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The Saxo Institute, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen (UCPH) is inviting applications for a postdoc in Nordic environmental history starting on 1 September 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The position is connected to the research project Promethean Technologies: Historical Perspectives on Contemporary Danish Climate Politics, funded by the Danish Independent Research Fund and directed by Professor Niklas Olsen. This is a fixed-term position for 2 years.

Job content
The Saxo Institute seeks an outstanding researcher to fill a postdoc position in environmental history. The postdoc will be connected to the research project Promethean Technologies: Historical Perspectives on Contemporary Danish Climate Politics and based at the Saxo Institute’s Center for Sustainable Futures (CSF). We seek a strong candidate with a close affiliation to the environmental humanities and a substantial knowledge of Danish language and history to explore how technological and economic reasoning became a dominant response in Danish climate politics and how it informs our political thought and practice today.

Applicants with an interest in one or more of the following areas are particularly encouraged to apply:

  • the history of technologies of renewables and mitigation in climate politics
  • the history of the role of economic rationalities in climate politics
  • the making of social-technological imaginaries and their role in climate politics
  • the making of national brands in international climate politics
For the two-year postdoc period, the successful applicant must document an original and compelling research plan to explore how technological and economic reasoning became a dominant response in Danish climate politics. Moreover, this plan should complement and develop the research at CSF and the Saxo Institute. The candidate will be expected to play an active role in strengthening CSF’s national and international profile in green research. Therefore, we are looking for an applicant with an excellent scholarly track record and a keen interest in networking and outreach activities. Documented experience from similar interdisciplinary centres in environmental humanities will be a distinct advantage.

The Saxo Institute is dedicated to the study of human societies past and present, with degree programs ranging from History to Ethnology, Archeology, Classical Languages and Migration Studies. With some 1400 students and a staff of one hundred 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.

Qualification requirements
The successful applicant must hold a PhD degree in a field relevant to modern and contemporary environmental history.

For more about postdoc positions and qualification requirements, see the Ministry of Education and Research’s Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Application
All applications must be submitted online, in PDF or Word format, via the link “Apply for the position” at the bottom of the page.

Applications may be written in Danish or English and must include the following attachments:

  1. Personal statement (max. one page)
  2. CV (max. two pages)
  3. Documentation of qualifications (exam certificates and PhD diploma)
  4. Complete publication list (attached publications must be marked with an asterisk). Applicants can attach a maximum of three publications. The publication dates must be clearly marked on the list. The selected publications must be uploaded as attachments and numbered 1–3.
    The list must be structured systematically and divided into the following categories:
    • Peer-reviewed publications:
      • Monographs and anthologies
      • Articles in journals
      • Book chapters/anthology contributions, etc.
    • Non-peer-reviewed publications:
      • Publications disseminating research findings, etc.
  5. A research plan that includes a brief description of previous research, current research areas and upcoming research, and also accounts for experience with research organisation, research collaborations, international relations and any external/intersectoral collaborations (max. three pages).
  6. Documentation of teaching competencies/teaching portfolio (see the UCPH guidelines for teaching portfolios here) and other work on the dissemination of research.
Only material in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English, German and French will be evaluated.

Assessment criteria
Applicants will primarily be assessed in relation to their research qualifications, including their publications, ability to conduct independent research and participate in research collaborations, and their experience of research management. In addition, the applicant’s research plan and research potential will be assessed in relation to the overall project described above.

Teaching qualifications are not a requirement, but if the postdoc is expected to teach, then documented teaching experience can be included in the overall assessment.

The recruitment process
Once the deadline for applications has expired, the head of department will consider advice from the appointment committee and select applicants for assessment. All applicants will be notified whether they have been shortlisted. The Dean will then set up an expert assessment committee to consider the applications. The selected applicants will be informed who is serving on the committee. They will be offered the opportunity to comment on the committee’s assessment of their application before the appointment is announced.

Further information about the application procedure can be found on the University of Copenhagen’s website: jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabelige-stilling/rekrutteringsproces and with HR, e-mail: hrsc@hrsc.ku.dk. Please state ID number 211-1798/24-2I #1 on request.

For further information about the position, please contact Head of Department Professor Casper Sylvest, e-mail: casy@hum.ku.dk.
For information about the Centre for Sustainable Futures, contact CSY director, Dr. Frida Hastrup, e-mail: hastrup@hum.ku.dk.

Remuneration and terms of employment
The appointment is for a fixed term of 24 months and will be made in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). In addition, a total pension contribution of 17.1% of salary and pensionable supplements will be allocated. It will be possible to negotiate further supplements on the basis of qualifications.

We seek to reflect the breadth and diversity of society and encourage applications irrespective of personal background.

The deadline for applications is 20 May 2024, 23:59 [CEST].

Any applications or additional material submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Please note in your application that you found the job at Jobindex

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