PhD Position in South-South Security Cooperation

Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University, invites applications for a position as PhD of Social Science from 1st of September 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position as PhD is limited to a period of 3 years.

Description of the PhD project
The thematic focus of the PhD project is ‘Brazilian security cooperation with Africa’. The project will explore how and to what effect Brazilian security engagements with Africa are transforming African security governance. The PhD project is linked to a larger research project funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF) with the title: Transregional South-South Security Cooperation and the New geopolitics of African Security Governance. The PhD project will specifically focus on Brazilian security cooperation with East and/or West Africa, allowing the PhD to formulate an own project while working in close collaboration with the project team, sharing research protocols and analysis across the cases of the wider project. The candidate is based at Roskilde University in Denmark but is also expected to conduct fieldwork in Brazil and Africa.

About the Department of Social Science and Business
Our research focuses on societal changes, business economics and the impact of such developments on different societies around the world. We aim at generating novel scientific insights into the on-going societal changes, confrontations and conflicts. As our teaching is closely related to our research activities it attaches high importance to methodological skills and is characterized by its multidisciplinary nature. Read more about the Department of Social Sciences and you can also read more about Roskilde University.

The Doctoral School
You will be enrolled as a PhD fellow at the Doctoral School of Social Sciences and Business with approximately 40 PhD fellows from all over the world.

The Doctoral School of Social Sciences & Business (ISE) provides PhD training and research within an interdisciplinary, international, and professional environment. It is part of a dynamic community of researchers who share a commitment to understanding society in diverse contexts of change and global engagement. Researchers come from all over the world and engage in topics that are geographically, theoretically and methodologically diverse. The Doctoral School has one PhD program. The program offers work in progress seminars, thematic professional development seminars, feedback and social activities for the enrolled PhD fellows. As a PhD fellow you will be associated with one of the relevant research groups at the department. Additional information about the PhD program at Roskilde University is available.

As a PhD student you will be associated with the research area of political economy and global and development studies.

Responsibilities and tasks
As a PhD fellow you are trained at an international level to undertake research. You are responsible for carrying out independent research under supervision and receive constructive feedback in the PhD program in order to finish your PhD thesis. You are also responsible for collecting data and write up one project report (focus will be jointly decided by you and the PIs) that will feed into research and outputs for the project. During your employment you are required to take 30 ECTS of course work, gain experience of teaching activities. You are also required to have a change of research environment during your PhD enrollment. The environment change can take place at foreign or local universities or research institutions. For more information, please see chapter 3, Ministerial Order on the PhD Program at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions  and Ph.d.-protokolattet  i Cirkulære om overenskomst for Akademikere I Staten

Qualifications
You must hold a master’s degree or equivalent within of social sciences (anthropology, economics, sociology and global and development studies). Qualifications within the following areas are required

• Proficiency in English.
• Proficiency in (Brazilian) Portuguese.

We also emphasize the following qualifications:

• Qualitative methods.
• Fieldwork.
• Knowledge of Latin American/Brazilian and/or African security governance.

You are required to be enterprising and to possess good communication skills and to be a visible, involved participant in the department’s daily activities, in addition to being willing to engage in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration across the department.

Assessment
In the assessment regarding employment consideration will be given to;

• Relevant Master’s degree or equivalent (according to Danish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education).
• Any additional academic requirements stated in the job advertisement.

In the application assessment, consideration will also be given to the following criteria:

• Educational skills and any further professional qualifications.
• Grades at Master’s program or equivalent.
  • Quality and relevance of the project description.
  • Considerations regarding ethical aspects and access to the field.
  • The quality and relevance of the methodological and theoretical choices.
  • The consistency and coherence between the problem and the choice of method and theory.
  • Ideas for dissemination plan (seminar, workshop and intended publications).
  • The realistic and feasible scope of the PhD project.
• Ability to complete the PhD project.
• Relevance of the project to the profile of the Doctoral School and the research project: Transregional South-South Security Cooperation and the New Geopolitics of African Security Governance.
• Your project description shall be no more than 5 pages ages. 

Questions
For further information about the position, please contact Professor (MSO) Markus-Michael Müller, ([email protected]). For technical or administrative questions, please contact PhD Coordinator Ida Bruhn Bull ([email protected]).

Terms of employment
The employment is full time, 37 hours per week and you will refer to the Dean of Social Sciences Morten Frederiksen.

The position will be filled according to the Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.  

Application procedure
After the deadline for applications the Dean will shortlist applicants for assessment with assistance from the recruitment committee including the chairperson of the assessment committee.

Shortly after the application deadline all applicants will be notified whether or not their application has been selected for assessment.

The shortlisted applicants will be informed about the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant will be given the opportunity to comment on the composition of the committee and - later on - their assessment.

Once the recruitment process is completed, all applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application.

Application
To apply for the position go to www.ruc.dk/en/job/ 

Only applications in English are accepted. 

Applications must include: 

1. Cover letter 

2. CV 

3. Documentation of education including grades from Master’s programme or equivalent. If you master degree is not awarded within the ECTS frame, please provide us with: Your bachelor diploma and grades. An official English translation of diplomas. A description of the master programme including the official duration (in years).

4. Your description of the PhD project (no more than 5 pages)

5. Your time schedule of the PhD project 

6. If applicable: Documentation for any research experience, work experience or publications. 

Please submit your application no later than April 6, 2025.

Material received after this date will not be taken into consideration. 

Roskilde University wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.