2-year postdoctoral position in stakeholder perceptions & acceptance of multifunctional land use solutions
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2-year postdoctoral position in stakeholder perceptions & acceptance of multifunctional land use solutions
The Department of Management at Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, invites applications for a 2-year fulltime postdoctoral position offering an exciting opportunity to join the new international research project SAGE.
The position is based at the Department of Management at the heart of the new University City of Aarhus University in Aarhus, Denmark. The position focuses on stakeholder perceptions and acceptance of innovative multifunctional land use solutions, and on how such solutions are perceived, debated, and accepted by different stakeholder groups.
The starting date is August 1, 2026 or subject to mutual agreement.
The research project
The postdoc will be part of the SAGE project, a highly interdisciplinary European research collaboration on solar grazing: the integration of photovoltaic systems with grazing livestock as a multifunctional land-use strategy.
SAGE examines how solar grazing can contribute to more sustainable land use by combining renewable energy production with animal husbandry. The project brings together expertise from agricultural science, animal welfare, ecology, engineering, economics, and social science, and works closely with partners and Living Labs across Europe, including Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, South Tyrol, and the Netherlands. Within this broader collaboration, the Aarhus University team is responsible for generating in-depth knowledge about stakeholder perceptions, concerns, and acceptance of solar grazing across different regional and institutional contexts. The project is funded by the European Union under the Agroecology Partnership and by Innovation Fund Denmark.
The postdoc will join a research environment with strong interests in sustainability, stakeholder engagement, food and renewable energy systems, and socio-technical change. The department offers a broad, active and supportive social science environment with regular knowledge exchange activities, a strong early-career researcher community, and participation in relevant agrivoltaics research networks.
The position is particularly well suited for candidates interested in questions such as:
Job description
The successful candidate will be responsible for the Aarhus University team’s core contributions to the work package on Stakeholder Perceptions. This includes designing and carrying out qualitative and mixed-method research on stakeholder acceptance, discourse, and argumentation around solar grazing, in close collaboration with international project partners. The work includes e.g. in-depth stakeholder interviews across partner regions and countries, visual mapping of stakeholder arguments, development of stakeholder personas, and a systematic literature and media review on solar grazing in Europe.
The successful candidate will contribute to the overall objectives of the project and to other phases of the research process such as writing academic articles and project reports, disseminating results to relevant academic and societal audiences, participating in project meetings and workshops, and collaborating closely with other researchers in the project team.
The candidate is encouraged to produce high-quality research while engaging with a societally important topic at the intersection of sustainability transitions.
The position is primarily research-oriented but may also involve teaching assignments.
Qualifications
Applicants must hold a PhD in a field relevant to the Department of Management or adjacent social science disciplines, such as management, organisation studies, marketing, sociology, human geography, science and technology studies, sustainability transitions, public policy, rural studies, or a related field.
We are particularly interested in candidates with strong competences in one or more of the following areas:
Experience with agri-food systems, rural contexts, renewable energy, or land-use innovation is an advantage, but it is not a prerequisite. We especially welcome applicants whose main strength lies in social science theory and methods and who are motivated to apply these competences to an important emerging sustainability field.
Strong written and verbal communication skills in English are required; additional proficiency in German or Italian is an asset. Experience working in international and interdisciplinary research projects is an advantage. The successful candidate should be able to work independently while also contributing actively to a collaborative research team.
Who we are
The Department of Management is one of the six departments at Aarhus BSS- one of the five faculties at Aarhus University. Aarhus BSS unites the business and social science-related research fields and brings them closer together to reflect the close relationship between society and the business community. As part of a Top 100 university, Aarhus BSS and the Department of Management have achieved the distinguished AASCB, AMBA and EQUIS accreditations.
The department’s research and teaching environment is highly international and culturally diverse with a mix of Danish and international academic staff members and PhD students. We employ more than 160 academic staff including researchers, PhD students, research associates and cover a broad range of disciplines within management. e.g. marketing, international business, organization, HR, strategy, management accounting, innovation management, entrepreneurship, digitalisation, and information systems. We aim to conduct high-quality research, and we give high priority to publishing our research in leading academic journals and presenting it at recognised conferences. In addition, we have a dynamic exchange of international researchers, who stay at the department for short or long periods of time.
