Postdoctoral position in international migration studies at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen

The Saxo Institute, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), invites applications for a postdoctoral position in international migration studies from 1 January 2026.

The posistion is a fixed-term position for 24 months.

The postdoc will be based at the Institute’s interdisciplinary Centre for Advanced Migration Studies (AMIS). We seek a strong candidate with a dynamic profile in the broad, international field of migration studies, who can document an impressive track record of humanities and/or social science research on questions relating to the topics described in the REGENDERING research project below.

Introduction
The postdoctoral position is part of the research project REGENDERING, financed by the Independent Research Fund Denmark, studying the changes in gender norms and practices among Ukrainian women displaced without male kin in Denmark after the Russian 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Investigating the growing phenomenon of “feminized displacement” (women fleeing without men) to the EU, this project focuses on gender by following Ukrainian women’s re-settlement in Denmark, studying how they re-establish everyday structures, create possibilities, and orient themselves toward the future through relations with kin (family and acquaintances) and through encountering Danish institutions locally and Ukrainian institutions transnationally. The project aims to develop a novel analytical framework to understand processes of “re-gendering,” combining concepts on the re-making of life after war, relatedness with kin, institutions and the state, and intersectionality.

The postdoc project focuses on women displaced with children and applies qualitative, visual and ethnographic methods in studying their everyday life, local and transnational relations and encounters with the Danish welfare state (Work-package 2).

In two other sub-studies of the larger research project, the focus is on gender norms and practices among Ukrainian women displaced without children and welfare state actors, working with displaced Ukrainian women. 

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 100 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.

Duties and responsibilities
Normally, the post will be heavily weighted in favor of research. In addition, a certain amount of teaching may also be required. Other duties may be performed to a limited extent. The university determines the exact ratio between the various responsibilities. The ratio may vary over time.

In relation to the project, the postdoc is responsible for conducting fieldwork, producing, transcribing and coding data, analysis and publication, giving presentations at conferences and as a guest lecturer, taking part in other dissemination, including a podcast.  

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 postdoctoral fellow is required to speak Ukrainian and/or Russian. Applicants can have a background in sociology, anthropology, ethnology, minority studies, gender studies or adjacent social or human sciences.

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 research 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. 

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 and must include the following attachments:  

1. Letter of motivation
2. CV
3. Documentation of qualifications (exam certificates and PhD diploma) 
4. 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 5 publications. The publication dates must be clearly marked on the list. The selected publications must be uploaded as attachments and numbered [X-X]. 

1. Research plan which describes how research for WP2 will be conducted.
2. Documentation of teaching competencies/teaching portfolio (see the UCPH guidelines for teaching portfolios here) and other work on the dissemination of research.

Only documentation in English 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 38,733.88  (EUR 5200) + an 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: 211-2238/25-2I

Additional information about the project can be obtained from Professor Kathrine Vitus, kavi@vive.dk,+45 28290623 and about the position and the Department from Associate Professor Zachary Whyte, whyte@hum.ku.dk, +4535327131.

The deadline for applications is 23:59 [CEST] on 7 September 2025.  

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