Postdoctoral position in Sociology of Food

The Department of Anthropology and Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), invite candidates for a postdoctoral position in Sociology of Food from December 1, 2024. The position is for 24 months.  

About the Project
The position is part of the project entitled “The crisis of habits and new figurations of food” funded by Danish Independent Research Fund (DFF) and led by Principal Investigator, Cecilie Rubow, Department of Anthropology and Co-PI Bente Halkier, Department of Sociology. The project explores the provisioning of meals across generations, and how the different degrees of plasticity in food habits can inform a theoretical reconfiguration of habits. With a starting point in practice theories, this project combines the concepts of habits, ethics and habitat to account for the plasticity in present configurations of food.

Job Content
The project design is collaborative, and the postdoc will work closely with the other (three) project members, theoretically and methodologically. The postdoc is expected to carry out fieldwork in Denmark among empty nesters to investigate resistance to changing food habits in a generation that has grown up in a period of vast economic growth where, among other things, levels of meat consumption per capita in Denmark have more than doubled since 1960. The core questions is: How do empty nesters figure the relation between territories and food (i.e where the food is produced and its climate footprint) in their everyday practices? The research will primarily rely on qualitative fieldwork and social scientific analysis. Additionally, the project will involve experimentation with using photo elicitation in ethnographic research, as well as disseminating research findings for a broad audience.

The project is a collaboration between department of Anthropology and Department of Sociology, University of Copenhagen. The candidate will be employed at the Department of Sociology, University of Copenhagen. The Department of Sociology is an international department with an ambitious and friendly atmosphere, comprising at present of 30 faculty, 15 Postdocs, 15 Ph.D. Students, and an administrative unit. We pursue problem-oriented research and investigate topics such as social mobility, facilitative cultures and structures that tackle climate change, migration and processes of integration, the role of education in (re)production of inequalities, social movements, the role of the digital in practices that are harmful, understanding practices of violence, impact of AI, and the sociology of science. We share a pronounced commitment to social theory – both classical and modern. We engage with and innovate around both qualitative and quantitative methods, and have in recent years invested a significant amount of resources in the area of social data science. The Department is located in the very center of the old city of Copenhagen and shares a campus with the other departments of the Faculty of Social Sciences: Anthropology, Economics, Political Science and Psychology with whom we have close collaborations.

Qualifications
Appointment as a postdoc presumes research qualifications on at least PhD level.

It will be an advantage that a maximum of 4 years have passed from the date of acquisition of the PhD degree to the posting application deadline. The 4 years can be extended by the length of any maternity, parental, sick or care leave, military service, humanitarian aid work, etc. carried out during the period. In connection with maternity leave, the PhD age will be able to be extended by the number of months of leave actually taken multiplied by 2.

For more about postdoc positions and qualification requirements, see the Ministry of Education and Research’s Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

The candidates will be assessed according to the following qualifications:

• Specialization: Phd degree in sociology or anthropology (or related field).
• Methods: Proficiency in qualitative data collection is required. Experience in ethnographic fieldwork will be considered an asset.
• Analysis and writing: The ability to develop critical analyses and produce high-quality academic texts.
• Dissemination: Experience in disseminating research for audiences in public and private sectors.
• Research experience: Experience conducting research in food studies in the North Atlantic region will be considered an asset.
• Language: Excellent Danish and English language skills, both written and spoken.

How to apply
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:

• Cover Letter (max one page)
• Research plan (max two pages)
• Curriculum vitae (max two pages, with applicant’s e-mail & telephone number)
• Documentation of qualifications (PhD diploma, Master’s diploma)
• List of publications (this may include non-traditional forms of research dissemination)
• Publications: Applicants may choose a maximum of two publications or pieces of writing for assessment

Strategy of the Faculty of the Social Sciences
The Department of Sociology is part of the Faculty of the Social Sciences. The Faculty is a successful academic community that strives to put knowledge into action by:

• Engaging partners in the co-creation of knowledge, learning and social change.
• Empowering our students to become reflective and responsible citizens who have the vision, the knowledge and the competences to change society for the better.
• Energising global, European and Danish communities of knowledge by innovating research methodologies and by research findings with impact

For more on the Faculty strategy, see https://samf.ku.dk/fakultetet/strategi/. You can read the Department’s strategy here: https://www.soc.ku.dk/instituttet/ledelse/strategi-pdf/Strategy_-_Sociology_2018-2023_.pdf .

Terms of Employment

• Further information on qualification requirements as postdoc can be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities 2019 here: https://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
• Terms of appointment and salary is in accordance with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikerne).
• The salary range starts at DKK 38,575.00 per month + a 17.1 % contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.

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: hrsc@hrsc.ku.dk, please refer to ID number: 211-1917/24-2I #1.

Additional information about the position can be obtained from Bente Halkier, beh@soc.ku.dk , 21629694.

The closing date for applications is September 15, 2024 at 23:59 CEST.

Applications or enclosures received thereafter will not be considered.