Postdoctoral fellow in the DFF project Coloring Borders Green

The Centre for Border Region Studies (CBRS), Department of Political Science and Public Management, University of Southern Denmark, Sønderborg, wishes to appoint a Postdoctoral Fellow (100%) as part of the Independent Danish Research Foundation funded project Coloring Borders Green led by Dorte Jagetic Andersen (Associate Professor at the Centre for Border Region Studies). The starting date for the position is April 1, 2024. The position is available for a fixed term of 24 months and comes with a competitive, full-time salary.

The successful applicant will be conducting field research in the context of the Danish-German border region, more specifically in the towns of Sønderborg and Flensburg. Field research includes participant observations, interviews and various other qualitative methods employed in engagement with a broad range of stakeholders from businesses, public administration, civil society, and educational institutions. The field research makes up the core data collection for the three-year project (2023-2026), exploring how borders are practiced by key stakeholders involved in the green transition. The aim of the Coloring Borders Green project is to map the meaning and practical importance of bordering practices when implementing the green transition, thereby developing new knowledge of and approaches to studying the role bordering practices play in the green transition and how they advance or hinder its implementation.

Successful candidate(s) must be able and willing to support the CBRS in realizing its overarching strategic objectives by contributing to our existing research strengths in European and Border Studies.

Key responsibilities:

• Conduct and contribute to the collection of data for the research project. Capturing the significance of bordering practices should span across different societal contexts, in particular business; public administration; civil society organization; educational institutions as well as the relations between these; the candidate must therefore engage with and navigate between meaning ascribed by a broad range of stakeholders with very different interests at stake.
• Analyse research results and disseminate the conclusions of research through academic publications and by other means as required. This includes publishing at least two articles in peer-reviewed journals with the project PI; one edited volume and a special issue on borders in the green transition; and contribute to various media content aimed at public outreach;
• Participate in regular AB and other meetings of the Coloring Borders Green project;
• Present papers at conferences;
• Contribute to the organization of events and activities within the project;
• Perform a number of research-related tasks such as engaging in knowledge exchange activities with the surrounding society, and conducting research management, including the mentoring of PhD students;
• Participate in the intellectual life at SDU and CBRS, including discussion groups, seminar workshops, and events.

Selection criteria

For applicants to qualify for the position, the following criteria must be met:

• A PhD in the field Border Studies broadly understood, awarded by the time of appointment, showing performance at the highest academic standards;
• Research expertise into the relation between borders and the Green Transition is preferable;
• Experience with theoretical and methodological innovation in border studies;
• A proficient or near-proficient speaker/reader of the languages relevant to the regional contexts investigated (i.e., Danish and German)
• A delineated research profile aligned with the strategy of the Centre for Border Region Studies indicating a potential to make an international scholarly impact and facilitate research cooperation within the Centre;
• Documentation of an emerging publication record at an internationally recognized level;
• Documentation of experience with and genuine interest in public outreach and communication as well as knowledge-sharing activities and/or cooperation with external partners;
• Experience from editing collected volumes or journals is an advantage;
• A proficient speaker of English;
• Evidence that you are an independent thinker and team player;
• Evidence that you are dedicated to take part in the everyday academic and social environment at SDU, Sønderborg.

About the University of Southern Denmark and the Centre for Border Region Studies

The postdoctoral fellow will be associated with the Centre for Border Regions Studies in the Department of Political Science and Public Management at SDU. Since 2016, the interdisciplinary CBRS is the only research centre in border studies in Denmark. It is linked to a wide international network. CBRS strives to produce original ideas through high-quality and pioneering research. The Centre wants to address major societal challenges and to exchange knowledge with society through high-quality study programmes and genuine engagement with societal actors and the wider public. This section of the Department of Political Science and Public Management also offers an English language bachelor education in European Studies and the section trains doctoral candidates, sometimes in partnership with other Danish and European institutes and universities. For a detailed description of the research profile and activities, please visit the CBRS website.

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 reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Information

Enquiries about the project and the position can be addressed to the Principal Investigator, Dorte Jagetic Andersen ([email protected]). For further information about the Centre for Border Region Studies, please contact the Head of Section, Steen Bo Frandsen ([email protected]). For further information about the Department, please contact the Head of Department, Signe Pihl-Thingvad ([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.

Researchers who have not worked in Denmark before taking up this position may be eligible for a special tax scheme that reduces Danish income tax for 7 years. You can find more information about this tax scheme here.

An application must include:

• A detailed CV;
• A cover letter (max. 2 pages);
• A research plan (max. 3 pages) for the next 4-5 years that describes the applicant's:
• Potential to advance the field (both empirically and theoretically),
• Relationship to the aim and goals of Coloring Borders Green project,
• Planned national and international collaborations,
• Potential to obtain external funding;


• Certificates/Diplomas (MA and PhD degree);
• A complete list of publications, which indicates which publications are most relevant for the position;
• Up to 5 of the most relevant publications. Please upload a pdf for each publication. NOTE: If publications have been co-authored, co-author statements must be a part of this pdf and must include information like in this example. The statement is just for your inspiration.

All non-Danish documents must be translated into English.

Applications that are incomplete may be rejected without any substantive evaluation.

Assessment of applications will be done under the existing Appointment Order for universities. Applications will be assessed by an academic assessment committee that determines whether applicants are qualified to be a postdoctoral fellow according to the Scholarly Qualification Matrix. 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.

Shortlisting 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 them. 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 appointment committee, the Head of Department determines which candidate(s) will be offered the position.

Upgrading of pedagogical qualifications is not a part of this position. Employment as Postdoc alone will thus not qualify to appointment as Associate Professor/Senior Researcher.

Applications must be submitted electronically no later than November 15, 2023 using the "Apply online" button. Uploaded files must be in Adobe PDF (unlocked) or Word format.

Read the guideline for applicants

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