Assistant Professor in Danish Politics (f/m/d) Syddansk Universitet (SDU)

The Department of Political Science and Public Management at the University of Southern Denmark, Odense, invites applications for a 4-year Assistant Professorship in Danish Politics, commencing on 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.
We are seeking a candidate with a strong research profile in Danish politics. Relevant research areas include, but are not limited to, political institutions, political parties, voter behaviour, gender and politics, public administration, lobbying and interest representation, public policy, political legitimacy, and democracy. Applicants may be specialists in Danish politics or comparativists whose research agenda includes Denmark as a major case.
The position is open to all methodological approaches. What matters most is a strong commitment to conducting high-quality research and delivering excellent teaching in Danish politics.

To be considered for the position, applicants should:

• Hold a PhD in Political Science or a related field.
• Have demonstrated strong research skills, evidenced by high-quality publications on Danish politics.
• Present a clear and ambitious plan for developing an independent research profile.
• Have experience teaching at university level, preferably in subjects related to Danish politics.
• Be willing to complete a teaching qualification programme (adjunktpædagogikum) or an equivalent qualification if not already completed.
• Be a collaborative colleague who enjoys working with others both within and beyond the department

The successful candidate's main responsibilities will include:

• Conducting and developing research in Danish politics.
• Teaching and supervising students at BA and MA levels across the department's programmes, including both core and specialised courses, and contributing to programme development.
• Contributing to a vibrant research and learning environment within the department.
• Engaging actively with broader society through media contributions, external partnerships, and other forms of public engagement.
• Contributing to the department's efforts to secure external research funding.

The position is based in the Public Administration, Welfare and Politics Section. Further information about the section, its members, and their research can be found here.

For applicants to qualify for the position, the following criteria must be met (please consult the Scholarly Qualification Matrix:

• Delineate a research profile aligned with the strategy of the Public Administration, Welfare and Politics Section 
• Publications of research at an inter¬nationally recognized level 
• Documented experience with teaching and/or supervision
• A strong teaching potential aligned with the department’s educational profile and a keen interest in developing teaching skills, new teaching formats and/or courses.
• Documented experiences with applying for smaller grants
• Contributions to collaborations and networks internationally and nationally
• A proven willingness to contribute to the social and professional life of the Department and/or the research group.
• Experience with and genuine interest in outreach or knowledge-sharing activities and/or cooperation with external partner.

In alignment with the new ministerial classification of academic ranks and titles, research and teaching competencies will be given equal weight in the assessment of any candidate. It is additionally important to us that applicants have good interpersonal skills and are dedicated to take part in the everyday academic and social environment at the department. Such engagement can be documented by, for example, past engagement in social and professional activities.

For further information, please contact the Heads of Section Mette Kjærgaard Thomsen mthom@sam.sdu.dk or Klaus Petersen klaus.petersen@sdu.dk. 
 
Application
Appointment to the positions 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.
An application must include the following:

• A detailed CV
• A letter of motivation
• A detailed research plan (max 3 pages) for the next 3 years that describes the applicant's:
  • Potential to advance the field (both empirically and theoretically)
  • Relationship to the aim and goals of Public Administration, Welfare and Politics Section
  • Planned national and international collaborations
  • Potential to obtain external funding
• Copy of certificates/diplomas (Master and PhD degree)
• Teaching portfolio. Formal application instructions and guide for teaching portfolio are found here.
• A complete list of publications, indicating which publications are most relevant for the position
• 1 to 3 of the most relevant publications. Please upload a pdf for each publication. NOTE: If publications have been co-authored, co-author statements must be a part of this pdf and must include information like in this example. The statement is just for your inspiration.
• Please attach the PhD dissertation as a publication, if such exists.

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.

Applicants are encouraged to read the information "How to apply" before applying. If you experience technical problems when uploading the application, please contact hcm-support@sdu.dk. 

UPLOAD GUIDE: Motivated application should be uploaded as ‘Cover letter’, Curriculum Vitae should be uploaded as ‘Resume’. All other documents should be uploaded as ‘Miscellaneous documents’. 

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

Application deadline is September 15, 2026 at 11.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST) 
 
Assessment and selection process
Assessment of applications will be done under the existing Appointment Order for universities. Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. Shortlisting may be applied, and only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment. Read about shortlisting at SDU. The committee may request additional information, and if so, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the necessary material. Incomplete applications may be rejected without any substantial evaluation.

When the assessment committee has submitted its report, applicants will receive the part of the assessment that concerns themselves. The assessment report will subsequently be forwarded to the Head of the Department of Political Science and Public Management, who will form an appointment committee. Interviews and tests may be part of the overall evaluation by the appointment committee. 
Based on information from the entire recruitment process, the Head of Department determines which applicants will be offered a position.
 
Conditions of employment
Employment will be in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the state with the associated circular on the protocol for the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for assistant professor as described herein. The person employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial assessment, be exempted from time registration, also known as a “self-organiser”. An assistant professor is expected to complete the Lecturer Training Programme during their employment.
 
SDU recommends that international applicants take the time to visit Work in Denmark, where there is information and facts about moving to, working and living in Denmark, as well as the International Staff Office at SDU.
 
The Department of Political Science and Public Management believes in fostering a stimulating and inspiring environment for both faculty members and students. The department's ambition is therefore to recruit, develop, and retain talented scholars committed to both academic excellence and departmental development. Furthermore, the department wishes our staff to be gender balanced and reflect the diversity of society and, thus, welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Salary
Salary is determined in accordance with the applicable collective agreement and based on objective and gender-neutral criteria, including the content of the position, responsibilities, and qualification requirements.
As an applicant, you are entitled to information about the starting salary and salary range for the position. This information will be provided during the recruitment process.
SDU does not collect information on applicants’ previous salary.
 
About SDU
The University of Southern Denmark was established to create value for and with society. Whether our contributions come in the form of excellent research, innovative solutions, education or learning, we must make a positive difference to society and contribute to a sustainable future. We do this by cultivating talents and creating the best environments for research and learning. It is therefore crucial that SDU retains, develops and recruits talent. At the same time, we need to ensure consistently high quality in all our activities – and we can only do that with the right people. The University’s researchers, lecturers, students, managers and technical/administrative staff are the foundation of our success.

Apply now