DIAS Fellow in the Politics and Governance related to the Green Transition, Department of Political Science and Public Management

The Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS) and the Department of Political Science and Public Management at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Odense, seek an outstanding candidate to fill a tenure-track Fellow (Assistant Professor level) position in the field of Political Science. The candidate is expected to start on September 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. 

We are looking for a researcher with clear potential for research excellence who thrives in and is inspired by interdisciplinary collaboration. The ideal candidate will be expected to contribute to high-quality research and teaching in their field while embracing DIAS’s mission of curiosity-driven inquiry and interdisciplinary dialogue. The successful candidate should have a strong and promising research profile, with potential for attracting external research funding and working across disciplines. The candidate will be attached to both the Department of Political Science and Public Management and DIAS and should be prepared to engage in multiple and diverse research environments at SDU. 

We seek a political science scholar specialized in the politics and governance of the green transition. The ideal candidate aims to move our understanding of how climate policy solutions can politically be implemented through local, national or international politics and governance. 

We seek a researcher with expertise in the field of Political Science, who is eager to develop their research career within the DIAS framework. The ideal candidate should demonstrate: 

• A commitment to engaging in boundary-crossing interdisciplinary research and dialogue.
• A commitment to internationally competitive research activities at the highest level of ambition. 
• A clear potential for developing an original and innovative research profile.
• A clear potential for attracting external research funding.
• Engagement in various forms of research dissemination and high-quality teaching. 

Qualifications

Successful applicants must: 

• Hold a PhD or similar qualifications within relevant fields of Political Science.
• Exhibit curiosity-driven research excellence, thinking beyond traditional boundaries. 
• Be fluent in English.
• Have strong research publications in the field of political science and green transition that demonstrate their excellence and broad thinking. 
• Have teaching experience and strong interest in innovative teaching. The candidate should be able to teach and supervise at the political science program and/or other degrees at the department.
• Experience in applying for external funding and a strong international network are considered comparative advantages.

Please also consult the department’s Scholarly Qualification Matrix  for further information about the criteria for the position.

The Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS)

DIAS at SDU is a hub for interdisciplinary excellence at and beyond the frontier of knowledge, bringing together outstanding researchers from various disciplines to foster groundbreaking interdisciplinary research and bold innovation. DIAS nurtures a collaborative and curiosity-driven environment, encouraging scholars to think outside the box and challenge conventional boundaries. The institute values open-minded exploration and an ambitious yet collegial atmosphere with a strong sense of community. Researchers affiliated with DIAS are expected to contribute actively to DIAS activities, mentor DIAS fellows, and engage in interdisciplinary collaborations across faculties and departments, both nationally and internationally. 

The Department of Political Science and Public Management

The Department of Political Science and Public Management is part of the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences and has approximately 90 permanent employees as well as several part-time employees. Currently, the department attracts around 2,500 students in its various study programs The department believes in fostering a stimulating and inspiring environment for both staff members and students. Therefore, the department’s ambition is to recruit, develop, and retain talented scholars committed to both academic and educational excellence and departmental development. Furthermore, the department wishes the staff to reflect the diversity of society and, thus, welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

For a detailed description of the Department of Political Science and Public Management’s organization and activities, please visit the department's website.

The Danish tenure track employment

The Danish tenure-track employment is a focused assistant professorship with a guaranteed assessment for a position as an associate professor (open-ended contract), within the tenure-track assistant professor's field of study.

The tenure-track assistant professor will be assigned a mentor upon employment, and annual performance and development reviews will be held to ensure the progress of the assistant professor's development towards meeting the qualifications of an associate professorship. A formal midterm evaluation will be conducted by a committee, consisting of internal and external researchers with relevant qualifications, with the purpose of ensuring the focus of the assistant professor's activities, as well as to create the basis for the planning of the remaining period.

The transition from assistant professor to associate professor

Within the 6th year of employment, the tenure-track assistant professor is expected to transition into a position as an associate professor, based on a positive assessment conducted by a formally approved assessment committee, consisting of a chair, appointed by the University of Southern Denmark, as well two external committee members approved by the dean, the academic council, and the tenure-track committee of the university.

The assessment committee evaluates the tenure-track assistant professor based on the promotion guidelines of the department. The Faculty of Business and Social Sciences at SDU expects the successful tenure-track assistant professor to have performed, progressed, and achieved an acceptable record in accordance with requirements stated in the promotion guidelines.

