Postdoc position(s) at Digital Democracy Centre

The Digital Democracy Centre, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, invites applications for one or more full-time postdoctoral fellowships for a 24-month period. 

Employment can be from March 1, 2025 or later in 2025. The place of employment will be in Odense.

The Postdoc(s) will be part of the Digital Democracy Centre. Candidates are expected to set up, conduct and publish research within one of the core themes of the centre: (1) Digital Democratic Integrity, 2) AI, Media, and Journalism, 3) Citizens, Organizations, and New Digital Technologies, 4) Digital Democracy and Societal Transitions. Please consult the DDC website for information.

Postdocs are embedded in research teams and will work with other scholars in the Centre. It is a good idea to consult the website and learn more about scholars affiliated with the DDC.

Expectations and key responsibilities

The successful candidate(s) will ideally have experience in either computational social science, or (digital) communication or journalism, or political science or economics, or law, or AI / computer science.

The postdoc(s) will be involved in all aspects of the research, from conception, execution, analysis, publishing, and public dissemination. A solid set of field specific methods is necessary.

Candidates are expected to be willing and able to contribute to the DDC by producing original research of high international quality, engage in exchange of knowledge with relevant societal actors, including news media, the public, and policymakers, be part of grant acquisition and impact activities, and contribute to team building and the development of centre.

Candidates are expected to:

• be capable of working independently and in a team, for example in data collection, writing scientific articles, and knowledge dissemination,
• contribute both academically and socially to the research environment at DDC,
• be able to communicate project results in English both in writing and orally in academic contexts and to the broader public, (Danish is an advantage but not required)
• present research results at international conferences,
• possibly contribute to teaching programs (in consultation with relevant departments),
• work and be present at the Centre in Odense.

The DDC is a part of the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences. It is an interdisciplinary Centre with members from computer science, law, media studies, political science, business and organizations. The DDC believes in fostering a stimulating and inspiring environment for both faculty members and students. The DDC’s ambition is to recruit, develop, and retain talented scholars committed to both research, education, and impact. Furthermore, the DDC wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Inquiries about the project and the position can be addressed to the Centre Director, Prof. Claes Holger de Vreese, [email protected]. For further information about the Centre, please see www.sdu.dk/ddc. 

Application and assessment process

Appointment to the position requires a PhD or equivalent and will be in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the Danish state with the associated circular on the protocol on job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for the position of postdocs as described herein.

An application must include:

• A cover letter highlighting the necessary qualifications and motivation,
• A detailed CV,
• Certificates/Diplomas (MA/Msc and PhD degree),
• A 1-page description outlining the idea and design for a first study that the candidate would like to conduct within the framework of the DDC themes, with research questions, design/methods, and analysis plan,
• A complete list of publications indicating which publications are most relevant for the position.
• The 3 most relevant publications or unpublished chapters of the PhD thesis. NOTE: If publications have been co-authored, co-author statements must be included and contain information like in this example. The statement is just for your inspiration,
• A teaching portfolio as documentation for teaching experience, and, if relevant, supervision qualifications. Formal application instructions and guide for teaching portfolio may be found here.

All non-Danish documents must be translated into English.

Documents should not contain a CPR number (civil registration number) – in this case, the CPR number must be crossed out.

Applications that are incomplete may be rejected without any substantive evaluation.

Assessment of applications will be done under the existing Appointment Order for universities. Applications will be assessed by an academic assessment committee that determines whether applicants are qualified to be a postdoctoral fellow. The committee may request additional information, and if so, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the necessary material. The committee reserves the right to arrive at a decision solely based on the material submitted.

Shortlisting may be used in the assessment process.

When the assessment committee has submitted its report, the applicants will receive the part of the evaluation that concerns them. The assessment report will subsequently be forwarded to the Head of Department who will assemble an appointment committee. The appointment committee will manage and complete a series of job interviews with especially promising applicants. On the basis of the applications, the written assessments, the job interviews, and a deliberation within the appointment committee, the head of department determines which candidate(s) will be offered the position.

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link "Apply now" on our website. Uploaded files must be in Adobe PDF (unlocked). The application and CV must not exceed 10 MB. 

Application deadline: November 1, 2024.

Read the guideline for applicants