Professorship in Clinical and Theoretical Phenomenology

A position as professor in clinical and theoretical phenomenology at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen, is open from 1st March 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. It is a 10% position combined with a 90% appointment as senior researcher at Psychiatry EAST at Region Zealand Mental Health Service. 

With this new position the Department of Communication wishes to further strengthen the internationally recognized Center for Subjectivity Research and expand its leading position in cross-disciplinary research and teaching in collaboration with the University of Copenhagen. We are now expanding our research capacity within psychopathology, including the theoretical basis of psychiatry.

The objective of the professor will be to advance the field of theoretical and clinical phenomenology and to ensure collaboration between the department and Psychiatry EAST, thereby benefiting both parties involved. The professorship will encompass a research domain of substantial clinical and societal relevance—an area currently underexplored and with great potential for development.
The appointed professor will be responsible for cultivating a robust research environment centered on theoretical and clinical phenomenology, while also integrating adjacent disciplines. This initiative will span both the institute and the broader academic landscape at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH).

The professor will be expected to secure external research funding and spearhead innovative scholarly work that contributes meaningfully to clinical practice and the international research community in theoretical and clinical phenomenology. This will be achieved through active collaboration with colleagues within the region, across the institute, and throughout UCPH.

About the Department of Communication

The Department of Communication (KOMM) is the largest department in the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Copenhagen. The department has approximately 2,000 students and 200 employees, including 80 faculty members. We offer six bachelor's and seven master's programs: Cognition & Communication, Film and Media Studies, Philosophy, Information Studies, Communication and IT, Pedagogy, and Rhetoric. Research at KOMM is organized into eight sections and four centers, and the programs are organized around subject groups. The department is characterized by strong academic expertise, an international outlook, and close contact with stakeholders in society. The department's researchers are leaders in their fields, participate in public debates, and contribute to the development of society. The programs at the department are highly sought after, and graduates have high professional competencies and the latest knowledge within their fields.

About the Center for Subjectivity Research

Since 2002 the Center for Subjectivity Research has carried out phenomenological research on consciousness, selfhood, intersubjectivity and sociality in a way that explicitly promotes dialogue and collaboration between philosophy and a range of empirical sciences, especially psychiatry.  The Center for Subjectivity Research has over the years contributed substantially to the areas of clinical and theoretical phenomenology; it regularly organizes workshops and conferences on topics in these fields; and attracts many international guest researchers to its premises.

Qualification requirements
In order to qualify for a professor position at the University of Copenhagen, the candidate must meet the University’s criteria of academic merit Criteria for recognising merit – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

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) constitute the framework for the overall assessment of the candidates. In addition, each candidate must be assessed according to the specific requirements stated in this job advertisement.

You can read more about the criteria here: 5c_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-professors.pdf (ku.dk)

The professor must be an internationally recognized researcher in the field of clinical and theoretical phenomenology. The professor’s research must be influential within and contribute to the development of the subject area of clinical and theoretical phenomenology as well as more broadly. The professor must be able to provide research-based teaching of the highest quality in medical humanities and be able to develop, organize and evaluate courses on all levels. 

In this professorship, it will be highly important to interact with external partners and seek out new collaborations, as well as to communicate and generate knowledge that greatly benefits societal developments.

The professor must contribute to the development of an active academic environment, and be willing to sit on assessment committees, councils, boards and committees at UCPH and contribute to enhancing the University's brand. The professor must initiate grant application activities regarding research funds and obtain and manage funds. The professor should also exercise academic leadership.

It is a requirement that the applicant is accepted for appointment of both the professorship and the position as senior researcher at Psychiatry EAST.

Applicants must apply for both the professorship at the University of Copenhagen and for the position as senior researcher at Psychiatry East. The advertisement for the senior researcher position is available from Psychiatry East at Region Zealand Mental Health Service here: Senior Researcher combined with a professorship in Philosophy - Region Sjælland

Job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities of professors include contributing to the scholarly and intellectual life at the University by conducting world-class research and teaching. A professor is also expected to exercise academic leadership and take on administrative responsibilities. Furthermore, they is able to develop his/her area of research in synergy with other researchers.

The professorship in clinical and theoretical phenomenology will involve:

• Research, including publication/academic dissemination
• Research-based teaching, including associated examination
• Research leadership, including guidance and supervision of researchers
• Obligation to share knowledge with the rest of society, including participation in public debate
• Academic assessments

Further information on qualification requirements as professor can be found in the Memorandum on

Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities 2025 here (in Danish only): Bekendtgørelse om stillingsstruktur for videnskabeligt personale ved universiteter

Terms of employment

Terms of appointment and salary are in accordance with the

Danish Confederation of ProfessionalAssociations (Akademikerne).

As mentioned above, the professorship the UCPH and the senior researcher position at Psychiatry EAST are simultaneously advertised and appointment is conditioned by the fact that the applicant obtains both positions. This also applies to the applicants who are already employed at the University of Copenhagen or Psychiatry East.

Non-Danish speakers must acquire the necessary Danish language skills within a period of 3-6 years. The Department will pay for the necessary language training.

The recruitment procedure

After the application deadline, the Dean selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointment Committee. All applicants are notified whether their application has been accepted for assessment. The Dean subsequently appoints an expert assessment committee tasked with carrying out an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee. Applicants are ultimately offered the opportunity of commenting on the part of the assessment relating to themselves before the appointment is finalized.

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

University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their personal backgrounds. For more information 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)

Contact information
Additional information about the professor position can be obtained from Head of Department Esben Nedenskov Petersen tel + 45 93568534 or email: enp@hum.ku.dk

Additional information about the senior researcher position can be obtained from the Psychiatry East at Region Zealand Mental Health Service, Chief Psychiatrist Nicolas Rescalvo Hansen. Email: nicolh@regionsjaelland.dk

Information about the recruitment process is available from HR South, email: hr-soendre@adm.ku.dk  please refer to case number: 211-0337/25-2K.

How to Apply for the professorship at the UCPH
Applicants should submit a complete application online. Click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of this advertisement to apply.

Submit the application online in Adobe PDF or Word format.

Please note that each field in the application form must only contain a single file of max. 10Mb.

Your application must be written in English and include the following documents:

• Letter of motivation
• Curriculum vitae
• Certificates and Diplomas
• Complete and numbered list of publications. The enclosed publications must be marked with star*.
• Research plan, including a short description of previous research and a plan for the coming years that includes an account of involvement in organising research, establishment of research seminars, symposia and congresses, etc.
• Teaching portfolio. Documentation of teaching qualifications and research dissemination (organisation of classes, materials, courses and other forms of teaching) https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/job-application-portfolio/
• Publications. Applicants may choose a maximum of seven publications for assessment, of which at least three must have been published within the five years immediately preceding the deadline for applications. Publication dates must be clearly marked on the publication list. The publications selected must be uploaded as attachments and named from 1 to 7.

Should any material submitted consist of work with named co-authors, or work that is otherwise the result of collective academic endeavours, the extent of the applicant’s contribution to the work must be clearly stipulated. The faculty may ask for a signed statement from the co-authors stipulating the extent and nature of each individual’s contribution.

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

The closing date for applications is 23:59 December 2nd, 2025 [*CEST/CET] [date/month/year].

Applications or enclosures received thereafter will not be considered.

*(Centraleuropæisk sommertid=CEST/CET = normaltid)