Associate professor or tenure-track assistant professor in European ethnology for the Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen

The Saxo Institute, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen (UCPH) invites applicants for a position as associate professor or tenure-track assistant professor in European ethnology. The position is available from 1 September 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The position as associate professor is a permanent, full-time position.

The position as tenure track assistant professor is a permanent, full-time position.
As an assistant professor in a permanent position your employment will change to employment as an associate professor after a maximum of six years, under the condition that you submit a request for the assessment of your professional qualifications, and you are deemed qualified for the position of associate professor.

The position may be applied for as a tenure-track assistant professor level or at associate professor level. Please note that it is possible to apply for the position at both levels. If applied for at both levels, separate applications must be submitted (see below).

Job description
The Saxo Institute seeks a talented researcher to fill a position as associate professor or as a tenure-track assistant professor in European ethnology. We are looking for a promising and ambitious candidate with a dynamic profile in the cultural history of everyday life in Northern Europe and/or the lived transformations of the concepts of Europe and Europeanness in light of historical and contemporary challenges.

Applicants with expertise in one or more of the following areas are particularly encouraged to apply:

• Ethnological perspectives on everyday life practices in Northern Europe (including Scandinavia), c. 1650-1900.
• Articulating the relevance of cultural history and the study of everyday life for contemporary societal challenges.
• The study of Europe as a dynamic concept or narrative shaped by mundane historical practices and contemporaneous political, economic, environmental or other crises.
• The study of cultural processes in a European context across past, present and future.

At the Saxo Institute, we value diversity in theoretical approaches and research methodologies and therefore invite applications from all candidates whose research profiles match the description above. Interest in and experience with methodological, theoretical and conceptual innovation is considered an advantage. The tenure-track assistant professor or associate professor will be part of and contribute to the institute’s diverse research activities in, for example, seminar series and/or research clusters.

The successful applicant must document an original and compelling research plan (for the assistant professor position covering the six-year tenure-track period), which complements and strengthens the research profile of European ethnology and demonstrates an interest in research cooperation at the Saxo Institute, the Faculty of Humanities or UCPH more generally. 

As specified in UCPH’s criteria of merit (see below), documented experience in research-based teaching, cultivating international research networks, involvement in collaborative research initiatives, and grant applications will be a distinct advantage.

European ethnology at the Saxo Institute constitutes a vibrant and diverse scholarly environment deeply invested in the BA and MA programmes in European ethnology as well as in the MA programme in Applied Cultural Analysis (MACA). In addition, several scholars are attached to the MA programme in Advanced Migration Studies (AMIS) and the research centres at the Saxo Institute.

The candidate is expected to play an active role in teaching and supervising students in the BA and MA programmes in European ethnology. Based on the candidate’s profile, teaching obligations can include BA-courses, e.g. “The Cultural History of Everyday Life (A and B)” or “Cultural Processes in Europe”, and MA-courses, e.g. “Europe in the World”, as well as area courses and courses focusing on theory and methodology.

Experience with or interest in administrative tasks related to education as well as a demonstrated potential for contributing to Saxo’s educational activity more broadly will be considered an advantage.       

The position involves a portfolio of tasks that requires a regular presence at the institute, except for research leaves.

The Saxo Institute is dedicated to the study of human societies past and present, with degree programs ranging from History to Ethnology, Archaeology, Classical Languages and Migration Studies. With some 1400 students and a staff of 100 employees, the Institute offers a variety of research and library facilities, servicing a vibrant community of tenured scholars, project and visiting researchers and graduate students. The institute hosts a range of leading research centres and externally funded research projects.

The institute is located at UCPH’s South Campus in Copenhagen, a diverse and vibrant city. Education is free and child-care is subsidized in Denmark. As a Scandinavian capital with a green profile, public transport in Copenhagen is well-developed, and many inhabitants take their bikes to work. In addition to its many recreational areas, the city has multiple museums and other cultural venues. The University of Copenhagen was founded in 1479 and is the largest in Denmark.

Tenure-track assistant professor
A tenure-track assistant professorship is a six-year, fixed-term academic position involving both research and teaching. The successful candidate must complete a mandatory teacher-training course designed especially for assistant professors. During the six-year tenure-track period, the candidate has one research semester every three years. The tenure-track assistant professor must be able to contribute to individual and group-based research, and research-based publishing, meeting high international standards, and contribute to the faculty’s activities, including examinations and administration. The responsibilities also include teaching, supervision, and examination of undergraduate and graduate students. Furthermore, the position includes administrative responsibilities, and communicating research findings to the public in general, and to the stakeholders of the Saxo Institute.

Associate professor
The applicant is expected to be able to take part in all the activities of the faculty, including examinations and administration, and to manage research projects, provide pedagogical supervision, support assistant professors, and participate in academic assessment panels.

The duties of the position are evenly distributed on tasks related to teaching and tasks related to research (including relevant administration and knowledge-sharing). Hence, the assessment of applicants’ qualifications will assign equal weight to documented competences in the field of teaching, pedagogy, and didactics as in the field of research, research collaboration and research organisation. Applicants with documentation of excellent teaching skills including experience with development of teaching and with experiences and reflections on how most effectively to integrate research and teaching activities will be given priority.