For more information about the Department of Management, please visit: http://mgmt.au.dk/.
Further information
For further information about the position and the department, please contact Assistant Professor Gabriele Torma, email: gabriele.torma@mgmt.au.dk.
If you need help uploading your application or have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR-supporter Maria Grauert Løvgaard, Tel: +45 8715 3445, e-mail: Mgb@au.dk
Place of work
Aarhus BSS
Department of Management
Universitetsbyen 61-63
8000, Aarhus C
Denmark
Deadline
All applications must be made online and received by April 20, 2026.
International applicant?
http://talent.au.dk/junior-researcher-development-programme/
Terms of employment
The appointment is made in accordance with the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities as well as the circular on the Collective Agreement for Academics Employed by the State (in Danish).
The job content and qualification requirements are described in further detail in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
Application procedure
When you apply for this position it is mandatory to attach the following:
Materials which cannot be uploaded together with the application may be submitted in three copies to Aarhus BSS HR & PhD, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 16, DK-8000 Aarhus C.
Read more about how to apply for an academic post at Aarhus BSS here
The evaluation process
After the application deadline, an assessment committee is appointed. Please note that the assessment of applicants is based solely on the material received prior to the application deadline. For further information, see Guidelines for Assessment Committee, Aarhus BSS.
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.
The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.
Aarhus University
Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 37,000 students (FTEs) and 8.700 employees and has an annual revenue of EUR 1.106 billion. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/
The position is based at the Department of Management at the heart of the new University City of Aarhus University in Aarhus, Denmark. The position focuses on stakeholder perceptions and acceptance of innovative multifunctional land use solutions, and on how such solutions are perceived, debated, and accepted by different stakeholder groups.
The starting date is August 1, 2026 or subject to mutual agreement.
The research project
The postdoc will be part of the SAGE project, a highly interdisciplinary European research collaboration on solar grazing: the integration of photovoltaic systems with grazing livestock as a multifunctional land-use strategy.
SAGE examines how solar grazing can contribute to more sustainable land use by combining renewable energy production with animal husbandry. The project brings together expertise from agricultural science, animal welfare, ecology, engineering, economics, and social science, and works closely with partners and Living Labs across Europe, including Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, South Tyrol, and the Netherlands. Within this broader collaboration, the Aarhus University team is responsible for generating in-depth knowledge about stakeholder perceptions, concerns, and acceptance of solar grazing across different regional and institutional contexts. The project is funded by the European Union under the Agroecology Partnership and by Innovation Fund Denmark.
The postdoc will join a research environment with strong interests in sustainability, stakeholder engagement, food and renewable energy systems, and socio-technical change. The department offers a broad, active and supportive social science environment with regular knowledge exchange activities, a strong early-career researcher community, and participation in relevant agrivoltaics research networks.
The position is particularly well suited for candidates interested in questions such as:
- how stakeholders make sense of contested sustainability innovations
- how perceptions, values, and framings influence acceptance and adoption of complex systems
- how land-use transitions are negotiated across agriculture, energy, environment, and local communities
- how communication and policy can be better aligned with stakeholder realities
Job description
The successful candidate will be responsible for the Aarhus University team’s core contributions to the work package on Stakeholder Perceptions. This includes designing and carrying out qualitative and mixed-method research on stakeholder acceptance, discourse, and argumentation around solar grazing, in close collaboration with international project partners. The work includes e.g. in-depth stakeholder interviews across partner regions and countries, visual mapping of stakeholder arguments, development of stakeholder personas, and a systematic literature and media review on solar grazing in Europe.
The successful candidate will contribute to the overall objectives of the project and to other phases of the research process such as writing academic articles and project reports, disseminating results to relevant academic and societal audiences, participating in project meetings and workshops, and collaborating closely with other researchers in the project team.
The candidate is encouraged to produce high-quality research while engaging with a societally important topic at the intersection of sustainability transitions.
The position is primarily research-oriented but may also involve teaching assignments.
