. On the other hand, it aims to be a learning environment in which research and collaboration is encouraged with living (eco)systems in and outside the school.

What are your going to do?

With expertise across biological materials, material development and general prototyping, your contribution will be crucial as part of the small technical team of the Living station Lab. As an instructor, you will take care of (teaching) materials, tools and other facilities in line with academic needs and health & safety guidelines. The role will include one-to-one and group work with students at all levels, advising and assisting students and staff with the production and development of projects, teaching materials and research.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Developing and maintaining the materials lab and maker space;
• Establishing and advising on best working practices for novel approaches to biomaterials experimentation and related processes;
• Developing, providing and documenting basic instructional lessons;
• Provide documentation on use of equipment and facilities;
• Develop a comprehensive set of biomaterial recipes and create manuals so that students can perform this material research and make these “samples” independently;
• In conjunction with academic and technical colleagues, plan, create and deliver/support a series of relevant skill based lessons in line with the academic programme;
• Collaborate with and support tutors and external experts in guiding our students;
• Regular checks and inspection of equipment and develop working protocols for students to work safely with machinery and equipment;
• Recommendations for ordering and sourcing of materials for testing and utilisation;
• Other administrative duties as appropriate;
• Create content for the living stations webpage (Wordpress).

Are we looking for you?

We are looking for a passionate, curious, and enthusiastic colleague who will be actively in keeping up with new developments in the broad field of bio-art and design and are able to implement these developments in practice. We are looking for colleagues who like to collaborate and think beyond boundaries: boundaries between disciplines, and between materials. The Biolab will serve as an incubator and as a model for collaboration and production that is in line with the future vision of the WdKA: a sustainable future.

You are a maker/designer who works within the broad scope of biodesign. You have a broad professional knowledge in basic and advances techniques related to this topic, which will be disseminated through instruction classes and other educational content.

• You show good communication skills and social skills;
• You like to work in an organised, clean, and structured way and can work independently on tasks;
• You are working within the field of biodesign or can demonstrate that you have relevant experience as a designer to work independently in the Living Station Lab;
• You have a basic understanding of biological and chemical processes and a relevant demonstrable expertise and a clear understanding of working with biomaterials, for example working with waste materials and living organisms (e.g. fungal mycelium);
• You have experience with material development, research (using techniques such as microscopy) and are familiar with specific machinery such as heat presses and with processes such as treating (cellulose-based) fibres;
• You are interested in working in a team within project-based educational formats: also, you are independent and result-oriented and show a proactive attitude;
• You can create a stimulating learning environment and can motivate and generate enthusiasm among students;
• Your level of working and thinking is relevant to higher professional education (completed HBO education);
• You have a clear motivation and affinity with education; you can communicate, and share and transfer knowledge, in both Dutch and English.

What do we offer you?

Hogeschool Rotterdam offers a temporary employment contract of 0,4 FTE (D4 cao hbo) for the period of one year. Our secondary benefits include good training opportunities, including unlimited access to stations for professionalization, and an attractive pension plan. In addition, we offer a good work-life balance through more than 50 days off per year for full-time employment.

Do you wish to apply?

We ask you to include a link to your portfolio with your CV and motivation. The procedure consists of 2 phases. First there is a selection based on CV, motivation and portfolio, after which interviews will take place.

More information about the content of the vacancy can be requested from Aldje van Meer, senior lecturer of the stations and the Research Center, a.van.meer@hr.nl.

We aim at diversity and recruiting colleagues from groups currently underrepresented in our education. We give preference to a candidate who strengthens the diversity within our team in case of equal suitability.

Being able to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) is a condition of employment as well as a valid EU work permit if you are from outside the EU.

Closing date: Monday 20 January, 2025