Tenure-track assistant professor in European ethnology at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen
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Tenure-track assistant professor in European ethnology at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen
The Saxo Institute, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen (UCPH) invites applicants for a tenure-track assistant professorship in European ethnology.
The position is a permanent, full-time position available from 1 June 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Job description
The Saxo Institute seeks a talented researcher to fill a position as tenure-track assistant professor in European ethnology. We are looking for a dynamic profile that can contribute to the strengthening and further development of the discipline of European ethnology at UCPH. The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate a strong potential for articulating and advancing ambitions for the field and disciplinary tradition of European ethnology through specific initiatives and activities in both education and research. We encourage candidates to reflect on this criterium in their applications.
We expect the successful candidate to possess theoretical and methodological competencies in and experience with ethnographic fieldwork as well as the study of cultural-historical material (for example through archives, museums, landscapes, technologies or materialities). We particularly encourage applications from candidates researching the making of Europe through global entanglements and reflexive Europeanisation – past and present – and candidates attentive to the relevance of the cultural history of everyday life in problematizing contemporary societal issues. Specific research topics relevant to the position can range widely.
At the Saxo Institute, we value diversity in theoretical approaches and research methodologies and therefore invite applications from all candidates whose research profile fits the description above. A demonstrated interest in and experience with methodological, theoretical and analytical innovation is considered an advantage. The tenure track assistant professor will be part of and contribute to the institute’s diverse research activities in, for example, seminar series and/or research clusters and research centres.
For the six-year tenure-track period the successful applicant must document an original and compelling research plan, which complements the research profile of European ethnology at the Saxo Institute. Ethnology at the Saxo Institute constitutes a vibrant and diverse scholarly environment deeply invested in the BA and MA programmes in European ethnology as well as in the MA programme in Applied Cultural Analysis (MACA). In addition, several scholars are attached to the MA programme in Advanced Migration Studies (AMIS) and the research centres at the Saxo Institute.
Documented experience in research-based teaching, cultivating international research networks, involvement in collaborative research initiatives, and grant applications will be a distinct advantage. The successful candidate will also demonstrate interest in contributing to the dissemination of research in the public sphere.
The candidate is expected to play an active role in teaching and supervising students in several of the existing, four programmes run by staff in European ethnology: the BA and MA programmes in European ethnology, the Master in Applied Cultural Analysis (MACA) and the MA in Advanced Migration Studies (AMIS). Based on the candidate’s profile, teaching obligations can include supervision, compulsory courses, area courses, and courses co-taught with other programmes at the Saxo Institute or Faculty of Humanities. A profile that demonstrates potential for contributing to the Saxo Institute’s educational activities more broadly will be considered an advantage.
The position involves a portfolio of tasks that requires a regular presence at the institute, except for research leaves during the six-year tenure-track period (one semester every three years).
The Saxo Institute is dedicated to the study of human societies past and present, with degree programs ranging from History to Ethnology, Archaeology, 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. As described in the Institute’s recently published research strategy, Saxo hosts a range of leading research centres and externally funded research projects.
The institute is located at UCPH’s South Campus in Copenhagen, a diverse and vibrant city. Education is free and child-care is subsidized in Denmark. As a Scandinavian capital with a green profile, public transport in Copenhagen is well-developed, and many inhabitants take their bikes to work. In addition to its many recreational areas, the city has multiple museums and other cultural venues. The University of Copenhagen was founded in 1479 and is the largest in Denmark.
Tenure-track assistant professor
A tenure-track assistant professorship is a six-year, fixed-term academic position involving both research and teaching. The successful candidate must complete a mandatory teacher-training course designed especially for assistant professors. The tenure-track assistant professor must be able to contribute to individual and group-based research, and research-based publishing, meeting high international standards, and contribute to the faculty’s activities, including examinations and administration. The responsibilities also include teaching, supervision, and examination of undergraduate and graduate students. Furthermore, the position includes administrative responsibilities, and communicating research findings to the public in general, and to the stakeholders of the Saxo Institute.
The duties of the position are relatively evenly distributed on tasks related to teaching and tasks related to research (including relevant administration and knowledge-sharing). The assessment of applicants’ qualifications assigns equal weight to competencies and potential in the fields of teaching (including pedagogy and didactics) and in the field of research (including research collaboration and research organization).
Qualification requirements
Appointment as a tenure-track assistant professor assumes research qualifications equal to at least a PhD degree.
Assessment of applicants will primarily consider their level of documented, internationally competitive research. Teaching qualifications are not mandatory, but documented teaching qualifications and teaching experience will be considered. Applicants’ outreach qualifications, including the ability to attract external funding, will also be considered.
For further details about the qualification requirements for assistant professorships, please read the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2019 here: Ministerial_Order_no._1443_of_11_December_2019_on_Job_Structure_for_Academic_Staff_at_Universities.pdf (ku.dk)
For more general information about the tenure-track programme, please consult: Tenure track at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen
Six overall criteria apply for assistant professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The six criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organizational contribution, external funding, and leadership) are considered a framework for the overall assessment of candidates.
