PhD fellowship in Agri-Food System Transition

IFRO invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in Agri-Food System Transition, with a focus on mapping stakeholder interests, lock-ins, and potential drivers of change to a more plant-based agriculture and food system in Denmark at local and regional levels. The PhD fellowship is part of the research project COTRANSITION (COllectively TRANSITIONing the agriculture and food system), which is financed by the Plant-Based Food Grant (Fonden for Plantebaserede Fødevarer).

Start date is 1 April 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

By working with the Climate Alliance (Klimaalliancen) to support Danish regions and municipalities in reducing their GHG emissions and developing ambitious solutions for the future agriculture and food system, the overarching aim of the COTRANSITION project is to accelerate the transformation of the agri-food system in Denmark by overcoming barriers and lock-ins, and mobilizing all agri-food stakeholders to collaborate on transitioning to more plant-based food production and consumption.

The subproject “Mapping of stakeholder interests and analysis of lock-ins, barriers and potential drivers of change to a more plant-based agriculture and food system” on which the PhD Fellow will work contributes to this aim by implementing methodologies based in agri-food system transition management approaches. This entails using qualitative methods to map the interests and connections of all relevant stakeholders at the level of select regions and municipalities and across the agri-food value chain. On this basis, analysis will focus on the technological, economic, regulatory, cultural, and social-psychological barriers and lock-ins that hold actors back from contributing to the transition, as well as the identification of potential drivers for change. Part of the mapping will be done via participatory methods, manifested in a series of three stakeholder workshops, where the PhD will also do follow-up interviews and surveys.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for candidates with a master’s degree in the field(s) of sustainability transition studies, sociology of food and agriculture, integrated food studies, or other relevant social science programmes. The candidate should have documented training and experience using qualitative social science methods. It is preferable for the candidate to have experience in analyzing agri-food transition issues.

Because the PhD Fellow must conduct qualitative interviews and undertake fieldwork with people living in Denmark, it is a requirement that the applicant can speak Danish (or other Scandinavian languages easily understood in Denmark).

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

The COTRANSITION project is a collaboration between IFRO and PLEN, the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at UCPH, represented by COTRANSITION PI Assoc. Prof. Christian Bugge Henriksen. At IFRO, the project is lead by Prof. Anders Blok and Prof. Jørgen Dejgård Jensen, who are both in the Section for Consumption, Bioethics, and Governance. Prof. Blok, who leads the subproject on which the PhD Fellow will work, is Professor of Environmental and Climate Sociology and member of the Sociology group at IFRO. Alongside joining and working closely with the interdisciplinary COTRANSITION project team that will include two other PhDs within scenario development and agricultural economics, the PhD Fellow will also benefit from being embedded in this group specialized in the sociology of food.

The IFRO Department is part of the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen (UCPH). We are located on Frederiksberg in Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment.

Principal supervisor is Professor Anders Blok, IFRO (abl@ifro.ku.dk ; phone: 26747828)

The PhD programme

The PhD fellowship is a three-year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme).

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. sustainability transition studies, sociology of food and agriculture, integrated food studies, or similar. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in the PhD programme

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision

• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• Knowledge of sustainability transitions, sociology of food and agriculture, and/or similar
• Good competences in qualitative social science methods, e.g. interviews and/or fieldwork
• Relevant work experience
• Other relevant professional activities
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in agri-food sustainability transition
• Comfortable in working independently
• Good cooperation skills
• Good language skills in Danish (/equivalent Scandinavian) and English

Application and Assessment Procedure

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include: 

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page) for this specific position
2. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
4. Publication list (if possible)
5. Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 1 February 2025, 23:59 GMT +1.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in weeks 8+9, 2025.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.