Assistant Professorship in Science of Science and Research Policy

The Copenhagen Center for Social Data Science (SODAS), Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), invite applications for a full-time assistant professorship in Science of Science and Research Policy to be filled by 1 September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The position is for four years.

SODAS (https://sodas.ku.dk/) is a permanent research, teaching, and impact center at the Faculty of Social Sciences (SAMF), combining traditional social science and data science in the new interdisciplinary field of Social Data Science. SODAS has taken home several research projects using a large variety of methods. SODAS involves and collaborates with researchers from all the faculty's five departments as well as other Danish and international centers and departments. We have an international profile and are an active, vibrant, and young place, with English being the working language.

Duties and Responsibilities
Duties and responsibilities of the position 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 position, the successful candidate is expected to contribute to research at the intersection of science of science, research policy, and data science. The candidate will develop and apply quantitative and/or experimental approaches to study the organization, evaluation, and transformation of science.

The position particularly welcomes applicants working on how emerging technologies, with strong focus on artificial intelligence, are reshaping the scientific enterprise, knowledge production, and the diffusion of scientific ideas.

The position is supported by ongoing research projects, and the successful candidate will be expected to take on project-related responsibilities as part of the role.

The candidate is expected to:

• conduct high-quality, internationally competitive research
• contribute to teaching in the SODAS’ Master programmes, particularly in areas such as quantitative methods, computational social science, and/or experimental design
• participate in collaborative research projects across disciplines and institutions
• contribute to ongoing research projects and related project activities at SODAS
• contribute to supervision of students, including co-supervision of PhD students, and to the academic environment at SODAS

The position offers opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary collaborations within the University of Copenhagen and with external partners, and to contribute to cutting-edge research on science, technology, and innovation.

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.
The criteria (research, teaching, Innovation & societal impact, organisational contribution and leadership) are considered as a framework for an overall assessment of the applicant. In addition, each applicant will be assessed according to the specific requirements listed in this advertisement.

Applicants are encouraged to read the University of Copenhagen's guidance on the merit criterion Innovation and Societal Impact here: Guidance_on_the_merit_criterion_Innovation_and_Societal_Impact_for_applicants_and_assessors.pdf

Five overall criteria apply for professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The five criteria (research, teaching, innovation and societal impact, organisational contribution, 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:Introduction_to_criteria_for_recognising_merit_for_employees.pdf

Following the University of Copenhagen’s merit criteria, the successful candidate is expected to demonstrate strengths across the following areas:

Research

• An emerging or established research profile in science of science, research policy, sociology of science, or related fields
• Strong quantitative and/or computational skills, with the ability to work with large-scale data (e.g. publications, patents, or other forms of scholarly output)
• Experience with experimental or quasi-experimental methods is considered an advantage
• A research agenda addressing contemporary developments in science, including the role of digital technologies and/or artificial intelligence

Teaching

• Ability to contribute to teaching in social data science, including integrating research into teaching
• Experience with or potential for teaching quantitative, computational, or experimental methods

Innovation and Societal impact

• Interest in contributing to evidence-based policy debates related to science, innovation, and technology
• Experience with engaging in interdisciplinary academic communities

Organisational contribution

• Experience working in collaborative and interdisciplinary research environments
• Willingness to contribute to the academic community at SODAS

Leadership

• Ability to take initiative in research projects, including mentoring students or junior researchers
• Experience in coordinating interdisciplinary research efforts

A successful candidate has strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate in teaching, research, and administrative tasks. 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

For more on the Faculty strategy, see: Fakultetsstrategi – Det Samfundsvidenskabelige Fakultet - Københavns Universitet

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 (only in Danish)
• Terms of appointment and salary is in accordance with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikerne).
• The salary range starts at 39,237.41 DKK excl. pension per month + a 18.07 % contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.

The recruitment process
Further information on the recruitment process at University of Copenhagen can be found here:  https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

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 Researrch, 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

Contact information
Additional information about the position can be obtained from Professor Roberta Sinatra robertasinatra@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
• Certificates and Diplomas
• 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 selected publications 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.

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

The closing date for applications is 22 May 2026 23:59 CEST.

Applications or enclosures received thereafter will not be considered.