Senior Researcher Position: Peace Research
DIIS has an open position as a senior researcher in the broad field of peace, conflict and diplomacy. The position will be placed in the Global Security and Worldviews unit.
The senior researcher should have a strong academic track record that will enable both theoretical, empirical and policy contributions to at least one of the following areas:
- Intrastate and/or international mediation, reconciliation and diplomacy: research on negotiation and reconciliation initiatives within and between states.
- De-escalation of war and armed conflicts: empirical and/or historical research on conflict reduction and de-escalation of international conflicts.
- Disarmament and arms control: research on international organizations (e.g. UN), agreements, and arms control regimes.
- Regional and international multilateralism: research on alliances, issue-based alignment and other forms of collaboration from a conflict-prevention perspective.
Deep empirical and/or historical knowledge and fieldwork experience from conflict areas that can inform new research on contemporary conflicts will be an advantage. We imagine a candidate with a background in anthropology, history, international relations, peace and conflict research, or sociology.
We prefer candidates who are at the forefront of their disciplines and have strong international networks within their research fields, as well as proven qualifications at the senior researcher/associate professor level. In general, DIIS research needs to be relevant for security-, foreign- and international development policy.
Expectations to a Senior Researcher at DIIS
A senior researcher at DIIS contributes to research, policy, public dissemination and fundraising activities. We expect good interpersonal skills and an interest in joining formal forums and working groups at DIIS. The candidate must have demonstrated academic impact via high-quality research and citations, and a substantial number of international publications – including research published in leading outlets in the field. The candidate should have considerable experience with disseminating research findings to non-academic stakeholders and a keen interest in producing research-based policy outputs.
We also expect considerable experience in research communication activities seeking to inform the public debate within one’s area of expertise and a willingness to organize workshops and seminars. The candidate should have proven experience applying for competitive research funds as PI and should have the motivation for and ability to mentoring junior researchers in relation to research and policy work.
The Application
We encourage all qualified candidates to apply for this position regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity or disabilities.
Deadline: 1 September 2025. We would like you to start 1 December 2025 or soon thereafter.
An external evaluation committee will assess the applicants deemed qualified for the position.
The application must include all the following items in order be considered:
- A cover letter with your motivation for applying for the position
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Master’s and PhD diplomas
- A complete list of publications (indicating titles, co-authors, page numbers and year) with an * marking of the academic productions to be considered during the review. A maximum of 5 publications for review are allowed. Only publications written in English or in a Scandinavian language will be reviewed
- Documentation of research-based public dissemination activities (policy work, media etc.)
- A research statement of maximum 500 words (separate from the cover letter). The statement should elaborate on the exact research area the candidate will contribute to, how it builds on previous research, and how it fits into DIIS’ profile.
DIIS as a Workplace
We offer an attractive and inclusive workplace where all employees can develop their professional and personal skills. For us, knowledge sharing, dialogue and feedback are essential to creating a dynamic workplace.
You are expected to participate proactively in the institute’s joint efforts. We prioritize a high degree of presence, but at the same time we want employees to experience a good work-life balance. Therefore, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility of working from home to a certain extent. As DIIS is a bilingual Danish-English workplace, non-Danish speakers are expected to learn Danish within the first 3 years of employment with support from the institute. We are located right across from Nordhavn station – not far from the inner city of Copenhagen and with excellent public transportation opportunities.
DIIS is a diverse workplace, and we therefore encourage all qualified applicants to apply for the position regardless of their personal backgrounds. We are aware of the environmental consequences of our activities, and we are constantly looking to become a more sustainable workplace, both on a daily basis and in terms of how we conduct our travel activities.
Salary and Terms of Employment
The position as senior researcher is a full-time position.
You will be employed according to the applicable collective agreement for academic employees in Denmark. The starting yearly salary as a senior researcher is from DKK 516.564 to 541.140 excl. pension (18,03%). In addition, there is an opportunity to negotiate a personal qualification supplement depending on your experience and skills. Depending on specific tasks and projects, functional supplements may also be considered.
Non-residents of Denmark may be eligible to apply for taxation under the special researcher scheme, which offers a gross tax rate of 32.84% for up to seven years. For further details, please refer to the Danish Tax Authorities.
Want to know more? Read more on www.diis.dk/jobs if you want to know more about DIIS as a workplace. Questions about salary and employment conditions as well as the application process itself can be directed to HR@diis.dk . Questions about the position itself can be directed to Head of Unit Mona Kanwal Sheikh mosh@diis.dk .
DIIS is an independent public research institution for international studies. We conduct and communicate multidisciplinary research on globalisation, security, development and foreign policy and within these areas we aim to be agenda-setting in research, policy and public debate.
DIIS participates in academic networks and publish in high-ranking academic journals, always striving to excel in academic scholarship.
We continuously assess Denmark's foreign and political situation and inform the Danish media, politicians and the public about our work
Please note in your application that you found the job at Jobindex
