Assistant Professor of Digital Communication in English

The School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University invites applications for the position of assistant professor of digital communication in English based at the Department of English.

The assistant professorship is a full-time, three-year, fixed-term position, and subject to appropriate funding, there will be an opportunity to apply for a subsequent associate professorship. The position begins on 1 August 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The School of Communication and Culture is committed to diversity and encourages all qualified applicants to apply regardless of their personal background.

The positionThe Department of English is one of the largest and most international departments within the Faculty of Arts, with some seventy researchers and lecturers from various countries. The department’s research covers international business communication, English as the global language of international business communication and strategic communication as well as linguistics, literature and social/historical/media studies.

The position involves research, teaching and supervision, talent development and knowledge exchange related to international business communication in English and strategic communication with a particular emphasis on digital communication.

In sum, we are looking for an innovative and dedicated applicant who will strengthen the research and teaching profiles of the department nationally and internationally and contribute to Aarhus University’s core activities in the areas of research, teaching and supervision, talent development and knowledge exchange.

ResearchThe Department of English at Aarhus University has a pronounced and significant international profile and a robust research network.

We are looking for an applicant who will pursue research in international business communication in English and strategic communication with a specific focus on digital and/or web-based communication and generative AI and who will publish internationally within these fields.

The successful applicant will be expected to take a role in developing research within the field of digital communication in English, publishing original peer-reviewed research internationally and making scholarly contributions to developments within the field. The successful applicant will also be expected to engage with the research community at the department by participating in collaborative research projects with internal and external partners as well as contributing to applications for external research funding.

Teaching and supervisionWe are looking for an applicant who has research and teaching experience within digital communication in English, and who will strengthen the research and teaching profiles of the department.

The applicant should have research and/or teaching experience and qualifications relevant to teaching courses in the areas of digital communication and marketing communication on the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes in international business communication in English and to teaching more specialised elective courses on the same degree programmes.

The successful applicant will be expected to participate in the department’s teaching and supervision activities and to teach and supervise in the department’s Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes, particularly the Bachelor’s degree programme in international business communication in English and the Master’s degree programme in international business communication in English. The successful applicant is expected to be qualified to teach courses such as Web-Based Communication (Bachelor’s degree programme in international business communication in English) and Digital Communication (Bachelor’s supplementary subject in strategic communication in organisations). In your application, please specify which courses you are qualified to teach and explain how your expertise aligns with each course. In collaboration with colleagues, the successful applicant will also be expected to employ innovative teaching methods to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.

The successful applicant will be expected to develop supervision capabilities at both BA and MA levels.

Given the international focus of the degree programmes which are taught in English, the successful applicant will be expected to teach in English. The successful applicant may also be asked to teach academically relevant courses at other departments within the school.

The person appointed to the position of assistant professor must complete Aarhus University’s teacher-training programme for assistant professors, which is designed for university teaching.

Knowledge exchangeIt is expected that the successful applicant will engage in knowledge exchange, for instance through research collaboration with private companies, government consultancy, collaboration with civil society and the public dissemination of knowledge.

The successful applicant will have excellent opportunities to engage in collaborative initiatives with partners inside and outside Aarhus University. Please briefly indicate in your application how you would like to work with this aspect of the position.

QualificationsApplicants must have a PhD degree or must document equivalent qualifications in a relevant field related to digital communication in English as well as teaching and research experience equivalent to that attained through a PhD degree. Applicants must be able to document, relevant to the position:

• an internationally oriented research profile within digital communication in English as documented by a PhD dissertation and/or research publications
• relevant teaching experience at university level, including innovative teaching methods documented through a teaching portfolio.

Furthermore, it will be considered an advantage if applicants can document

• a track record of research publications of a high international standard, as commensurate with the length of the applicant’s academic career
• an outstanding and innovative doctoral dissertation in an area related and relevant to digital communication
• experience of participation in national and international research networks
• time spent abroad working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions
• research collaboration with private companies, government consultancy or collaboration with civil society within the fields of international business communication in English and/or strategic communication with an emphasis on digital communication.

Finally, applicants are asked to provide a research plan for the next three years as well as a strategy/vision for their contribution to future developments within the field, including plans for publications, funding applications and collaborations with external partners.

Please note that although the application process can be completed on the Aarhus University system without uploading publications or a teaching portfolio, applications that do not include uploaded publications (maximum five) as well as a teaching portfolio (or equivalent documentation of teaching experience and qualifications) will not be considered.

Although the Aarhus University application system includes an option to upload letters of recommendation, please do not include letters of recommendation or references with the application. Applicants who are invited to an interview may be asked to provide references.

Work environmentActive participation in the daily life of the department is a high priority, and we emphasise the importance of good working relationships, both among colleagues and with our students. To maintain and develop the department’s excellent teaching and research environment, the successful applicant is expected to be present at the department daily.

We respect the balance between work and private life and strive to create a work environment in which that balance can be maintained. You can read more about family and work-life balance in Denmark.

International applicantsInternational applicants are encouraged to read about the attractive working conditions and other benefits of working at Aarhus University and in Denmark, including healthcare, paid holidays and, if relevant, maternity/paternity leave, childcare and schooling. Aarhus University offers a wide variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including a relocation service and an AU Expat Partner Programme. You can also find information about the taxation aspects of international researchers’ employment by AU.

An appointee who does not speak Danish will be required to acquire proficiency in Danish sufficient to handle tasks, including administrative and managerial responsibilities, and to participate fully in the activities of the School of Communication and Culture within approximately three years of commencing the appointment. These include, but are not limited to, reading work-related texts and participating in meetings and collegial gatherings in Danish.

The departmentThe place of employment is the Department of English, Jens Chr. Skous Vej 4, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark

Prospective applicants are invited to view the department’s website.

School of Communication and CultureThe school is a part of the Faculty of Arts. You will find information about the school and its research programmes, departments and diverse activities on its website.

ContactFor further information about the position, please contact Trine Susanne Johansen, coordinator for the Bachelor’s supplementary subject in strategic communication in organisations, by email: [email protected].

If you need help uploading your application or have questions about the recruitment process, please contact Arts HR support by email: [email protected].

Qualification requirements
Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.

Formalities

• Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).
• Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities .
• Further information on the application and supplementary materials may be found in Application Guidelines.
• The application must outline the applicant's motivation for applying for the position, attaching a curriculum vitae, a teaching portfolio, a complete list of published works, copies of degree certificates and examples of academic production (mandatory, but no more than five examples). Please upload this material electronically along with your application.

If nothing else is noted, applications must be submitted in English. Application deadline is at 11.59 pm Danish time (same as Central European Time) on the deadline day.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Shortlists may be prepared with the candidates that have been selected for a detailed academic assessment. A committee set up by the head of school is responsible for selecting the most qualified candidates. See this link for further information about shortlisting at the Faculty of Arts: shortlisting


Faculty of Arts
The Faculty of Arts is one of five main academic areas at Aarhus University.

Read more at arts.au.dk/en