Qualifications
Applicants must hold a PhD in a field relevant to the Department of Management or adjacent social science disciplines, such as management, organisation studies, marketing, sociology, human geography, science and technology studies, sustainability transitions, public policy, rural studies, or a related field.
We are particularly interested in candidates with strong competences in one or more of the following areas:
- Qualitative research methods, especially interviews, coding, interpretation, and cross-case analysis
- Stakeholder analysis, discourse analysis, media analysis, or argument mapping
- Sustainability transitions, social acceptance of innovation, land-use conflicts, or environmental governance
- Interdisciplinary collaboration across social science and technical or environmental domains
Experience with agri-food systems, rural contexts, renewable energy, or land-use innovation is an advantage, but it is not a prerequisite. We especially welcome applicants whose main strength lies in social science theory and methods and who are motivated to apply these competences to an important emerging sustainability field.
Strong written and verbal communication skills in English are required; additional proficiency in German or Italian is an asset. Experience working in international and interdisciplinary research projects is an advantage. The successful candidate should be able to work independently while also contributing actively to a collaborative research team.
Who we are
The Department of Management is one of the six departments at Aarhus BSS- one of the five faculties at Aarhus University. Aarhus BSS unites the business and social science-related research fields and brings them closer together to reflect the close relationship between society and the business community. As part of a Top 100 university, Aarhus BSS and the Department of Management have achieved the distinguished AASCB, AMBA and EQUIS accreditations.
The department’s research and teaching environment is highly international and culturally diverse with a mix of Danish and international academic staff members and PhD students. We employ more than 160 academic staff including researchers, PhD students, research associates and cover a broad range of disciplines within management. e.g. marketing, international business, organization, HR, strategy, management accounting, innovation management, entrepreneurship, digitalisation, and information systems. We aim to conduct high-quality research, and we give high priority to publishing our research in leading academic journals and presenting it at recognised conferences. In addition, we have a dynamic exchange of international researchers, who stay at the department for short or long periods of time.
For more information about the Department of Management, please visit: http://mgmt.au.dk/.
Further information
For further information about the position and the department, please contact Assistant Professor Gabriele Torma, email: gabriele.torma@mgmt.au.dk.
If you need help uploading your application or have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR-supporter Maria Grauert Løvgaard, Tel: +45 8715 3445, e-mail: Mgb@au.dk
Place of work
Aarhus BSS
Department of Management
Universitetsbyen 61-63
8000, Aarhus C
Denmark
Deadline
All applications must be made online and received by April 20, 2026.
International applicant?
Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information here:
https://internationalstaff.au.dk/relocationservice/
Please find more information about research opportunities at Aarhus University here: http://international.au.dk/research/
http://talent.au.dk/junior-researcher-development-programme/
Terms of employment
The appointment is made in accordance with the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities as well as the circular on the Collective Agreement for Academics Employed by the State (in Danish).
The job content and qualification requirements are described in further detail in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
Application procedure
When you apply for this position it is mandatory to attach the following:
- Application
- Curriculum Vitae. You are encouraged to declare any periods of leave without research activity, including, for example, maternity leave, since your research activities are assessed in relation to your actual research time
- Education (diploma for master's, PhD and possibly higher doctoral degree)
- List of publications (the enclosed publications must be clearly marked on the list of publications)
- Publications. Up to three publications can be included in the application. In the event of several authors the publications must be accompanied by a co-author statement concerning the applicant's share of the collaborative work with the consent of the co-authors. This template may be used for the purpose
- Teaching portfolio. The specific requirements regarding the documentation can be found here
Materials which cannot be uploaded together with the application may be submitted in three copies to Aarhus BSS HR & PhD, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 16, DK-8000 Aarhus C.
Read more about how to apply for an academic post at Aarhus BSS here
The evaluation process
After the application deadline, an assessment committee is appointed. Please note that the assessment of applicants is based solely on the material received prior to the application deadline. For further information, see Guidelines for Assessment Committee, Aarhus BSS.
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.
The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.
Aarhus University
Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 37,000 students (FTEs) and 8.700 employees and has an annual revenue of EUR 1.106 billion. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/