Research Fellow (Co-Designing Creative AI and Audiovisual Practice) – CULTURAI Project at Monash University European Research Foundation

Organisation: Monash University European Research Foundation (MUERF)
Location: Prato, Tuscany, Italy
Salary: €36,722 gross annually
Contract: Co.Co.Co (Collaborazione Coordinata e Continuativa), tied to objectives and deliverables
Working arrangement: Full-time, on-site
Duration: November 2026–31 August 2030
Application deadline: 19 October 2026, 11:55 pm CET

The Monash University European Research Foundation (MUERF) is seeking a Research Fellow to join the Horizon Europe-funded CULTURAI project in Prato, Italy, exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming the cultural, creative and audiovisual sectors.

As the Research Fellow (Co-Design and Fieldwork), the successful candidate will lead the design and delivery of participatory research and Living Lab activities, working closely with cultural institutions, creative practitioners, community members and policymakers to co-design, test and evaluate innovative and responsible applications of AI.

The position offers an opportunity for a collaborative and community-engaged researcher to contribute to international research while ensuring local insights from Prato inform broader European and global discussions on AI, culture and policy.

About the CULTURAI project

CULTURAI is a four-year Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action funded by the European Research Executive Agency (REA).

The project investigates the adoption and impact of artificial intelligence across Europe’s cultural and creative sectors, with a particular focus on the audiovisual sector and galleries, libraries, archives and museums (GLAMs).

The international consortium brings together eleven partners, including MUERF, TU Delft, the University of Edinburgh, UNESCO, the Europeana Foundation and other research and cultural organisations.

The project aims to:

• Map and analyse the impact of AI on the European audiovisual sector through a pan-European survey and comparative case studies.
• Examine AI best practices and literacy across the GLAM sector.
• Contribute to global AI governance and cultural policy debates.
• Design and deliver participatory Living Labs, including a Living Lab in Prato, to co-develop and test AI-related practices with cultural and creative practitioners and communities.
• Develop sector recommendations and policy papers, and establish a Competence Centre to sustain the project’s outcomes.

Within CULTURAI, MUERF leads the European audiovisual research strand, the Prato Living Lab and the synthesis of sector recommendations and policy papers.

Key responsibilities

The Research Fellow will:

• Lead the design, facilitation and implementation of the CULTURAI Living Labs, including the Prato Living Lab, using participatory and co-design approaches.
• Engage and collaborate with cultural institutions, creative practitioners, communities and policymakers to explore, experiment with and evaluate AI-enabled practices.
• Conduct qualitative fieldwork and contribute to participatory research activities.
• Support stakeholder engagement and collaboration across the international research consortium.
• Contribute to policy development, project delivery and high-quality research outputs.
• Help ensure that insights from local cultural and creative communities inform wider European and international discussions on AI and cultural policy.

Requirements

Applicants should have:

• A PhD in a relevant discipline, or a strong practice-based research profile, with expertise in co-design, participatory research, qualitative methods and community-engaged research.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating workshops, Living Labs or similar participatory environments.
• Knowledge of AI, creative technologies and the cultural, creative and/or audiovisual sectors.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• The ability to build trusted relationships with cultural institutions, creative practitioners and community members.
• The ability to contribute to interdisciplinary and international research collaborations.

Applicants must demonstrate valid and current EU work rights. The position requires working on-site in Prato, Italy.

Contract and remuneration

The position is based at MUERF’s Prato campus, where the research team works across Italian and English in close coordination with international consortium partners and Monash University in Melbourne.

The role offers:

• Annual gross remuneration of €36,722.
• A Co.Co.Co (Collaborazione Coordinata e Continuativa) contract tied to objectives and deliverables.
• A contract period from November 2026 to 31 August 2030.
• A collaborative international research environment focused on AI, culture and creative practice.

MUERF welcomes applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process.

Employment is subject to satisfactory pre-employment and background checks, where required.

Application process

Applications should be submitted through Monash University’s online recruitment platform, following the university’s application guidelines.

Job reference: 698110

Application deadline: Monday, 19 October 2026, 11:55 pm CET.

Image: Courtesy of Monash University European Research Foundation.