Postdoctoral position in political theory

The Center for Subjectivity Research (CFS), Department of Communication, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark, invites applications for a postdoctoral position in political theory (political science, political philosophy, political sociology, political psychology) to be filled by 1 August 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is for 2 years.

Information about CFS can be found at cfs.ku.dk/

Job content
The postdoc will be part of a project entitled Who are We? Self-identity, Social Cognition, and Collective Intentionality funded by the Carlsberg Foundation and headed by Prof. Dan Zahavi. Applicants are asked to situate and develop their research plan within the framework of the Who are we? project.
Read about the project here: Who are we – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

The larger project investigates what it means to feel, think, and act as part of a we. Its guiding hypothesis is that a systematic account of the we must be embedded in a more comprehensive investigation of selfhood and social cognition. The project will systematically develop this hypothesis by combining cross-disciplinary theorizing with historical scholarship. In particular, it will draw on seminal contributions from classical phenomenology. In addition to philosophers, the project also involves social scientists (from social anthropology, sociology, social psychology, and clinical psychology).

The postdoc should be a political theorist broadly conceived (incl. political philosophy, political science, political sociology, and political psychology) who is working on nationalism. During the employment, the candidate should engage with the following set of questions: What is involved in coming to experience oneself as a member of a national community, as part of a national we? What factors allow for the constitution of a transgenerational we? What ensures social cohesion among members of a national community? To what extent does the external recognition of outgroup members influence one’s national identity?

The successful candidate will be working in close cooperation with philosophers and other social scientists and should be interested in theory development. The postdoc is not expected to conduct new empirical research during the period of employment.

Qualification requirements  
In order to be considered for the position, applicants must have research qualifications at least corresponding to what can be achieved as part of a successfully completed PhD. It is expected that the successful candidate will be present, part of the team, and partake in the activities at CFS on a daily basis.

Furthermore, emphasis will be placed on the following:  

• Research qualifications, which will be assessed in relation to the period of active research, the degree of originality, and academic output.  
• The applicant’s scientific record, academic breadth and depth, rigor, thoroughness, and accuracy, as well as academic relevance in relation to the job description.
• Participation in networks – national and international  
• Previous experience with interdisciplinary collaboration and research
• Extensive familiarity with theories of nationalism is essential. Some familiarity with phenomenology and/or contemporary philosophical discussions of collective intentionality will be an additional asset  
• Good interpersonal skills  
• Excellent skills in English, written and spoken  

For further details about the qualification requirements for postdocs, please refer to the job structure for Academic Staff at Universities: employment.ku.dk/faculty/criteria-for-recognising-merit/dokumenter/Ministerial_Order_no._1443_of_11_December_2019_on_Job_Structure_for_Academic_Staff_at_Universities.pdf

Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the director of CFS, Professor Dan Zahavi, zahavi@hum.ku.dk, for more information about the Who are we? project.

Application  
Submit the application online in Adobe PDF or Word format.

ZIP-files cannot be uploaded.  

Please click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of the page.  

The application must be written in English and include the following enclosures:

• Application letter/cover letter  
• Curriculum vitae (with applicant’s e-mail address & telephone number)  
• Documentation of qualifications (examination certificates/PhD diploma, etc.).  
• Complete and numbered list of publications. The enclosed publications must be marked with *.  
• Research plan (max 5 pages), including a short description of previous research and a plan for the coming years.  
• Publications. Applicants may choose a maximum of three 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. The publications selected must be uploaded as attachments and listed from 1 to 3.

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 stipulated. The faculty may ask for a signed statement from the co-authors stipulating the extent and nature of each individual’s contribution.

Only material in English will be assessed.
 

Appointment procedure
After the application deadline, the Head of Department selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the appointment committee.  All applicants are notified whether their application has been accepted for assessment. The Dean 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 about the application procedure is available from HR, e-mail: hrsc@hrsc.ku.dk. Please refer to ID number 211-1364/23-2I. 

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 at DKK 35.700 + a 17,1 % contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.

The Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) have further agreed on a protocol that makes it possible for international researchers employed by the University to achieve a pension exemption, whereby the pension contribution will be paid out as salary. For more information about the different pension schemes, please read more here: ism.ku.dk/salary-tax-pension/pension/

If you consider applying from abroad, you may find useful information on how it is to work in Denmark and at UCPH here: ism.ku.dk, www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/frontpage.htm and www.workindenmark.dk/

UCPH wishes to encourage everyone interested in this post to apply, regardless of personal background.

The closing date for applications is 3 April 2023 23:59 CEST

Applications or supplementary material received thereafter will not be considered.