Additional information

For further information about being a fellow at DIAS, please contact DIAS director Sten Rynning at +45 6550 2193 or via email at director-dias@sdu.dk.

For more information about the position, please contact Head of Department of Political Science and Public Management Lars Tønder ltoe@sam.sdu.dk.

Application, salary, and employment terms

The candidate will be attached to the Department of Political Science and Public Management in Odense and is also expected to participate in DIAS activities and interdisciplinary cooperation in Odense regularly.

Appointment as a Tenure Track Assistant Professor is temporary and for an initial 6-year period.

During employment, the assistant professor will complete the Lecturer Training Programme. 

The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). For more details on salary and taxation, please refer to the provided links about salary and taxation.

Teaching obligations will be reduced compared to a standard assistant professorship at SDU, allowing more time for research and leadership activities. 

The person employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial assessment, be exempted from time registration, also known as a self-organiser.

To qualify for the position, you must have obtained a PhD or similar degree by the application deadline. 

Application requirements

The application must include the following:

• Letter of motivation that explains the applicant's interest, qualifications, and motivation for the position.
• Detailed CV including documentation of experience, and contacts for possible references. 
• An elaborate research and funding plan (max 4 pages) for the next four years including a description of synergy with the department's activities and the potential to benefit from DIAS’s interdisciplinary environment.
• Copies of Certificates/Diplomas (Master and PhD degree).
• Complete list of publications, indicating which publications are most relevant for the position.
• Up to 3 of the most relevant research articles – if you submit a monograph, it counts as 3 articles. Please upload a pdf for each publication. For co-authored publications, briefly describe the extent of the co-authorship or your contribution to the publications (please do this for each co-authored publication). You can do so by using this form or by describing the co-authorship in such a way that the committee can assess the extent of your contribution.
• Applicants are requested to submit a teaching portfolio with the application as documentation for teaching experience as well as supervision qualifications. Formal application instructions and a guide for the teaching portfolio can be found here.

All application materials must be submitted in English, and only applications written in English will be considered.

Documents should not contain a CPR number (civil registration number) – in this case, the CPR number must be crossed out.

We recommend that international applicants take the time to visit websites of Work in Denmark and the International Staff Office at SDU. Here you can find information and facts about moving to, working and living in Denmark.

Within a three-year period, non-Danish-speaking applicants are expected to acquire Danish language skills at a level which enables reading Danish exam papers and administrative documents. The department offers free language classes and a reduction in workload to support non-Danish speaking employees.

Submission guidelines 

• Motivated application should be uploaded as ‘Cover letter’, Curriculum Vitae should be uploaded as ‘Resume’. All other documents should be uploaded as ‘Miscellaneous documents. 
• Files must be submitted in PDF format.
• If multiple files are needed for a single section, combine them into one PDF file.
• Zip files, image files (jpg, png, etc.), and password-protected PDF files will not be accepted. All PDF files must be unlocked to allow binding.
• Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

Applications must be submitted electronically via the "Apply online" link provided in the job posting.

Applicants are encouraged to read the information "How to apply" before applying. If you experience technical problems when uploading the application, please contact hcm-support@sdu.dk. 

Application deadline: February 28, 2026, at 11.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST). 

Assessment

Shortlisting may be used as part of the assessment process. Read about shortlisting at SDU.

Assessment of applications will be done under the existing Appointment Order for universities. Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. The committee may request additional information, and, if so, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the necessary material. 

When the assessment committee has submitted its report, the applicant will receive the part of the evaluation that concerns them. 

Applications that are incomplete with regard to the above requirements will not be assessed by the committee. Shortlisting and tests may be used in the assessment process and references may be obtained. 

About SDU
SDU is committed to fostering a diverse staff that reflects society’s diversity. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of personal background.
SDU was founded in 1966 and now has over 27,000 students, nearly 20% of whom are international. SDU employs more than 3,800 staff and offers 115 study programmes across disciplines such as the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences, and engineering. While SDU’s main campus is in Odense, it also has campuses in other locations.

Equal opportunity employment
The University of Southern Denmark is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, or any other protected status.

The University of Southern Denmark wishes our staff to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position. SDU conducts research in critical technologies, which, due to the risk of unwanted knowledge transfer, are subject to a number of security measures. Therefore, based on information from open sources, background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position.