Qualification requirements

Tenure-track assistant professor
Appointment as a tenure-track assistant professor assumes research qualifications equal to at least a PhD degree.

Assessment of applicants will primarily consider their level of documented, internationally competitive research. Teaching qualifications are not mandatory, but documented teaching qualifications and teaching experience will be considered. Applicants’ outreach qualifications, including the ability to attract external funding, will also be considered.

For further details about the qualification requirements for assistant professorships, please read the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2019 here: Ministerial_Order_no._1443_of_11_December_2019_on_Job_Structure_for_Academic_Staff_at_Universities.pdf (ku.dk)

For more general information about the tenure-track programme, please consult: Tenure track at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen

Six overall criteria apply for assistant professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The six criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organizational contribution, external funding, and leadership) are considered a framework for the overall assessment of candidates.More information about the UCPH criteria is available here:  Criteria for recognising merit – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

Find more information for recognising merit for assistant professor here:
5a_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-Assistant_professors.pdf

Associate professor
Regarding applications for the position as associate professor, emphasis will be put on the candidate demonstrating research and teaching qualifications corresponding to what can be achieved by satisfactory employment as an assistant professor or tenure-track assistant professor.

Applicants are encouraged to read the University guidelines for teaching portfolio when appointing staff at the UCPH: Job application portfolio – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

In addition, emphasis will be placed on the following professional and personal qualifications:

• Research qualifications, which will be assessed in relation to the period of active research, the degree of originality and academic output.
• The applicant’s scientific record, academic breadth, depth, and rigor.
• Teaching qualifications in relation to didactic development
• Experience and qualifications regarding dissemination of research, knowledge-sharing, and engagement with the wider public.
• Significant skills regarding external funding.
• Interest in collaborative research work and in the development of own academic leadership skills

Six overall criteria apply for associate professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The six criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organisational contribution, external funding, and leadership) are considered a framework for the overall assessment of candidates. Furthermore, each candidate must be assessed according to the specific requirements stated in the job advertisement.

You can read more about the criteria UCPH criteria here:  Criteria for recognising merit – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

Find more information for recognising merit for associate professors here: 5b_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-Associate_professors.pdf (ku.dk)

Further details about the qualification requirements for associate professor can be found in the ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2019 here: Overview (contents) (ufm.dk)

Within a reasonable period (3-6 years), non-Danish-speaking appointees (associate professor or tenure-track alike) are expected to acquire proficiency in Danish sufficient to be able to interact with colleagues and students.

Furthermore, each candidate must be assessed according to the specific requirements stated in this job advertisement.

Application
Please specify in the cover letter whether you are applying for the Associate Professor position, the Tenure-Track Assistant Professor position, or both.

Applications must be submitted online. Click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of this advertisement to apply. The application must be written in English, and include the following enclosures in Adobe PDF or Word format:

• Letter of motivation.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Certificates and diplomas (including PhD diploma).
• Complete and numbered list of publications. The enclosed publications must be marked with*.
• Research plan, including a short description of previous research and a plan for the coming years that includes an account of involvement in organising research, establishment of research seminars, symposia, and congresses, etc.
• Teaching portfolio. Documentation of teaching qualifications and research dissemination (organisation of classes, materials, courses and other forms of teaching) Job application portfolio – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
• Publications. Applicants for the position as associate professor may choose a maximum of six publications while applicants for the position as tenure track assistant professor may choose a maximum of five for assessment. Of these publications at least two must have been published within the two years immediately preceding the deadline for applications. Publication dates must be clearly marked on the publication list. Should any material submitted consist of work with named co-authors, or work that is otherwise the result of collective academic endeavours, the extent of the applicant’s contribution to the work must be clearly specified. A signed statement from the co-authors specifying the extent and nature of everyone’s contribution must be included.

Only material in Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English and German will be assessed.

Recruitment procedure
After the application deadline, the Head of Institute selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointment Committee.  All applicants are notified whether their application has been accepted for assessment. The Head of Institute subsequently appoints an expert assessment committee tasked with carrying out an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee. Applicants are ultimately offered the opportunity of commenting on the part of the assessment relating to themselves before the appointment is finalized.

Further information on the recruitment process at University of Copenhagen can be found here:   Recruitment process – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

Salary and conditions of employment
Terms of appointment and salary will be in accordance with an agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The salary range starts for Assistant Professor at DKK 40,600 (EUR 5,400) + a 17,1 % contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.

The salary range starts for Associate Professor at DKK 44,900 (EUR 6,000) + a 17,1 % contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.

An Equal Opportunity Workplace
University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their personal backgrounds. For more information on the diverse working place environment at the University and the University’s participation in the HRS4R HR Excellence in Research, see  HR Excellence in Research – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

International applicant?
The University of Copenhagen offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including support before and during your relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about these services as well as information on entering and working in Denmark here: For international researchers at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen

A special tax scheme is offered to researchers recruited abroad. Please see:  Tax – University of Copenhagen

Contact information
Information about the recruitment process is available from HR South and City Campuses, email: [email protected]. Please refer to case number: [211-0664/24-2E], #1.

Additional information about the position can be obtained from the Head of Department Casper Sylvest, email: [email protected].

The deadline for applications is 29 January 2025, 23:59 CEST.

Applications or enclosures received after the deadline will not be considered.