Fully-funded PhD fellowship in Roman Sculpture

This position is jointly offered by Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek and the Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen, with a projected start date early January 2027.

The three-year Ph. D. fellowship is fully funded by the New Carlsberg Foundation. The fellowship is hosted by Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek with simultaneous enrolment at the Faculty of Humanities' PhD School, affiliated with the Saxo Institute.

Introduction

PhD studies consist of research programs at the highest international level that qualify students for independent research, knowledge dissemination and teaching. The main emphasis is on PhD students organizing and conducting their own research project (under supervision). The program culminates in the submission of a PhD thesis, which the student must defend in public. The program is prescribed to 180 ECTS credits, corresponding to three years of full-time study.

Project outline

The project will focus on subjects within the field of antique Roman sculpture and be based in the Glyptotek's collection. It will combine object-based research, materiality, and technique in particular, with broader historical, contextual, and stylistic analysis. It offers the possibility of close collaboration with the polychromy lab at the Glyptotek. Interpretation within the field as well as to a wider public of the research via the museum's platforms is expected as part of the project.

Areas of special interest include but are not limited to:

• Workshop practice and the production of sculpture in Roman antiquity, including the division and structuring of labour, the exchange and dissemination of knowledge and techniques, the mobility of sculptors and other professionals, as well of materials and finished works
• Dissemination and distribution of typological schemata, as well as concrete models, for portrait- and ideal sculpture, including the maintenance of technical, stylistic, and typological consistency in workshops across the empire
• The importance of material, e.g. bronze, marble, porphyry, terracotta, across geography and chronology
• The field of sculpture in Roman antiquity, especially the relationship between portrait- and ideal sculpture
• We encourage applicants to think across disciplines and to consider thoroughly how the chosen methodology helps address the formulated research questions

The applicant is expected to prepare an independent project description that demonstrates knowledge of relevant research and clear methodology. The project description is expected to account for its relevance in relation to the Glyptotek's collection, while the project more generally is expected to inform the Glyptotek's plans for a new installation of its collections after the extensive restoration project and closure of the museum between 2028 and approximately 2032.

Responsibilities

The PhD candidate is expected to:

• carry out an independent research project
• participate in PhD courses (approx. 30 ECTS)
• take part in the research environment at the Glyptotek and at the Saxo Institute
• contribute to activities at both institutions through teaching, museum work, or outreach (obligatory work)

The PhD program is structured as a three-year full-time course of study and consists of research, coursework, teaching, and the completion of a final dissertation.

Qualification requirements

Applicants must have:

• a completed, two-year Master’s degree (120 ECTS), or equivalent, within classical archaeology, art history, or another relevant discipline. This is a strict, formal requirement for enrolment in the PhD school at the University of Copenhagen
• documented ability to carry out independent academic work
• good language skills (English and other relevant languages, such as German and Italian; KNOWLEDGE OF DANISH IS NOT A REQUIREMENT)

The qualifications of applicants with non-Danish Master’s degrees will be assessed to ascertain whether they correspond to the Danish level. For further information, please refer to the website of the Ministry of Education and Research: https://ufsn.dk/english/education/recognition-and-transparency/

Application

The application must include:

• Statement of motivation
• Project description (max. 12,000 characters / 5 pages)
• CV and, if applicable, list of publications
• Documentation of education (diplomas and transcripts)
• Any publications or thesis (if relevant)

The application must be submitted through Jobindex.dk QuickApply, you must log on to the website, but it is not required that you create a profile to submit; do contact us if you are experiencing difficulties)

Application deadline

15 October 2026 via Jobindex.dk QuickApply

Please direct any inquiries to Matthias Wivel, head of research at Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek: mawi@glyptoteket.dk or tel. +45 20 85 35 55 between 10am and 3pm on weekdays

Interviews

Interviews of selected applicants are planned for the week of 26 October

Online interviews are possible for applicants based outside of Denmark

Replies to all applications to be expected by 2 November

Terms 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 position is full‑time and includes salary during the PhD programme.

The primary place of work will be Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, with a possibility to work abroad for periods to be agreed upon. Office space at the Saxo institute may also be also available

If offered the position, you must submit your criminal record

Enrolment

It is a prerequisite for employment that successful applicants enrol at the PhD School of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Copenhagen.

For further information about the structure of the PhD programme, please refer to: https://phd.humanities.ku.dk/phd-programme/structure/.

About Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is the leading Nordic museum of classical- and Near-Eastern antiquities and holds one of the finest collections of French art from the period 1800-1930. The history of the museum and its buildings is unique in that its founder, master brewer Carl Jacobsen, created an institution that combines the history of art and industry and played a pivotal role in Danish culture around 1900. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is a private institution operated on a combination of support the Danish state and the New Carlsberg foundation. Its staff comprises around 150 and it is visited annually by 300-500,000 people.

About the Saxo Institute

The Saxo Institute facilitates research and education within Prehistoric Archaeology, Classical Archaeology, Greek, Latin, History, and Ethnology. The institute is home to several research centers, research clusters, networks, and externally funded projects, all contributing to a dynamic, engaged, and interdisciplinary research environment. There are nearly 1400 students at the institute and a staff of around 120 employees.

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