You can read more about the criteria UCPH criteria here: Criteria for recognising merit – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
Find more information for recognising merit for assistant professors: 5a_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-Assistant_professors.pdf
Within a reasonable period (3-6 years), non-Danish-speaking appointees are expected to acquire proficiency in Danish sufficient to be able to interact with colleagues and students.
Furthermore, each candidate must be assessed according to the specific requirements stated in this job advertisement.
Application
Applications must be submitted online. Click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of this advertisement to apply. The application must be written in English, and include the following enclosures in Adobe PDF or Word format:
Recruitment procedure
After the application deadline, the Head of Institute selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointment Committee. All applicants are notified whether their application has been accepted for assessment. The Head of Institute subsequently appoints an expert assessment committee tasked with carrying out an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee. Applicants are ultimately offered the opportunity of commenting on the part of the assessment relating to themselves before the appointment is finalized.
Further information on the recruitment process at University of Copenhagen can be found here: Recruitment process – University of Copenhagen
As an applicant to the University of Copenhagen, you should be prepared to undergo a security screening related to international research collaboration as part of the recruitment process. The security screening will be conducted in cases where the University deems it appropriate based on an overall assessment.
Salary and conditions 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 for Assistant Professor at DKK 40,600 (EUR 5,400) + a 18,07 % contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.
An Equal Opportunity Workplace
University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their personal backgrounds. For more information 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
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 counseling to expat partners. Please find more information about these services as well as information on entering and working in Denmark: For international researchers at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen
A special tax scheme is offered to researchers recruited abroad. Please see: For international researchers at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
Contact information
Information about the recruitment process is available from HR Centre South email: HR-Soendre@adm.ku.dk. Please refer to case number: 211-0244/25-2N.
Additional information about the position can be obtained from the Head of Institute, Casper Sylvest, email: casy@hum.ku.dk.
The deadline for applications is 23 November 2025 23:59 CET.
Applications or enclosures received after the deadline will not be considered.
The position is a permanent, full-time position available from 1 June 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Job description
The Saxo Institute seeks a talented researcher to fill a position as tenure-track assistant professor in European ethnology. We are looking for a dynamic profile that can contribute to the strengthening and further development of the discipline of European ethnology at UCPH. The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate a strong potential for articulating and advancing ambitions for the field and disciplinary tradition of European ethnology through specific initiatives and activities in both education and research. We encourage candidates to reflect on this criterium in their applications.
We expect the successful candidate to possess theoretical and methodological competencies in and experience with ethnographic fieldwork as well as the study of cultural-historical material (for example through archives, museums, landscapes, technologies or materialities). We particularly encourage applications from candidates researching the making of Europe through global entanglements and reflexive Europeanisation – past and present – and candidates attentive to the relevance of the cultural history of everyday life in problematizing contemporary societal issues. Specific research topics relevant to the position can range widely.
At the Saxo Institute, we value diversity in theoretical approaches and research methodologies and therefore invite applications from all candidates whose research profile fits the description above. A demonstrated interest in and experience with methodological, theoretical and analytical innovation is considered an advantage. The tenure track assistant professor will be part of and contribute to the institute’s diverse research activities in, for example, seminar series and/or research clusters and research centres.
For the six-year tenure-track period the successful applicant must document an original and compelling research plan, which complements the research profile of European ethnology at the Saxo Institute. Ethnology at the Saxo Institute constitutes a vibrant and diverse scholarly environment deeply invested in the BA and MA programmes in European ethnology as well as in the MA programme in Applied Cultural Analysis (MACA). In addition, several scholars are attached to the MA programme in Advanced Migration Studies (AMIS) and the research centres at the Saxo Institute.
Documented experience in research-based teaching, cultivating international research networks, involvement in collaborative research initiatives, and grant applications will be a distinct advantage. The successful candidate will also demonstrate interest in contributing to the dissemination of research in the public sphere.
The candidate is expected to play an active role in teaching and supervising students in several of the existing, four programmes run by staff in European ethnology: the BA and MA programmes in European ethnology, the Master in Applied Cultural Analysis (MACA) and the MA in Advanced Migration Studies (AMIS). Based on the candidate’s profile, teaching obligations can include supervision, compulsory courses, area courses, and courses co-taught with other programmes at the Saxo Institute or Faculty of Humanities. A profile that demonstrates potential for contributing to the Saxo Institute’s educational activities more broadly will be considered an advantage.
The position involves a portfolio of tasks that requires a regular presence at the institute, except for research leaves during the six-year tenure-track period (one semester every three years).
The Saxo Institute is dedicated to the study of human societies past and present, with degree programs ranging from History to Ethnology, Archaeology, 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. As described in the Institute’s recently published research strategy, Saxo hosts a range of leading research centres and externally funded research projects.
