The Department of Anthropology and the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark, invite applications for three postdoctoral positions in green energy transitions, climate politics and democratic citizenship. Each position is for two years and is to be filled by 15 May 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Project affiliation The positions are part of two interdisciplinary research projects:
About the DART project The DART project is headed by Associate Professor Simon Lex and Professor with special responsibilities Lars Tønder. The objective of the project is to investigate public resistance, citizen engagement, and democratic participation in the context of the green energy transition in Denmark. While a vast majority of the Danish population support the green transition, there is still a significant concern and resistance from local citizens and interest groups when it comes to the implementation of wind turbines, solar parks, PtX facilities and nuclear plants. This has spurred industry and policymakers to view civil resistance as a potential barrier that risks slowing down the green transition. The DART project takes an alternative approach by proposing that protesters, through their interference with industrial and political interests, engage in and contribute to a broader societal debate about societal change and new forms of participatory politics. Thus, the project defines local resistance not as being anti-government or anti-green, but rather as a venue for citizens to perform a democratic citizenship. By adopting this approach, the research aims to achieve two main objectives: firstly, to map and analyze the reasons behind resistance and protest; and secondly, to design models that facilitate citizen engagement in democratic participatory processes. For more information about the project, please visit the following link: https: // jura.ku.dk/cilg/research/dart/
About the DEEP project The DEEP project is led by Associate Professor Simon Lex and focuses on the development and design of multifunctional energy parks. The planning of the green transition in Denmark has spurred so-called "green-vs-green conflicts" among a wide range of environmental and sustainability interests and stakeholders. These conflicts revolve around concerns regarding the potential impacts on landscapes, wildlife, and local cultural ecosystems. By studying the planning and development of renewable energy parks, the project has two main objectives: firstly, to map and analyze the reasons behind such green-vs-green conflicts; and secondly, to design models that facilitate the development of multifunctional parks, which integrate recreation, environmental conservation, biodiversity, and renewable energy. For more information about the project, please visit the following link: https: // anthropology.ku.dk/dep/news/2023/can-wind-turbines-and-nature- interests-go-hand-in-hand/
Job content Each postdoc is expected to conduct individual research in close collaboration with the project groups, consisting of early career and senior scholars, as well as external partners from both public and private sectors. The research will primarily rely on qualitative fieldwork, quantitative surveys and social scientific analysis. Additionally, the project will involve experimentation with the design of models for engagement and innovative forms of democratic participation. There will also be limited contribution to teaching in relevant courses. The postdocs will be affiliated with world-leading research departments and contribute to researcher groups such as Nature, Environment and Climate (NEC), Organization and Economy (OREO), and Research group on Climate, Environment and Change (REGROUP) - University of Copenhagen (ku.dk). They will also engage with Green Solution Centre, a broader interdisciplinary initiative at the UCPH (https: // greensolutions.ku.dk), as well as the national partnership “MissionGreenFuels” (https: // missiongreenfuels.dk).
Qualifications The candidates will be assessed according to the following qualifications:
Application Submit a complete application at our online portal. Click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of the page to apply. The documents must be in Adobe PDF or Word. Your application must be written in English and include the following documents:
Strategy of the Faculty of Social Sciences The Department of Anthropology and the Department of Political Science are part of the Faculty of Social Sciences. The Faculty is a successful academic community that strives to put knowledge into action by:
For more on the Faculty strategy, see: https: // samf.ku.dk/fakultetet/strategi/.
Terms of Employment
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 Research, 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: https: // ism.ku.dk/
Contact information Information about the recruitment process is available from HR, e-mail: [email protected], please refer to ID number: 211-1674/23-2I.
Additional information about the position can be obtained from Simon Lex, [email protected], +45 31432839 and Lars Tønder, [email protected], +45 35320489.
The closing date for applications is 29 February 2024 at 23:59 CET
Applications or enclosures received thereafter will not be considered.