Postdoctoral Position: Challenge-Based Research in the Humanities – University of Southern Denmark
Organisation: University of Southern Denmark (SDU)
Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Location: Odense M, Denmark
Contract: 2-year temporary appointment
Research Area: Humanities / Challenge-Based Research
Application Deadline: 25 November 2026 at 23:59 CEST
The University of Southern Denmark (SDU) is inviting applications for a two-year Postdoctoral Position in Challenge-Based Research in the Humanities at its Department of Culture and Language in Odense, Denmark.
The successful candidate will join the Nordic Humanities Center for Challenge-Based Inquiry, an innovative research centre established through collaboration between the humanities faculties at the University of Copenhagen and the University of Southern Denmark, with support from the A.P. Møller Foundation.
The position is expected to begin on 1 February 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter.
About the Nordic Humanities Center
The Nordic Humanities Center for Challenge-Based Inquiry brings together scholars from the humanities to explore major local and global societal challenges.
The centre aims to develop new perspectives, frameworks, narratives and approaches to issues such as inequality, war, health, artificial intelligence and the climate crisis.
The successful postdoctoral researcher will be affiliated with the centre’s first research group, which will focus on a Nordic theme.
The position provides an opportunity for a researcher to contribute to emerging discussions about how humanities scholarship can engage with real-world societal challenges.
About the Research Project
The postdoctoral researcher will examine the growing movement towards challenge-based, mission-driven and world-oriented research within universities, with particular attention to the humanities.
The research will involve four main areas.
First, the researcher will map recent transformations within academia towards challenge-based approaches and identify relevant initiatives in Denmark and the Nordic countries.
Second, the researcher will investigate how Danish and Nordic humanities scholars understand and engage with research addressing societal challenges.
This will include examining how researchers collaborate with external partners and how scholars themselves understand the opportunities and challenges associated with challenge-based humanities research.
Third, the successful candidate will conduct an individual research project within this broader field.
Finally, the postdoctoral researcher will contribute to activities, discussions and events organised by the Nordic Humanities Center.
Qualifications
Applicants must be fluent in a Scandinavian language.
The university is particularly interested in candidates with a strong publication record and an academic background in areas such as:
- Sociology of science
- History of science
- Higher education
- Philosophy of the humanities
- History of the humanities
- Related research fields
Experience with quantitative methods, questionnaires and interviews is also desirable.
Candidates should demonstrate research experience relevant to the project’s focus and the ability to develop an independent research agenda.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit a detailed CV with personal contact information, copies of their Master’s and PhD certificates or diplomas, and a complete list of publications.
Applicants should identify the publications most relevant to the position and submit up to three relevant publications as PDF files.
Where publications are co-authored, applicants must briefly explain their contribution to the work.
A cover letter of no more than 1–1.5 pages is also required. The letter should explain the applicant’s motivation, suitability for the project, relevant experience and qualifications.
All non-Danish documents must be translated into English.
Applications and supporting documents may be submitted in Danish, English or a Scandinavian language. Files must be submitted in PDF format and may not exceed 10 MB per file.
Salary and Employment Conditions
The postdoctoral appointment is temporary and ends automatically when the two-year employment period concludes.
Employment conditions and salary are determined under the applicable collective agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC).
The position does not include an upgrade of pedagogical qualifications and therefore cannot independently qualify the holder for later employment as an associate professor or senior researcher.
About Odense and SDU
The Department of Culture and Language is based at SDU’s campus in Odense, Denmark.
Odense is the third-largest city in Denmark and offers family-friendly living, cultural attractions, recreational areas and strong public transportation connections to other major Danish cities.
SDU has more than 27,000 students and over 3,800 employees, with students and staff representing an international community.
How to Apply
Applications should be submitted electronically through the University of Southern Denmark’s online recruitment system.
The stated application deadline is 25 November 2026 at 23:59 CEST. The job information also lists an application cutoff of 26 November 2026 at 00:59, so applicants should submit well before the stated deadline to avoid technical or time-zone issues.
This opportunity is particularly suitable for researchers interested in humanities, higher education, sociology of science, research policy and the changing role of universities in addressing societal challenges.
