Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Full Professor of Cognitive Science

The School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University invites applications for a position as either assistant professor, associate professor or full professor of cognitive science, based at the Department of Linguistics, Cognitive Science and Semiotics.

The assistant professorship is a full-time, three-year fixed-term position, and subject to appropriate funding, there will be an opportunity to apply for a subsequent associate professorship. The associate and full professorships are both full-time, tenured positions.

Applicants must clearly indicate which position they are applying for. Applications in which this is not specified cannot be considered.

The appointment will begin on 1 August 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The School of Communication and Culture values diversity and welcomes all qualified applicants, regardless of their personal background. Achieving gender balance within the Department of Linguistics, Cognitive Science and Semiotics is a primary goal, and we especially encourage women to apply for this role. Nevertheless, no applicant will be given preferential treatment; all applicants will be evaluated solely on their qualifications.

The position

The position will be affiliated with the Department of Linguistics, Cognitive Science and Semiotics (LICS) at the School of Communication and Culture. LICS offers Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes in linguistics and cognitive science.

We are looking for an applicant who can strengthen our research profile in computational modelling of cognitive processes and/or computational modelling of social processes. The ideal applicant will contribute to the department’s collective research on cognitive and social processes and to the continued development of courses on mathematical and computational modelling of cognition within our BSc and MSc cognitive science programmes.

We are looking for an innovative and dedicated applicant who will enhance the department’s research and teaching profiles nationally and internationally, and who will contribute to Aarhus University’s core activities in research, teaching and supervision, talent development, and knowledge exchange.

For the assistant professor position, we are looking for applicants with teaching experience in the field of computational modelling of cognitive and/or social processes at the university level.

The person appointed to the post of assistant professor must complete Aarhus University’s teacher-training programme for assistant professors designed for university teaching.

Research

The department has a strong international profile and network, with its members playing prominent roles in university research centres. The successful applicant is expected to contribute to the department’s research on computational and mathematical modelling of cognition and/or social processes and to publish original peer-reviewed research internationally. Additionally, the successful applicant will contribute to research initiatives related to computational cognitive and/or social science and engage with the wider research community within the department, including developing new collaborative projects with internal and external partners and participating in external research funding activities. Furthermore, the successful full professor applicant will be required to demonstrate research leadership, lead the securing of international research funding, and develop international research networks. This research will be conducted within the linguistics, cognitive science, and semiotics research programme.

Teaching and supervision

The successful applicant will contribute to the department’s teaching and supervision activities, including courses on the BSc and MSc programmes in cognitive science. Teaching responsibilities will focus on mathematical and computational theory and methods as applied in cognitive and/or social science. Applicants are asked to indicate in their applications which courses they can teach. The successful applicant will also be expected to apply innovative teaching methods.

The position also includes contributing to the ongoing development of curricula and degree programmes in computational cognitive and/or social science. Experience of degree programme and curriculum development at universities or similar institutions will be an advantage.

The successful applicant for the position of either associate or full professor will be expected to supervise and support the career development of early-career researchers, including recruiting and supervising PhD students and contributing to the development and delivery of PhD courses within the field.

The successful applicant for the full professorship will additionally be expected to take a leading role in the continued development of degree programmes within computational cognitive and/or social science. In this connection, experience of degree programme development at universities or similar institutions will be an advantage.

Courses in the cognitive science programmes are taught in English.

Knowledge exchange

The successful applicant will be expected to engage in knowledge exchange, for instance, through research collaboration with private companies, government consultancy, collaboration with civil society and the public dissemination of knowledge.

The successful applicant will have excellent opportunities to participate in relevant collaborative initiatives with partners both inside and outside Aarhus University.

Qualifications

Assistant professor

Applicants for the position of assistant professor must hold a PhD degree or must document equivalent qualifications in a relevant field related to computational modelling of cognitive and/or social processes. Applicants for the position of assistant professor must be able to document, relevant to the position:

• an internationally oriented research profile within computational modelling of cognitive and/or social processes as documented by a PhD dissertation and/or research publications
• relevant teaching experience at university level, including innovative teaching methods documented through a teaching portfolio.

Furthermore, it will be considered an advantage if applicants can document

• experience of participation in national and international research networks
• time spent abroad working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions.

Associate professor

Applicants for the position of associate professor must hold a PhD degree or document equivalent qualifications in a relevant field related to computational cognitive and/or social science, as well as teaching and research experience commensurate with that normally acquired in an assistant professorship. Applicants must be able to document, in relation to the position:

• an internationally oriented research profile, documented by a strong record of international peer-reviewed publications within computational cognitive and/or social science
• experience of participation in international research projects and in national and international research networks
• experience of knowledge exchange
• teaching and supervision competences and experience at BSc and MSc level, including curriculum development, documented in a teaching portfolio
• a teaching statement describing the applicant’s approach to teaching, with practical examples illustrating their teaching philosophy
• completion of a teacher-training programme designed for university teaching or documentation of equivalent qualifications.

Furthermore, it will be considered an advantage if applicants can document:

• periods spent abroad working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions
• experience of applying for external research funding.

