Two Postdoctoral positions in Ethnology at the Saxo Institute, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen

The Saxo Institute, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), invites applications for two postdoctoral positions in Ethnology from 1 February 2027. The positions are fixed term positions for three years.

Introduction
The two postdoc positions will be based at the Saxo Institute and associated with the Centre for Sustainable Futures. The positions will be part of the project: Tolerating Urban Animals. Techno-moral perspectives on killing and caring for other species, funded by the Carlsberg Foundation’s Semper Ardens Accomplish programme.

The Tolerating Urban Animals project explores the use of technologies for managing undomesticated and feral urban animals. Through ethnographic fieldwork and archival studies in urban areas of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, it follows the technological development and legislation on animal rights in the EU since the 1970s, to explore technologies and everyday practices of deterring, killing, or caring for animals. The project asks: Why, where, and by whom certain technologies are seen as adequate and morally appropriate in human-animal relations? How and why do technologies and moral conditions for managing urban animals shift or persist?

The two postdoc projects will explore:

Project 1 Technologies for caring: examines how municipalities, residents, and NGOs have deployed technologies to attract and sustain animal presence, and how these practices are embedded in local knowledges, moral justifications, and cultural categories. Cases could include technologies for, but not limited to, insects, hedgehogs, and bats. To contribute to the main questions, it asks: What technologies have been used to attract what animals, and how do care efforts intersect with or challenge legal frameworks and environmental policies?

Project 2 Changing technologies: employs a historical perspective to examine both successful and unsuccessful “techno-fixes” and to trace moral shifts in technologies and legislation for managing urban animals. Examples could include, but are not limited to, changing technologies and policies for birds, insects, and foxes. It asks: What moral, technological, and legal factors explain the success or rejection of technologies, and how have professionals involved perceived these shifts?

Working within one of these two frames, applicants must propose a concrete project, building on 6-9 months ethnographic fieldwork or equally substantial archival research and specifying which Scandinavian contexts, time period, central actors, field sites etc. they envision. Projects with emphasis on or comparison with Sweden or Norway are prioritized. The project already includes case studies of technologies for rats and wolves, which are therefore not prioritized. Applicants are encouraged to attach proposals for both project 1 and 2, if relevant (each max 4800 characters).

Duties and Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be based at the Centre for Sustainable Futures at the Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen and must be willing to work in the center

on a day-to-day basis. Moreover, the candidate is expected to work closely together with the research team in the Tolerating Urban Animals project.
 

Research tasks include:

• Ethnographic fieldwork including interviews, participant observation, archival work etc.

• Qualitative analysis of ethnographic material and written source materials including transcription, coding and framing.

• Writing and co-authoring research articles in top-level international journals.

• Project presentations at national and international conferences and seminars

• Contribution to the development and progression of the project, including participating in relevant research networks in collaboration with the other researchers in the project.

• Developing future research agenda for the project and contributing to research applications.

• Administration tasks such as data management (organizing and archiving of data, sharing of data with research group members), contribution to project website, organizing of and participation in research group activities such as seminars, workshops and meetings.

• Public dissemination and sharing of knowledge into public domains.

Qualification requirements and assessment criteria
Employment as a postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level.

More information on careers at UCPH and the requirement for the different academic positions is available on: Career at The University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

For more about postdoc positions and qualification requirements, see the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities: Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (ufm.dk)

The ideal candidate has a background in ethnology, anthropology, recent history, science and technology studies, or has extensive knowledge of more-than-human studies. Fluency in a Scandinavian language and historical and ethnographic fieldwork experience are prerequisites. Experience with public dissemination (e.g. podcast) is an advantage.

Applicants will primarily be assessed in relation to their research qualifications, including their publications, and their ability to conduct independent research and participate in research collaborations. In addition, the applicant’s project proposal(s) and research potential will be assessed in relation to the overall project focus described above.

Application
Applications must be submitted online in PDF or Word format. Click on the “Apply now” button at the bottom of this advertisement to apply.
Applications may be written in English or Scandinavian and must include the following attachments:  

1. Letter of motivation (max. 2 pages)
2. Project proposal(s) (max 4800 characters per proposal)
3. CV
4. Documentation of qualifications (exam certificates and PhD diploma) 
5. Complete publication list (attached publications must be marked with an asterisk). 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.

Applicants can attach a maximum of three publications (one chapter from PhD thesis, equals a publication). The publication dates must be clearly marked on the list. The selected publications must be uploaded as attachments and numbered 1-3. 

Only documentation in English, Danish, Swedish or Norwegian will be assessed.  

Applicants are invited to familiarize themselves with the faculty’s strategic landmarks here: Strategic landmarks – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

Salary and 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 salary range starts at DKK 39,900 (EUR 530) + a 18,07 % contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.

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 Head of Department 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 on the recruitment process at University of Copenhagen can be found here:  Recruitment process – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

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 HR Excellence in Research – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

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
Information about the recruitment process is available from HR Sarah Lund, email: HR-soendre@adm.ku.dk, please refer to ID number: 211-2686/26-2I #2

Additional information about the position can be obtained from Professor Mikkel Bille, email: mbille@hum.ku.dk, tel. +45 35329480

The deadline for applications is 23:59 [CET] on 20 October 2026.  

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