Tenure-track Assistant Professor or Associate Professor of Ecological Economics

Tenure-track Assistant Professor or Associate Professor of Ecological Economics
Department of Food and Resource Economics
Faculty of Science
University of Copenhagen

We seek to make an appointment in Ecological Economics to complement the Department’s ongoing research. The candidate is expected to have a profile with emphasis on system complexity at different scales and how this affects the understanding and modelling of economics, the environment, and their interactions. It can also include aspects of value pluralism, and non-equilibria economic modelling.

The candidate is expected to have

• A PhD in Ecological Economics or similar
• A strong theoretical foundation
• A strong system perspective and insight into both natural and social science
• Genuine interest in and scientific capacity to challenge and be challenged by perspectives from related fields such as earth science, environmental economics, human geography, political ecology
• Commitment to develop and engage in joint research with researchers working in related fields, including both economists with a neoclassic theoretical focus and political ecologists
• Open to combining methods and theories, to bring new perspectives, methods and skills to the research, teaching and public consultancy of the department

Tenure-track assistant professor
The tenure-track assistant professor’s responsibilities will primarily include research, including obligations with regard to publication/scientific communication and research-based teaching with associated examination obligations within ecological economics and the related fields of the departments teaching programmes. To a limited extent the position may also include other tasks.

The tenure-track assistant professor must have an academic standing showing internationally high-quality research and have internationally recognized high potential to make a future impact.

Assessment of applicants for the tenure-track assistant professorship will primarily consider their level of documented, internationally competitive research. The ability to attract external funding will be considered together with outreach qualifications. Teaching qualifications are not mandatory, but documented teaching qualifications and teaching experience will be considered.

Associate professor
Applicants are required to have university level teaching experience, documented teaching competencies and will be required to explain and reflect upon one’s own teaching practice and portfolio. Formal pedagogical training or supervision equivalent to the University of Copenhagen teacher training programme for assistant professors is required.

Responsibilities include the applicant’s own research, development of the field, assessment tasks, grant applications, and research management such as supervision and training of research fellows and other staff. The associate professor must also teach, supervise, prepare and participate in examinations, and fulfill other tasks requested by the Department.

Assessment of applicants for the associate professorship will primarily consider their level of documented, original scientific production at an international level, including contributions to developments in their field, as well as their documented teaching qualifications. Managerial and out-reach qualifications of applicants including ability to attract external funding will also be considered.

University of Copenhagen’s criteria for recognizing merit
Six overall criteria apply for assistant professor / associate 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 an overall assessment of the candidates. Furthermore, each candidate should be assessed according to the specific requirements stated in the job advertisement. Please read more here:

For tenure-track assistant professors: https://jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabelige-stillinger/kriterier-for-videnskabelige-stillinger/dokumenter-til-meritering/5a_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-Assistant_professors.pdf.

For associate professors: https://jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabelige-stillinger/kriterier-for-videnskabelige-stillinger/dokumenter-til-meritering/5b_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-Associate_professors.pdf .

The tenure-track assistant programme
The tenure-track programme is a career programme and an assigned mentor will provide the tenure-track assistant professors with guidance related to career development, other academic topics and administrative procedures.

Performance of the tenure-track assistant professor will be followed via internal yearly evaluations and a mid-term and final international evaluation by an assessment committee. If the ‘final appraisal’ is positive you will be promoted as associate professor. Performance and progression towards the criteria below will be evaluated with due consideration of differences between research fields.

After a 6-year tenure-track period tenure-track assistant professors are expected to meet the criteria for appointment of associate professors at the University of Copenhagen.

Terms of employment
The position is open from 1 September 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

The position will be based in the department section where the profile fits best. The employed candidate is expected to collaborate broadly within and outside the Department. In all sections, social scientists from several disciplines undertake research to address the critical challenges society face with respect to protecting our planet, its climate, environment and life, the sustainability of global natural resource-based sectors like the agro-food sector, fishery and forestry, and the links between development, conservation, and natural resources use. The Department of Food and Resource Economics is uniquely placed in the enviable role of undertaking research, education, and public-sector services of international excellence in these fields and with significant impact in the scientific community, and on policy and practice.

Further information on the Department is linked at http://www.science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/departments/.http://www.science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/departments/. Inquiries about the position can be made to Professor Jette Bredahl Jacobsen ([email protected] or +45 21147912).

Filing of application
The position may be applied for at the tenure-track assistant professor level or associate professor level. Please note that it is possible to apply at more than one level. If applied at more than one level, separate applications should be submitted (see below).

The application including all attachments should be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Applying for the tenure-track assistant professorship please include

• Curriculum vitae including:
  • Please describe and document international network and relations
  • Please describe and document internationally based activities
  • Positions held at universities/research institutions outside Denmark
  • Outreach activities, i.e. popular lectures or other activities in the media
  • Grants held, personal or in part. Career development grants.
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)

• Research plan - description of current and future research plans

• If available, description and documentation of teaching and supervision experience and qualifications- please describe and document:
  • Experience with supervision of BSc and MSc students
  • Teaching experience
  • Formal pedagogical training

• Complete publication list
• Separate reprints of up to 5 particularly relevant papers

Applying for the associate professorship please include

• Curriculum vitae including information about external funding
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)
• Research plan – description of current and future research plans
• Description and documentation of teaching experience and qualifications according to university guidelines
• Complete publication list
• Separate reprints of 5 particularly relevant papers

The deadline for applications is 16 March 2025, 23:59 GMT+1

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee.

You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews will be held on 15 August 2025.  

Please refer to the following no. in future communication in this case:

211-0234/24-2N Tenure-track Assistant Professor of Ecological Economics

211-0669/24-2E Associate Professor of Ecological Economics