The institute is located at UCPH’s South Campus in Copenhagen, a diverse and vibrant city. Education is free and child-care is subsidized in Denmark. As a Scandinavian capital with a green profile, public transport in Copenhagen is well-developed, and many inhabitants take their bikes to work. In addition to its many recreational areas, the city has multiple museums and other cultural venues. The University of Copenhagen was founded in 1479 and is the largest in Denmark.
Tenure-track assistant professor
A tenure-track assistant professorship is a six-year, fixed-term academic position involving both research and teaching. The successful candidate must complete a mandatory teacher-training course designed especially for assistant professors. The tenure-track assistant professor must be able to contribute to individual and group-based research, and research-based publishing, meeting high international standards, and contribute to the faculty’s activities, including examinations and administration. The responsibilities also include teaching, supervision, and examination of undergraduate and graduate students. Furthermore, the position includes administrative responsibilities, and communicating research findings to the public in general, and to the stakeholders of the Saxo Institute.
The duties of the position are relatively evenly distributed on tasks related to teaching and tasks related to research (including relevant administration and knowledge-sharing). The assessment of applicants’ qualifications assigns equal weight to competencies and potential in the fields of teaching (including pedagogy and didactics) and in the field of research (including research collaboration and research organization).
Qualification requirements
Appointment as a tenure-track assistant professor assumes research qualifications equal to at least a PhD degree.
Assessment of applicants will primarily consider their level of documented, internationally competitive research. Teaching qualifications are not mandatory, but documented teaching qualifications and teaching experience will be considered. Applicants’ outreach qualifications, including the ability to attract external funding, will also be considered.
For further details about the qualification requirements for assistant professorships, please read the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2019 here: Ministerial_Order_no._1443_of_11_December_2019_on_Job_Structure_for_Academic_Staff_at_Universities.pdf (ku.dk)
For more general information about the tenure-track programme, please consult: Tenure track at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen
Six overall criteria apply for assistant professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The six criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organizational contribution, external funding, and leadership) are considered a framework for the overall assessment of candidates.
You can read more about the criteria UCPH criteria here: Criteria for recognising merit – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
Find more information for recognising merit for assistant professors: 5a_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-Assistant_professors.pdf
Within a reasonable period (3-6 years), non-Danish-speaking appointees are expected to acquire proficiency in Danish sufficient to be able to interact with colleagues and students.
Furthermore, each candidate must be assessed according to the specific requirements stated in this job advertisement.
Application
Applications must be submitted online. Click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of this advertisement to apply. The application must be written in English, and include the following enclosures in Adobe PDF or Word format:
- Letter of motivation.
- Curriculum vitae.
- Certificates and diplomas (including PhD diploma).
- Complete and numbered list of publications. The enclosed publications must be marked with*.
- Research plan, including a short description of previous research and a plan for the coming years that includes an account of involvement in organising research, establishment of research seminars, symposia, and congresses, etc.
- Teaching portfolio. Documentation of teaching qualifications and research dissemination (organisation of classes, materials, courses and other forms of teaching) Job application portfolio – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
- Publications. Applicants may choose a maximum of five publications for assessment, of which at least two must have been published within the five years immediately preceding the deadline for applications. Publication dates must be clearly marked on the publication list. Should any material submitted consist of work with named co-authors, or work that is otherwise the result of collective academic endeavours, the extent of the applicant’s contribution to the work must be clearly specified. A signed statement from the co-authors specifying the extent and nature of everyone’s contribution must be included.
Recruitment procedure
After the application deadline, the Head of Institute selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointment Committee. All applicants are notified whether their application has been accepted for assessment. The Head of Institute subsequently appoints an expert assessment committee tasked with carrying out an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee. Applicants are ultimately offered the opportunity of commenting on the part of the assessment relating to themselves before the appointment is finalized.
Further information on the recruitment process at University of Copenhagen can be found here: Recruitment process – University of Copenhagen
As an applicant to the University of Copenhagen, you should be prepared to undergo a security screening related to international research collaboration as part of the recruitment process. The security screening will be conducted in cases where the University deems it appropriate based on an overall assessment.
Salary and conditions 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 for Assistant Professor at DKK 40,600 (EUR 5,400) + a 18,07 % contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.
An Equal Opportunity Workplace
University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their personal backgrounds. For more information 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
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 counseling to expat partners. Please find more information about these services as well as information on entering and working in Denmark: For international researchers at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen
A special tax scheme is offered to researchers recruited abroad. Please see: For international researchers at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
Contact information
Information about the recruitment process is available from HR Centre South email: HR-Soendre@adm.ku.dk. Please refer to case number: 211-0244/25-2N.
Additional information about the position can be obtained from the Head of Institute, Casper Sylvest, email: casy@hum.ku.dk.
The deadline for applications is 23 November 2025 23:59 CET.
Applications or enclosures received after the deadline will not be considered.