The Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), embedded within the Faculty of Health Sciences, invites applications for four vacant fulltime positions as Assistant and/or Associate Professors in different areas of Psychology.  

The positions are expected to start in the early Spring of 2026.

The assistant professorship is a minimum three-year position, while the associate professorship is a permanent position. The positions will have employment at Campus Esbjerg and will also include occasional research- and educational tasks at our program at Campus Odense.

Explicitly, we welcome applications with experience and interest in one or more of the following:

• Educational and pedagogical psychology
• Work- and occupational psychology
• Clinical psychology, preferably with a focus on social psychiatry
• The history and philosophy of science of psychology
• Various research methodologies and research designs

As an Assistant or an Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology you will be expected to help, form, and support the strategies at SDU and at the Department of Psychology. Depending on the level of seniority, the main tasks will be to apply for and manage innovative research projects, develop research environments around these projects, as well as support early career researchers. You will also be expected to teach and supervise students, to be involved in knowledge transfer to society, and to actively engage in department activities, including taking on administrative responsibilities.

About the workplace

The Department of Psychology (Campus Odense) has been established over the last 15 years and forms the research basis for the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in psychology at the University of Southern Denmark. Both degree programs are fully developed, and the first master's students graduated in August 2015. The psychology program at the Esbjerg Campus is newly established, and the first cohort of about 75 bachelor students started September 2025. A corresponding master’s degree program will start in 2028. 

On the Odense Campus, all disciplines of the faculty are placed in the new health sciences building, which opened in 2023. The new university hospital, which is still under construction, is directly connected to the health sciences building, providing an ideal environment for collaborative research. SDU is a campus university with all disciplines situated in close spatial proximity, providing for a wealth of opportunities to establish multidisciplinary collaborations.

The Esbjerg branch of our department offers an exceptional opportunity to contribute to defining the foundations of the education and research program. The psychology program in Esbjerg has an independent profile with strengths in community and applied psychology, engaging in co-creation processes with industry, governmental bodies, and civil society.

The Department of Psychology (Campus Odense and Campus Esbjerg) is committed to advancing psychological science and its practical application, and our research goals encompass understanding human emotion, cognition, and behavior, including both functional and dysfunctional processes. We aim to enhance human health through translational research, covering dissemination, prevention, intervention, treatment, and education.

The Department is part of the Faculty of Health Sciences and is organized into three units across our two campuses. This includes 1) health and cognitive psychology, 2) clinical psychology, and 3) community psychology. 

For more information on the department units, research foci and education program, see

https://www.sdu.dk/da/om-sdu/institutter-centre/institut_psykologi

We offer

• A dynamic and international workplace that values collaboration both among colleagues and with external stakeholders
• Continued education of members of staff
• Flexibility in planning working hours
• An attractive working environment

Qualifications

• A master's degree and a PhD degree in psychology or a related field
• Pedagogical and didactic qualifications and competences
• Proficiency in spoken and written English

We further expect the successful applicant to (depending on level of seniority)

• show an interest in the establishment of a new education program at Campus Esbjerg,
• have proven capabilities in research-based teaching of high quality at all university levels including experience with study program management, and course development,
• be open to teach different areas of psychology and collaborate on educational activities with colleagues from both campuses 
• present as highly motivated, with strong and documented research skills, including both theoretical as well as applied perspectives on respective field(s), 
• have a strong research plan with a vision and strategy for the respective field(s), that includes a focus on the synergy with other disciplines,
• demonstrate the ability to attract competitive funding and show successful project management 
• have skills in communication and building collaborative relationships across academia and key stakeholders. This should be reflected in relevant national and international networks with both scientific and non-academic collaborators,
• actively participate in departmental activities and to contribute to a positive work environment. This involvement extends to engaging in both current strategies and the future development initiatives at the Department of Psychology.

For more information on the department’s recruitment criteria and career advancement, see:

https://www.sdu.dk/en/om-sdu/institutter-centre/institut_psykologi/om_ip/recruitment 

Non-Danish-speaking applicants will be expected to have and show an interest in learning the Danish language at a level which enables them to read Danish mails and administrative documents as well as to understand spoken everyday Danish. 

Further information and contact

For further information please contact Rikke Holm Bramsen, Head of Department, e-mail: rholmb@health.sdu.dk, tel. +45 6550 7251 

Application deadline

October 15, 2025, at 23:59 hrs. CEST

Application, salary, etc.

The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations).

For assistant professors with a PhD degree, the minimum salary will be DKK 36,655 (equivalent to approximately EUR 4,910.40) per month before taxes. 

For associate professors, the minimum salary will be DKK 45,095 (equivalent to approximately EUR 6,041.05) per month before taxes. An additional 18.07 % of salary is paid into the pension scheme by the university.

Application 

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link "Apply now".  

Attached files must be in Adobe PDF format. 

We strongly recommend that you read How to apply for a position at SDU before you apply. 

The application must include (as PDF files) (please note that the application (the motivation letter) and CV must not exceed 10 MB in total): 

• A letter stating the interest, motivation and qualifications for the project (max. 2 pages) 
• A detailed CV, including personal contact information 
• A complete and numbered list of publications 
• Degree certificates (including documentation of master’s and PhD degree) 
• 6 (associate professor), 3 (assistant professor) scientific peer-reviewed publications considered by the candidate as most important for this position.  
• a teaching portfolio detailing the candidate’s prior teaching experience, teaching skills, and teaching philosophy 
• a research plan detailing the candidate’s ideas and plans for her/his future research work 

If you experience technical problems, you must contact hcm-support@sdu.dk. 

Please note that all the above-mentioned information must be included in the application.  

Incomplete applications will not be assessed. 

Applications may be shortlisted. 

Living and working in Denmark 

Foreign applicants will be offered Danish language training as part of the employment.  

The International Staff Office (ISO) at SDU provides a variety of services for new employees, guests and people who consider applying for a job at the University of Southern Denmark. Read about working in Denmark (Danish rules and guidelines) here

The University wishes our staff to reflect on the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.