PhD scholarship in the Sociology of Quantification in Africa – ERC Project “Modelling African Futures: A comparative technography of evidence-based welfare policy in Ghana, Senegal, Kenya and Botswana”

The Centre of African Studies, University of Copenhagen (UCPH) invites applications for one PhD scholarship in the project “ModelFutures” led by Associate Professor Alena Thiel. The position consists of 36 months. The intended start date is 1 April 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The PhD position carries with it enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD school of the Faculty of Theology, where the Centre of African Studies is administratively located.

About the ModelFutures project
The PhD position is part of the research project “Modelling African Futures: A comparative technography of evidence-based welfare policy in Ghana, Senegal, Kenya and Botswana” (ModelFutures) funded by a European Research Council Starting Grant. ModelFutures is located at the intersection of African Studies, anthropology, STS, and population statistics. The project undertakes comparative ethnographic research at the nexus of four African statistical and welfare systems – Ghana, Senegal, Kenya and Botswana – where the design, production and application of innovations in population statistics participate in shaping the future of public welfare. The aim of the project is to connect statistical innovation and anticipatory welfare politics in contexts of major demographic transitions. The PhD position covers the Ghanaian case study of the project.

ModelFutures carries out comparative ethnographic research into the foundational knowledge practices and infrastructures that inform the planning and implementation of evidence-based welfare policy in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and Botswana. Drawing on a unique cross-disciplinary and comparative approach to the study of statistical innovation in practice, ModelFutures studies experts’ skilful adaptations to the demands of globally circulating computational models and standards. At the same time, the project is interested in the symbolic practices attached to such models, and the infrastructural arrangements in which they are situated. Taken together, this allows us to examine in a systematic manner how variously positioned knowledge practices, including computational vernaculars and skilful adaptions, participate in the production of African welfare systems.

You can read more about the project here: https://teol.ku.dk/cas/research/dokument3/modelling-african-futures/. You are also welcome to contact the Principal Investigator of the project, Alena Thiel, for further information on the academic content of the project (email: ath@teol.ku.dk).

Job content 
The doctoral researcher will investigate innovations at the intersection of Ghana’s statistical and welfare systems. An overall framework for this project was included in the project application; however, the specific design and implementation of the case study will be developed by the PhD student. The application should contain a description of the planned research project (max. 5 pages/12,000 keystrokes incl. spaces) that reflects the aims of the project. The position requires presence and teaching at the University of Copenhagen, as well as participation in project meetings and workshops. Besides drafting of a PhD thesis, the PhD student will be expected to contribute to the comparative investigation of the project and participate in joint publication and outreach activities. The position involves travel for conducting fieldwork in Ghana, a writing fellowship, and conference participation, all of which are funded by the project.

Introduction to the PhD programme
PhD studies consist of research programmes at the highest international level that qualify students for independent research, knowledge dissemination and teaching. The main emphasis is on PhD students organising and conducting their own research project (under supervision). The programme culminates in the submission of a PhD thesis, which the student must defend in public. The programme is prescribed to 180 ECTS credits, corresponding to three years of full-time study.

A PhD degree opens a range of career opportunities in academia and elsewhere. As well as writing a thesis, PhD students work in active research environments in Denmark and abroad. They contribute to the academic environment, take research training courses, and convey the results of their research in teaching, at academic conferences and to the public.

Qualification requirements
Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to master’s level in African Studies, anthropology, political science, population statistics or related fields (e.g. socio-history of quantification). If you have completed your education in Denmark, you must have a master’s degree covered by the collective agreement for academics in the state sector. If you have completed your education outside of Denmark, you must either have a master’s degree equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years) or as minimum a bachelor’s degree equivalent to a Danish bachelor’s degree (three years) and be assessed as having professional qualifications at master's level.

If you have completed your education abroad, we will obtain an assessment of your education from the Danish Research Agency.

The applicants will be assessed according to the following qualifications:

• Demonstrated proficiency in qualitative research methods; quantitative methods are considered an asset.
• First experience, or strong interest in empirical research in African state bureaucracies.
• Analytical writing skills demonstrated through one enclosed writing sample.
• Proficiency in English, additional relevant language skills we be considered an asset.