Full professor

Applicants for the professorship must hold a PhD degree or document equivalent qualifications in a relevant field related to computational cognitive and/or social science, as well as teaching and research experience commensurate with that normally acquired in an associate professorship. Applicants must document, in relation to the position:

• a record of original peer-reviewed research publications at the highest international level, contributing to developments within computational cognitive and/or social science
• a strong track record in research management and in attracting external research funding
• experience of participation in international research collaboration
• participation in national and international research networks
• extensive and relevant teaching and supervision competences and experience at BSc, MSc and PhD level, as well as experience of curriculum development, documented in a teaching portfolio or equivalent documentation
• a teaching statement describing the applicant’s approach to teaching, with practical examples illustrating their teaching philosophy
• completion of a teacher-training programme designed for university teaching or documentation of equivalent qualifications
• extensive competences in and experience of supervising and supporting the career development of early-career researchers (PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and assistant professors), as well as experience of developing PhD courses
• a substantial record of knowledge exchange.

Furthermore, it will be considered an advantage if applicants can document:

• periods spent abroad working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions.

Finally, all applicants are asked to provide a research plan for the next three years, outlining how they envisage both their own and the department’s contributions to future research developments within the field, including plans for publications, funding applications, and collaboration with external partners. The research plan (maximum three pages) should be uploaded as a separate document via the “Research plan” option on the Aarhus University application website.

Please note that although the application process can be completed on the Aarhus University system without uploading publications or a teaching portfolio, applications that do not include uploaded publications (a maximum of two for the assistant professor position and a maximum of five for the associate or full professor position) and a teaching portfolio (or equivalent documentation of teaching experience and qualifications) will not be considered.

Although the Aarhus University application system includes an option to upload letters of recommendation, applicants are asked not to include letters of recommendation or references with the application. Applicants who are invited to an interview may be asked to provide references.

Work environment

Active participation in the department’s daily life is a high priority, and we emphasise the importance of good working relationships among colleagues and with our students. To maintain and further develop the department’s strong teaching and research environment, the successful applicant is expected to be present at the department daily.

We respect the balance between work and private life and strive to create a work environment that supports this. You can read more about family and work-life balance in Denmark.

International Applicants

International applicants are encouraged to read about the attractive working conditions and other benefits of working at Aarhus University and in Denmark, including healthcare, paid holidays and, if relevant, maternity/paternity leave, childcare and schooling. Aarhus University offers a wide variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including a relocation service and an AU Expat Partner Programme. You can also find information about the taxation aspects of international researchers’ employment by AU.

An appointee who does not speak Danish will be required to acquire sufficient proficiency in Danish to manage relevant tasks, including administrative and managerial responsibilities, and to participate fully in the activities of the School of Communication and Culture within approximately three years of commencing the appointment. These include, but are not limited to, reading work-related texts and taking part in meetings and collegial gatherings conducted in Danish.

The Department of Linguistics, Cognitive Science and Semiotics

For further information, see the department’s website.
The place of employment is the Department of Linguistics, Cognitive Science and Semiotics, Jens Chr. Skous Vej 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

School of Communication and Culture

The school is part of the Faculty of Arts. You will find information about the school and its research programmes, departments and diverse activities on its website.

If you want to apply for the position as Assistant Professor, please apply online HERE.

If you want to apply for the position as Associate Professor, please apply online HERE

If you want to apply for the position as Full Professor, please apply online HERE

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact Joshua Charles Skewes, Head of the Department of Linguistics, Cognitive Science and Semiotics, by tel.: +45 8716 2653 or by email: filjcs@cc.au.dk.
If you need help uploading your application or have questions about the recruitment process, please contact Arts HR support by email: hsi@au.dk.

Qualification requirements

Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.

Formalities

• Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).
• Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities .
• Further information on the application and supplementary materials may be found in Application Guidelines.
• The application must outline the applicant's motivation for applying for the position, attaching a curriculum vitae, a teaching portfolio, a complete list of published works, copies of degree certificates and no more than five examples of academic production (mandatory). Please upload this material electronically along with your application.

If nothing else is noted, applications must be submitted in English. Application deadline is at 11.59 pm Danish time (same as Central European Time) on the deadline day.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Shortlists may be prepared with the candidates that have been selected for a detailed academic assessment. A committee set up by the head of school is responsible for selecting the most qualified candidates. See this link for further information about shortlisting at the Faculty of Arts: shortlisting

Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Arts is one of five main academic areas at Aarhus University.

The faculty contributes to Aarhus University's research, talent development, knowledge exchange and degree programmes.

With its 700 academic staff members, 200 PhD students, 9,000 BA and MA students, and 1,500 students following continuing/further education programmes, the faculty constitutes a strong and diverse research and teaching environment.

The Faculty of Arts consists of the School of Communication and Culture, the School of Culture and Society and the Danish School of Education. Each of these units has strong academic environments and forms the basis for interdisciplinary research and education.

The faculty's academic environments and degree programmes engage in international collaboration and share the common goal of contributing to the development of knowledge, welfare and culture in interaction with society.

Read more at arts.au.dk/en

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/