Postdoctoral position in datafied welfare at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen

The Department of Communication, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), invites applications for a postdoctoral position in datafied welfare from 1. September 2025.
The position is a fixed term position for 2 years, without teaching obligations.

Introduction 
The position is part of the research project Rights in the tech-heavy welfare state which runs 2025-2028 and is funded by the DFF. The project is a collaboration between the Center for Tracking & Society at Department of Communication and the Danish Institute for Human Rights. The project investigates how welfare rights in Denmark and their underlying values are transformed as a result of state dependencies on technological infrastructures and systems developed by corporate actors. The purpose of the project is to generate knowledge on how the material, institutional, and experiential dimensions of three welfare areas – education, social benefits, and health care – are reconfigured as the state relies on advanced data-driven systems provided by tech intermediaries. 

As postdoc at the Department of Communication’s Center for Tracking and Society you will be part of an internationally-oriented interdisciplinary environment focused on advancing theoretical, methodological and empirical research about digital society.

Duties and Responsibilities
The applicant will be contributing to a cross-sectoral investigation exploring how the close relationship between the state and big tech impacts conditions and enactments of welfare rights and their underlying values in Denmark. 

Specifically, the applicant will be responsible of generating empirical material in relation to a work package led by Lucas Cone and Stine Lomborg questioning how these transformations shape the work of welfare professionals and the experiences of citizens. While applicants from all scholarly backgrounds are welcome to apply, it will be a requirement that applicants have some level of empirical experience with fieldwork and can navigate both the practical and ethical dimensions of conducting qualitative research with citizens around institutions invested with complex political ambitions, normative tensions and professional histories. In addition, a track-record of combining traditional qualitative interviewing with more participatory and/or creative methods will be an advantage.

You will be expected to, independently and in collaboration with other researchers in the team, contribute to advancing the empirical and theoretical aims of the project. You will be expected to publish scientific articles within the context of the project and to participate in the organization of activities and research events. 

Qualification requirements and assessment criteria
Employment as a postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level.

More information on careers at UCPH and the requirement for the different academic positions is available on: 
Career at The University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

For more about postdoc positions and qualification requirements, see the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities: Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (ufm.dk)

Applicants will primarily be assessed in relation to their research qualifications, including their publications, ability to conduct independent research and participate in research collaborations, and their experience of research management. In addition, the applicant’s research plan and research potential will be assessed in relation to the overall project described above. 

Application
Applications must be submitted online in PDF or Word format. Click on the “Apply now” button at the bottom of this advertisement to apply.

Applications may be written in English or Danish and must include the following attachments:  
1.    Letter of motivation
2.    CV 
3.    Documentation of qualifications (exam certificates and PhD diploma) 
4.    Complete publication list (attached publications must be marked with an asterisk). The list must be structured systematically and divided into the following categories:
•    Peer-reviewed publications:
o    Monographs and anthologies
o    Articles in journals
o    Book chapters/anthology contributions, etc.
•    Non-peer-reviewed publications:
o    Publications disseminating research findings, etc.Applicants can attach a maximum of 10 publications. The publication dates must be clearly marked on the list. The selected publications must be uploaded as attachments and numbered 1-10.
5.    Research plan.
6.    Documentation of teaching competencies/teaching portfolio (see the UCPH guidelines for teaching portfolios here) and other work on the dissemination of research.

Only documentation in English and Danish will be assessed.  

Applicants are invited to familiarize themselves with the faculty’s strategic landmarks here: Strategic landmarks – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

Salary and terms 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 34,300.00 (EUR 4,590.00) + a 17,1 % contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.

The recruitment process
Once the deadline for applications has expired, the Head of Department will consider advice from the appointment committee and select applicants for assessment. All applicants will be notified whether they have been shortlisted. The Head of Department will then set up an expert assessment committee to consider the applications. The selected applicants will be informed who is serving on the committee. They will be offered the opportunity to comment on the committee’s assessment of their application before the appointment is announced.

Further information on the recruitment process at University of Copenhagen can be found here:  Recruitment process – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

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 HR Excellence in Research – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

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: For international researchers at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)

Contact information
Information about the recruitment process is available from HR-staff Sarah Lund, email: hr-soendre@adm.ku.dk , please refer to ID number: 211-2168/25-2I
Additional information about the position can be obtained from Professor Stine Lomborg, email: slomborg@hum.ku.dk  

The deadline for applications is 23:59 CET on 5 May 2025.  

Any applications or additional material submitted after the deadline will not be considered.