Besides attention to the scientific quality and the feasibility of the proposed PhD project, the assessment will put emphasis on experience in carrying out qualitative fieldwork in African research settings. Applicants should further demonstrate critical writing skills and talent for independent research.

Applicants must possess skills in written and spoken academic English at a high level. Fluency in English language is required for conducting fieldwork and analysis of data. If deemed necessary, the department may request that applicants document their language skills.

For further information about the guidelines for PhD studies at UCPH, please refer to: https://phd.ku.dk/english/.

Application
All applications must be submitted online via the link “Apply now” at the bottom of this page. The application must be written in English, and include the following enclosures in Adobe PDF or Word format:

• Cover letter (max. 1 page) detailing your motivation and background for applying for the specific PhD position
• CV (max. 2 pages, including contact details and language proficiency)
• Project description (5 pages/12,000 keystrokes including space but excluding bibliography) containing a description of the planned research project and realistic draft outline of the study programme for the fulfillment of requirements under the Ministerial Order on PhD degrees with regard to participation in courses and periods of study at other institutions.   
• One writing sample, demonstrating the applicant’s analytical writing skills (for example, one chapter of the MA thesis)
• Diploma and transcripts of records of both Master’s degree and Bachelor’s degree
• Other information for consideration, e.g. list of publications, documentation of English language qualifications (if relevant)

On the website of the PhD School you can find information about the enclosures to include with your electronic application: https://teol.ku.dk/english/phd/how-to-obtain-a-phd-scholarship/admission-requirements/.

Applicants with a degree from a university where documents are not issued in English, or a Scandinavian language must provide a translation of their diploma and transcript of records verified by the issuing university. The documents must be translated into English, Danish, Norwegian or Swedish. In addition, you must enclose an official description of the grading scale in question (for instance diploma supplement).

Assessment criteria
The following criteria are applied when assessing PhD applications:

• Research qualifications as reflected in the project description. 
• Quality and feasibility of the project.  
• Qualifications and knowledge in relevant disciplines. 
• Performance (grades obtained) in graduate and post-graduate studies. 
• Whether the faculty can offer adequate supervision for the research topic in question. 

The recruitment process
After the deadline for applications, the Dean considers advice from the appointment committee and then selects applicants for assessment. All applicants will be notified whether they have been shortlisted. After this, the Dean sets up an expert assessment committee to assess the shortlisted applications. The selected applicants will be informed who is serving on the committee. Each shortlisted applicant will be offered the opportunity to comment on the committee’s assessment of their application before the appointment is announced.

For further information about the recruitment process, please refer to the University of Copenhagen website: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

The Ministerial Order on PhD degrees and other relevant documents can be downloaded from the faculty homepage at teol.ku.dk or by contacting the Faculty of Theology, Karen Blixens Plads 16, 2300 Copenhagen S.

Enrolment
It is a prerequisite for employment that successful applicants enrol at the PhD School of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Copenhagen.

For further information about the structure of the PhD programme, please refer to: https://teol.ku.dk/english/phd/phd-programme/structure/.

For further information about the guidelines for PhD studies at UCPH, please refer to: https://phd.ku.dk/english/.

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 31,200 (EUR 4,100) + a 17.1 % contribution to the pension scheme.

According to the agreement, the PhD Fellow is required to carry out tasks at the relevant department to an extent corresponding to 840 working hours (6 months) without additional pay. The work obligation can include teaching, for instance.

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, please 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
For further information about the structure and rules of the PhD programme, please contact the PhD Administration at email: phd@hrsc.ku.dk.

Information about the recruitment process is available from HR Centre South, email: hr-soendre@adm.ku.dk. Please refer to case number: 211-2296/25-2H #2.

The deadline for applications is 15 December 2025 at 23:59 [CET].

Any applications or additional material submitted after the deadline will not be considered. However, changes may be made to the submitted application right up until the deadline.