PhD Position in Communication Science
University of Copenhagen
Denmark

Applications are invited for a PhD scholarship at the Department of Communication. The chosen candidate will be employed and enrolled at the Faculty of Humanities under PhD School at the Faculty of Humanities.

The scholarship is for 3 years, full-time, starting on 1 March 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

We are looking for a motivated PhD candidate who will participate in the research project Post-neutrality in Libraries, Archives and Museums financed by VELUX FONDEN's core group program (Project number VEL67752).

Libraries, archives and museums (LAMs) in Denmark, as well as in the rest of the Western world, are in the midst of a major transformation from being understood as neutral cultural institutions to undertaking a more distinct and active position on certain societal issues. Several LAM-institutions are concerned with contributing to a more inclusive society and drawing attention to past injustices. Simultaneously, LAMs are increasingly involved in solving new types of tasks in society, e.g. fighting climate change or engaging in issues of health and well-being. The research project Post-neutrality in Libraries, Archives and Museums examines the ongoing transformation from different perspectives in order to create a conceptual framework that enables society to engage in more productive discussions and evaluations of the practices of cultural institutions.

Within the framework of the overall research project Post-neutrality in libraries, archives and museums, the successful candidate will complete a three-year PhD project with the aim of analysing how post-neutral practices and strategies are understood by leaders and professionals in Danish LAM-organisations, how the practices are implemented both off- and online, what the implications are for their engagement with communities, and the extent to which they reshape the core missions and functions of LAMs. The project should be carried out primarily as case studies with ethnographic methods. We invite project proposals with innovative ideas on how to investigate post-neutral strategies and practices in Danish LAMs. The proposal should also include ideas for relevant cases.

The selected candidate will work closely with the core group around Post-neutrality in libraries, archives and museums, which includes researchers with expertise in archives, libraries and museums, ethnology, cultural policy and cultural heritage. The core group consists of Associate Professor Nanna Kann-Rasmussen (PI) who will be the main supervisor for the project, Associate professor Anne Folke Henningsen (Saxo Institute) (who will be co-supervisor for the project), Professor Hans Dam Christensen and two post-docs who will start in September 2025.

For more detailed information about the project, and the work package the PhD project is a part of, contact PI Nanna Kann-Rasmussen: nkr@hum.ku.dk.

Introduction
The PhD program is study program which aims at training PhD students, at an international level, to undertake research, development, and teaching assignments. These qualifications open a window of opportunity to a variety of careers within the private and public sectors. The program includes the drafting of a PhD thesis, active participation in research networks and the Department’s scholarly life, PhD courses, teaching, and other forms of knowledge dissemination. The standard duration of the PhD programme is three years of full-time studies, which equals 180 ECTS credits.

Qualification requirements
Applicants must have a two-year master’s degree (120 ECTS) or equivalent and, as a minimum, have submitted a master’s thesis for which they have received pre-approval at the time of application. Applicants must have a good knowledge of cultural institutions, cultural heritage and cultural policy. We will prefer applicants with an interest in and experience in qualitative research methods, strong skills in organizing one's own work and handling multiple tasks and an interest in communication to stakeholders and the wider public.
The empirical work will be conducted in Danish LAMs, for this reason, please pay attention to the language requirements below.

The qualifications of applicants with non-Danish master’s degrees will be assessed to decide whether they correspond to the Danish level. For further information, please refer to the website of the Ministry of Education and Research:
General assessments for specific countries — English (ufm.dk).

Applicants must possess skills in written and spoken academic English at a high level. The Fieldwork will take place in Danish LAMs, for this reason the successful candidate must hold skills in Danish or another Scandinavian Language. If deemed necessary, the Department may request that applicants document their English skills.

For further information about the guidelines for PhD studies at UCPH, please refer to:
PhD Programs - Guide to studies and admission – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).

For further information about the structure of the PhD programme, please refer to:
Structure of the PhD programme – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).

Applicants are also invited to familiarize themselves with the ongoing research at the faculty:
Research – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).

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, see:
HR Excellence in Research – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).

Application

• To be awarded a PhD scholarship the applicant has to enrol as a PhD student at the Faculty of Humanities, cf. the rules of the Danish Ministerial order No 1039 of 27 August 2013.
• Please note that normally there is strong competition for these scholarships, and only a few can be awarded each term.

How to apply
Applications must be submitted online. Click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of this advertisement to apply. The application must be written in English or a Scandinavian language, and include the following enclosures in Adobe PDF or Word format:

• Project abstract (Please fill in the “Project abstract” box 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 (recommended no more than 12,000 keystrokes not including
  bibliography).
• CV.
• Diploma and transcripts of records (Both bachelor’s and master’s degree).
• Time schedule.
• Other information for consideration, e.g. list of publications, documentation of
  English language qualifications (if relevant).

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

On the website of the PhD School, you will find information about the enclosures to include with your electronic application:
Admission requirements and application procedures – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).

The recruitment process
The following criteria are applied when assessing PhD applications:

• Research qualifications as reflected in the project proposal.
• Quality and feasibility of the project.
• Qualifications and knowledge in relevant disciplines.
• Performance (grades obtained) in graduate and post-graduate studies.

After the deadline for applications, the Head of Department 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 Head of Department sets up an expert Assessment Committee to assess the shortlisted applications. The selected applicants will be informed who is serving on the committee. Individual applicants will be offered the opportunity to comment on the committee’s assessment of their application before the appointment is announced.
The assessments are expected to be completed by 6 December 2024.

For further information about the application procedure, please refer to the University of Copenhagen website:
Recruitment process – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).

Terms of employment
PhD students are paid a salary in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately DKK 30,700 / approximately EUR 4,100 plus 17.1% pension. The PhD student has a work obligation of up to 840 hours over the 3-year period without additional pay. The work obligation can include for instance teaching.

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:
For international researchers at the University of Copenhagen – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk).

Contact information
For further information about the structure and rules of the PhD program, please email the PhD Administration at Søndre and City Campus, email: phd@hrsc.ku.dk.

Information about the recruitment process is available from HR South and City Campuses, email: hrsc@hrsc.ku.dk - please refer to case number 211-1925/24-2H #1.

If you have any questions about the academic content of the PhD programme, please e-mail Nanna Kann-Rasmussen, nkr@hum.ku.dk.

The deadline for applications is 3 November 2024, at 23:59 (Central European time).

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.

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.