Applications are invited for a PhD scholarship in the SAMSKAB project at the Department of Anthropology. Enrolment will be at the Faculty of Social Sciences under Copenhagen Graduate School of Social Sciences.

The position starting date is on 1 September 2022.

Introduction

The SAMSKAB research project challenges the notion that the green transition takes place primarily through individual behavior and technological change by pointing out that it can take place just as much as a fundamental social change involving neighboring communities. The starting point for SAMSKAB is that a significant green transition does not just require political regulation and technological solutions, but also civil action and behavioral changes. The hypothesis in SAMSKAB is that cooperation and collective action for common goals in green neighborhood communities reinforces environmental behavior and promotes both an environmental and a social agenda. The project studies how green neighboring communities are established, either from the start or through a transformation of existing gray housing associations, and it measures the social and environmental impact of collective action. The PhD project will focus on the establishment of new green communities in social housing (Tingbjerg is a possibility, but other cases can also be chosen), and on the social and environmental impact of these green communities.

The SAMSKAB research project is looking for a PhD candidate who has (or will soon have) a Master’s degree in Anthropology or a related discipline, who has some practical experience in working with social projects, social housing, and/or green communities, who is fluent in Danish, who can develop a realistic research proposal to study the establishment of new green communities in social housing settings and their social and environmental impact, and who can collaborate with other members of the researcher team and contribute constructively to SAMSKAB research activities.

The PhD programme in anthropology provides PhD students with research training which opens up a window of opportunity to a variety of careers within the private and public sectors. The programme includes the drafting of a PhD thesis, active participation in research networks, PhD courses, teaching, and other forms of knowledge dissemination. The PhD programme can be undertaken as a three year full-time study within the framework of the 5+3 study programme, or as a four year full-time study programme within the framework of the 4+4 study programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

Further information about the PhD study programme is available on the website of Copenhagen Graduate School of Social Sciences:

https://samf.ku.dk/phd-skolen/english/

https://samf.ku.dk/phd-skolen/

Under "Legal basis" on the website you will find information about the rules and guidelines for the PhD programme and the Danish Ministerial Order on the PhD programme at the Universities. 

Information about the PhD study programme is also available on the PhD website of the Department of anthropology.

https://anthropology.ku.dk/PhD/

Applicants should familiarise themselves with the SAMSKAB research project before submitting their application. Further information can be found:  

https://www.omstilling.nu/samskab

https://omstilmig.nu/SAMSKAB/data/media/files/projektbeskrivelse.pdf (in Danish)

Applications

• The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding society, and invites all qualified applicants, regardless of personal background, to apply for the positions.  
• In order to be awarded a PhD scholarship the applicant has to enroll as a PhD student at the Faculty of Social Sciences, cf. the rules of the Danish Ministerial order No 1039 of 27 August 2013.  

Scholarship in the 5+3 or in the 4+4 PhD study programme

The 5+3 PhD study programme
In order to be eligible for a scholarship in the 5+3 PhD study programme the applicant must have completed a two year MSc degree programme, or have earned 120 ECTS credits at an equivalent academic level before starting his or her employment. Applicants should check the study programmes for more detailed descriptions of the entry requirements. PhD students are paid a salary in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The PhD student has a work obligation of up to 840 hours over the 3 year period of time without additional pay. The work obligation can include for instance teaching.  

The 4+4 PhD study programme 
Students who have completed a BSc plus 60 ECTS of an MSc degree programme would enrol as PhD students simultaneously with their enrolment in the MSc degree programme. Applicants should check the study programmes for more detailed descriptions of the entry requirements. Until an MSc degree is obtained, the grant is paid partly in the form of up to 48 state education grant portions (in Danish: SU-klip). More specifically the PhD student will be paid two grant portions per month plus salary for work (teaching, presentations etc.) which totals a workload of at least 280 hours. Payment and conditions of employment are carried out in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). Upon completion of the MSc degree the student is transferred to the salary-earning part of the PhD studies. 

How to apply

Submit a complete application at our online portal. Click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of the page to apply. The documents must be in Adobe PDF or Word.

• Project abstract (please fill in the project abstract in the application form. Must not exceed 1.200 characters)
• Cover Letter (detailing your motivation and background for applying for the specific PhD project)
• Project description (no more than 10,000 keystrokes not including bibliography). This project description does not need to build on the PhD project as described in the SAMSKAB research proposal (https://omstilmig.nu/SAMSKAB/data/media/files/projektbeskrivelse.pdf) and it can explore other avenues that the PhD applicant finds more relevant
• CV   
• Diploma and transcripts of records (BSc and MSc)   
• Time schedule 
• Budget 
• Other information for consideration, e.g. list of publications, documentation of English language qualifications (if any)  

Please note that it is only possible to upload one document per attachment category. If more than one document has to be uploaded in the same category, please make sure that they are scanned and collected into one file.  

Application process  

On the website of Copenhagen Graduate School of Social Sciences you will find information about the application process, and enclosures to include with your electronic application: 

https://samf.ku.dk/phd-skolen/english/applicants/application/current_advertisement/
https://samf.ku.dk/phd-skolen/til_ansogere/ansoegning/aktuelle_opslag/

The recruitment process

Further information on the recruitment process at University of Copenhagen can be found here: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The following criteria are used when shortlisting candidates for assessment: 

1. Research qualifications and research experience as reflected in the project proposal. 

2. Qualifications, experience and prior knowledge of the research field.  

3. Quality and feasibility of the project proposal.

4. Performance (grades obtained) in graduate and post-graduate studies. 

5. Language proficiency in Danish

Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

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 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

Information about the recruitment process is available from Dorthea Andersen, HR, e-mail: hrsc@hrsc.ku.dk, please refer to ID number: 211-1085/22-2H #1

Additional information about the position can be obtained from Quentin Gausset, quentin.gausset@anthro.ku.dk

The closing date for applications is at 23:59 CEST, 31 May 2022.

Applications received after the deadline will not be taken into account.

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.