Professorship in digital communication with a focus on digital society

The Digital Democracy Centre (DDC), an interdisciplinary centre at the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Odense, in cooperation with The Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS) seeks strong candidates for a vacant position as Full Professor and DIAS Chair in Digital Communication with a focus on digital communication and its effects on democracy and society . The application deadline is February 17^th , 2025; the starting date is flexible, but we hope to welcome our new colleague on  August 15^th, 2025. 

The position is at the DDC with a joint affiliation at DIAS.

About the DDC
The DDC includes members and projects from disciplines like law, economics, computer science, political science, communication, and journalism working on four core research areas: AI, Media and Journalism; Citizens, Organisations, and new Technologies; Democratic Integrity; and Digital Democracy and Societal Transitions. The DDC/ DIAS professorship is expected to contribute to these core research areas through research in the field of Digital Communication. This is a broadly defined field which can have an emphasis on communication practices (such as (media) organisations), communication content (with a focus on digital communication), communication regulation (with a policy and regulatory focus), or political and democratic effects (such as digital political engagement). Candidates for the DIAS Digital Communication Chair may therefore come from different social science backgrounds.

It is important that the candidate has an active and internationally recognized research agenda around questions of how digital technologies (such as AI) affect democratic processes and society. DDC adheres to a socio-technological, interdisciplinary approach. The DIAS Digital Communication and Society Chair fits with the strategy of both DDC and DIAS, as well as the SAMF Faculty, and the wider SDU profile and strategy.

The DDC conducts interdisciplinary, cutting-edge research of highest international standards. Our research is presented at competitive conferences, published in leading international journals, and our faculty and Centre members obtain competitive (inter)national research grants. We value outreach and impact activities, and the Centre is building up a portfolio of education activities (ranging from undergraduate classes, to new curricula, postgraduate supervision, and executive training). We expect our new colleague to actively contribute to these activities and contribute to the international visibility of both DIAS and the DDC. 

In the call we are looking for candidates who can be a leading figure at the DDC and DIAS, can help further develop and expand the profile of DDC and DIAS, who have an excellent and proven track record of high-quality publications and grants. 

DIAS Chairs are offered support from DIAS and the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences during the first four years. In addition, DDC will contribute with a start-up package (for e.g., support for data collection, assistance and/or PhD supervision). This will be agreed upon with the prospective candidate.

The research activities (and the workplace) are situated in Odense.

About DIAS
DIAS at SDU is a hub for interdisciplinary excellence at and beyond the frontier of knowledge, bringing together outstanding researchers from various disciplines to foster interdisciplinary research and innovation. It hosts Chairs and Fellows from all faculties of the university, fostering an interdisciplinary environment. DIAS encourages and supports curiosity-driven research and fosters the meeting of minds across disciplines and levels of seniority. The center cultivates an ambitious, open-minded and playful environment that nurtures both academic growth and a strong sense of community. The candidate will be anticipated to contribute actively to DIAS, including but not limited to participation in DIAS activities, mentoring of DIAS fellows, and promotion of DIAS nationally, internationally and within SDU, as well as through strengthening the bonds between the department/faculty on one hand and DIAS on the other, through interdisciplinary collaborations where meaningful. 

For questions on DIAS, please contact DIAS Director Sten Rynning, [email protected]. 

About the position
We offer and expect our new colleague to

1. conduct excellent research to be published in leading international academic journals,
2. attract external research funding, 
3. take responsibility for research management,
4. undertake high-quality teaching and supervision at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate (PhD) levels,
5. take responsibility for program and curriculum development,
6. maintain and develop relationships with appropriate stakeholders,
7. perform academic, knowledge dissemination/outreach and administrative tasks.

The teaching languages at SDU are English and Danish. The research language at the department and DIAS is English. SDU offers Danish language courses for new employees, and new hires are expected to acquire sufficient Danish language skills within 3-5 years to understand basic communication and read administrative documents.

This position is a unique opportunity as it comes with seed funding that the successful candidate can use to strengthen their own research area, and it has a reduced teaching load for the first year of employment.

It is important for the department that all colleagues, including applicants for the professorship, have good interpersonal skills and are dedicated to and engaged in the daily academic and social interaction of the research platforms, the department, and DIAS. 

The department values a diversity of competences and academic profiles among its academic staff. Applicants are encouraged to make their own competences and profile clear in their application; see below for an elaboration of the requirements. 

Ideally, applicants are expected to have

• a PhD in communication science or another social science field (e.g. political science, law, economics, sociology, psychology) but with a digital communication and society profile,
• an international profile and a strong record of research with research publications in leading international journals,
• a successful record of attracting research funding and managing projects,
• novel ideas with a clear potential to expand our frontiers of knowledge,
• a proven experience in academic leadership, 
• a solid record of designing and delivering academic teaching and supervision at undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate (PhD) levels,
• experience with developing and managing educational programs,
• excellent interpersonal skills in developing and maintaining good working relationships,
• ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences,
• a consistent track-record of successful contribution to research management, community building, and administrative tasks, including strategy development.

Relevant other professional experiences and qualifications in addition to the ones listed above may be considered..

Further information about the position can be obtained from Director of the DDC, Professor Claes de Vreese, e-mail: [email protected]. For general questions regarding housing, taxes etc., the SDU’s International Staff Office can assist - see link.

Application, salary, etc.
Appointment to the position requires a PhD or equivalent and will be in accordance with the salary agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link "Apply now" on our website.

An application must include:

• Motivated cover letter
• Detailed CV, including experience with external funding
• Certificates / Diplomas (Master and PhD degree)
• Teaching portfolio (see below) 
• Research, publication, and funding plan for the next 3 years
• Complete list of publications, indicating which publications are most relevant for the position
• Up to 5 of the most relevant publications. Please upload a pdf for each publication. For co-authored publications, briefly describe the extent of the co-authorship or your contribution to the publications (please do this for each co-authored publication). You can do so by using this form or by describing the co-authorship in such a way that the committee can assess the extent of your contribution.

Applicants are encouraged to include reflections on experience with research leadership, experience with applications for external funding, experience with research collaborations, and other qualifications relevant for the position in their cover letter.

All non-Danish documents must be translated into English.

Applicants are requested to submit a teaching portfolio with the application as documentation for teaching experience as well as supervision qualifications. Formal application instructions and a guide for the teaching portfolio can be found here. 

Assessment of applications will be done under existing Appointment Order for universities. Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. The committee may request additional information, and if so, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the necessary material.

When the assessment committee has submitted its report, the applicant will receive the part of the evaluation that concerns him/her.

Applications that are incomplete with regards to the above requirements will not be assessed by the committee. Shortlisting and tests may be used in the assessment process and references may be obtained.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background. As part of the overall assessment of the applicant’s qualifications, an interview may be applied.

Salary and terms of employment
The successful applicant for the professor position will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations).

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link "Apply online". Uploaded files must be in Adobe PDF (unlocked) Word format.

Read the guideline for the applicants here.

Each field can only contain a single file of max. 10 Mb.

Job identification: 2231