Assistant professor in Rural research in local embedded green transition

The Department of Sociology, Environmental and Business Economics, University of Southern Denmark invites applications for a 3-year assistant professorship at the Danish Centre for Rural Research.

We are looking for talented and dynamic individuals with the ambition of establishing themselves as leading scholars in their field of research. Starting date is planned for April 1, 2023, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The Department of Sociology, Environmental and Business Economics (SEBE) is part of the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences at the University of Southern Denmark.

At SEBE we are approximately 40 employees and around 750 students. The Department has an annual turnover of approximately 35 million DKK. We are located at the SDU Campus in Esbjerg. Find your way to us by following the link.

Primary tasks

SEBE performs tasks within research and development, education and “lifelong learning”, public sector services, innovation, counselling and communication on both national and international level.

Research and Teaching

SEBE carries out research and research-based education in the fields of Cultural Sociology, Economics and Business Administration, Resource Economics, Rural Research, Energy Management and Sport and Event Management.

The Center for Rural Research (CLF) offering education, courses, counselling and development in rural areas, is also part of the department.

SEBE was established in 2010 as a merger of the Department of Environmental and Business Economics (IME) and the Institute for Research and Development in Rural Areas (IFUL) and the Institute for Maritime Research and Innovation (MFI).

The Centre for Rural Research (CLF) is a university centre at the University of Southern Denmark in Esbjerg. The centre has a recognized and strong profile within rural research nationally and internationally. We collaborate widely with other strong professional environments and actors in rural areas to shed light on complex issues that can provide decision-makers with knowledge of what the good life in the countryside is and what factors are important for it to be created and maintained. Our research is application-oriented and must be able to be used in practice for the benefit of people living and working in rural areas.

CLF is having a yearly contract with Plan- og Landdistriktsstyrelsen. An emerging area of focus connection between rural development and green transition. The implementation of Renewable Energy and the green transition is increasingly occupying rural areas but detached from rural livelihood and economy. As a result, this is enforcing the local protest the transition, and the emerging conflicts. However, the green transition is also opening for new potentials for rural economy and flourishing the outcome depends entirely on how it is organised and managed. The main research objective of the position will be to explore both theoretically and empirically the models and potentials for local engagement in and ownership to green transition in rural areas. As a member of CLF the candidate will also have to take part in various forms of dissemination and outreach.

The position will also imply a teaching in relevant courses at the bachelor and master level in cultural sociology. And the candidate will be member of the sociology group. The working place is in Esbjerg and we expect the candidate to be present in average 3 days a week and to be active in the academic community.

• Conduct and publish research at a high international level in areas of relevance
• Conduct relevant teaching and supervision within the portfolio of study programmes of Cultural Sociology
• Contribute to application for relevant individual/collective external research funding to develop the research environment Center for Rural Research
• Engage in knowledge exchange activities with the wider society

For applicants to qualify for the position, the following criteria must be met (please consult Qualification Guidelines):

• Delineate a research profile relevant for the described topic and in alignment with study programme for Cultural sociology
• Document a substantial publication record at an internationally recognized level
• Document the ability to form and develop professional networks
• Document experience with various teaching and supervision formats as well as good teaching results
• Document the ability to develop and implement new pedagogical or didactical techniques
• Have experience with and genuine interest in outreach or knowledge-sharing activities and/or cooperation with external partner

In alignment with the new ministerial classification of academic ranks and titles, research and teaching competencies will be given equal weight in the assessment of any candidate. It is additionally important to us that applicants have good interpersonal skills and are dedicated to take part in the everyday academic and social environment at the department. Such engagement can be documented by, for example, past engagement in social and professional activities.

Within a three-year period, non-Danish applicants are expected to master Danish at a level which enables them to correct Danish exam papers and read administrative documents. Within a five-year period, non-Danish applicants must be able to document Danish language skills at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The department believes in fostering a stimulating and inspiring environment for both faculty members and students. The department's ambition is therefore to recruit, develop, and retain talented scholars committed to both academic excellence and departmental development. Furthermore, the department wishes our staff to be gender balanced and reflect the diversity of society and, thus, welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

For further information, please contact the Head of Section, Torben Damgaard, [email protected] or Head of centre Egon Noe, [email protected].

Application, salary, etc.
Appointment to the position requires a PhD or equivalent and will be in accordance with the salary agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.

An application must include:

• A detailed CV
• A letter of motivation
• A detailed research plan (max 2 pages) for the next 3 years that describes the applicant's:
• Potential to advance the field (both empirically and theoretically)
• Relationship to the aim and goals of the Centre for Rural Research
• Planned national and international collaborations
• Potential to obtain external funding


• Certificates/Diplomas (Master and PhD degree)
• A complete list of publications, indicating which publications are most relevant for the position
• Up to 3 of the most relevant publications. Please upload a pdf for each publication, if the publication has been co-authored, if possible co-author statements can be a part of this pdf and must include information like in this example. The statement is just for your inspiration.

Furthermore, applicants are requested to submit a teaching portfolio as documentation for teaching experience, and if relevant, supervision qualifications. Formal application instructions and guide for teaching portfolio may be found here.

All non-Danish documents must be translated into English.

Assessment of applications will be done under 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. The committee reserves the right to arrive at a decision solely based on the material submitted.

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.

When the assessment committee has submitted its report, the applicant will receive the part of the evaluation that concerns him/her. The assessment report will subsequently be forwarded to the Head of Department who will assemble an appointment committee. The appointment committee will manage and complete a series of job interviews with especially promising applicants. On the basis of the applications, the written assessments, the job interviews, and a deliberation within the appointments committee, the Head of Department determines which candidate(s) will be offered the position.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background. As part of the overall assessment of the applicant's qualifications, an interview may be applied.

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link "Apply online". Uploaded files must be in Adobe PDF (unlocked) or Word format.

Read the guideline for the applicants

Each field can only contain a single file of max. 10 Mb.