Tenure-track assistant professor in archaeology at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen

The Saxo Institute, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen (UCPH) invites applicants for a tenure-track assistant professorship in Archaeology.

The position is a permanent, full-time position available from 1 September 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. 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.

Job description
The Saxo Institute seeks a talented researcher to fill a position as tenure-track assistant professor in archaeology. We seek a promising candidate with a dynamic profile within European and/or North European Iron Age and Medieval/Renaissance archaeology, c. 500 BC - 1500 AD. Applicants who have experience with or a demonstrated interest in critical approaches to digital methods in archaeology are particularly encouraged to apply.

At the Saxo Institute, we value diversity in theoretical approaches and research methodologies and therefore invite applications from all candidates whose research profile fits the description above. The tenure track assistant professor will be part of and contribute to the institute’s diverse research activities in, for example, seminar series and/or research clusters.

For the six-year tenure-track period the successful applicant must document an original and compelling research plan, which complements and strengthens the research profile of archaeology at the Saxo Institute and the UCPH more generally. Archaeology at the Saxo Institute is centrally placed within the UCPH School of Archaeology, a cross-faculty initiative that brings together scholarly excellence within the many branches of archaeology found at the university.  

Documented experience with research-based teaching, cultivating international research networks, involvement in collaborative research initiatives, and grant applications will be considered a distinct advantage. 

The tenure track assistant professor will play an active role in teaching prehistoric archaeology at the BA and MA level, especially relevant period courses relating to the Iron Age, the Viking Age and the Middle Ages/Renaissance as well as introductory and/or theoretical/methodological courses, partly or wholly, co-taught with the programmes in classical archaeology. 

A profile that demonstrates potential for contributing to the Saxo Institute’s educational activities more broadly as well as to stimulating further cooperation between prehistoric and classical archaeology in a research context will be considered an advantage. 

The position involves a portfolio of tasks that requires a regular presence at the institute, except for research leaves during the six-year tenure-track period (one semester every three years). 

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. 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.

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 
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: https://employment.ku.dk/tenure-track/tenure-track-at-ucph/

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.

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 assistant professors: 5a_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-Assistant_professors.pdf

Within a reasonable period (3-6 years), non-Danish-speaking appointees 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
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 may choose a maximum of five publications for assessment, of which at least two must have been published within the five 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 English, German, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish 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 Dean 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: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

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.

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 https://employment.ku.dk/working-at-ucph/eu-charter-for-researchers/ 

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: For international researchers at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen

A special tax scheme is offered to researchers recruited abroad. Please see:  Salary, Tax and Pension – 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: 211-0230/24-2N, #1.

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

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

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