Assistant Professorship in Environmental Psychology and Virtual Reality
The position is available from 1 January 2026 until 30 June 2027.
SODAS is a permanent research, teaching, and impact center at the Faculty of Social Sciences (SAMF), dedicated to advancing the interdisciplinary field of Social Data Science by combining insights from social sciences with methods from data science. The center hosts several research projects, spanning from qualitative methods to deep learning, and actively fosters collaboration across all five departments at the Faculty of Social Sciences as well as with partners from other UCPH departments, DTU and ITU. With a strong international profile, SODAS provides a dynamic and inclusive environment where English is the primary working language.
Duties and Responsibilities
Duties and responsibilities of the post include contributing to the scholarship and intellectual life of the University by conducting world-class research and teaching. An assistant professor also has administrative responsibilities.
In this specific position, the chosen candidate is considered to work at the crossroads of Environmental Psychology and Virtual Reality. More precisely, the ideal candidate will have experience designing and evaluating virtual reality interventions aimed at promoting behavior change in climate-related domains. A demonstrated ability to combine experimental methods with applied research in real-world contexts is essential. The position offers opportunities to collaborate across disciplines and contribute to cutting-edge research at the intersection of social data science and psychology.
Your Competencies and Opportunities
In order to be assessed qualified for an assistant professor position at the University of Copenhagen, the candidate must meet the University’s criteria of academic merit.
Six overall criteria apply for professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The six criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organisational contribution, external funding and leadership) are considered a framework for the overall assessment of candidates. Furthermore, each candidate must be assessed according to the specific requirements stated in the job advertisement.
You can read more about the criteria for recognising merit for assistant professors here:
Criteria for recognising merit – University of Copenhagen
Following the merit criteria, the chosen candidate is expected to
- Research: has a strong interdisciplinary research profile at the intersection of social data science and environmental psychology, including experience with Virtual Reality studies and a focus on real-world applications
- Research-based teaching: has experience integrating cutting-edge research into teaching, particularly in areas such as environmental psychology, digital methods, and experimental design
- Societal impact: has experience addressing pressing societal challenges (such as climate change) by promoting evidence-based behavior change
- Organizsational contribution: has experience with contributing to collaborative, research environments and with engaging in interdisciplinary academic communities
- External funding: has participated in externally funded projects and contributed to successful grant applications
- Leadership: has taken initiative in leading experimental studies, mentoring students, and coordinating interdisciplinary research efforts
Furthermore, the candidate must demonstrate a commitment to student learning, supporting student welfare and enhancing the student experience
Strategy of the Faculty of the Social Sciences
The Copenhagen Center for Social Data Science is part of the Faculty of the Social Sciences. The Faculty is a successful academic community that strives to put knowledge into action by:
- Engaging partners in the co-creation of knowledge, learning and social change.
- Empowering our students to become reflective and responsible citizens who have the vision, the knowledge and the competences to change society for the better.
- Energising global, European and Danish communities of knowledge by innovating research methodologies and by research findings with impact
Terms of Employment
- Employment with the Faculty of Social Sciences and progression within employment will be determined only by personal merit. We do this by applying academic criteria of the University of Copenhagen which are related to the duties and conditions of each particular post and the needs of the Department concerned.
- As this is an assistant professor position, and therefore we strongly encourage the appointed assistant professor to acquire the proficiency in Danish required to teach and interact with colleagues in that language in 2-4 years. The Department will provide and pay for the necessary language training.
- Further information on qualification requirements as assistant professor can be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities here: Bekendtgørelse om stillingsstruktur for videnskabeligt personale ved universiteter in Danish only
- Terms of appointment and salary is in accordance with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikerne).
- The salary range starts at DKK 39,237.41 per month (approximately EUR 5,250) + a 18.07 % contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.
Further information on the recruitment process at University of Copenhagen can be found here: Recruitment process – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).
As an applicant to the University of Copenhagen, you should be prepared to undergo a security screening related to international research collaboration as part of the recruitment process. The security screening will be conducted in cases where the University deems it appropriate based on an overall assessment.
An Equal Opportunity Workplace
The University of Copenhagen is committed in its pursuit of academic excellence to equality of opportunity and to creating an inclusive working environment and therefore encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity etc. For more on the diverse working place environment at the University and the University’s participation in the HRS4R HR Excellence in Research, see https://employment.ku.dk/working-at-ucph/eu-charter-for-researchers/.
International applicant?
The University of Copenhagen offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including support before and during your relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about these services as well as information on entering and working in Denmark here: For international researchers at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).
Contact information
Additional information about the position can be obtained from the SODAS Director, Ingo Zettler ingo.zettler@sodas.ku.dk.
How to Apply
Submit a complete application at our online portal. Click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of the page to apply.
Your application must be written in English and include the following documents:
- Motivated application (max. 2 pages)
- Curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages)
- Certificates and Diplomas (Master and PhD)
- Publications. The 6 most important publications, of which at least three must have been published within the five years immediately preceding the deadline for application. The publications selected must be uploaded as attachments and named from 1 to 6.
- Publication list. A complete list of all publications with clearly marked publication dates. The uploaded publications must be marked with * on the list to be assessed.
- Teaching portfolio. Documentation of teaching qualifications in accordance with the University guidelines for teaching portfolios when appointing academic staff at the University of Copenhagen
- Documentation of ability to disseminate information. Documentation of the ability to disseminate information to and share knowledge with society.
The closing date for applications is 23:59 CET 31 October 2025.
Applications or enclosures received thereafter will not be considered.
Please note in your application that you found the job at Jobindex
