Associate Professor in Educational Psychology and Developmental Psychology – Childhood and early years

The Danish School of Education (DPU) at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University, invites applications for a position as an associate professor in educational psychology and developmental psychology. The position is full-time and will commence on 1 august 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. 
 
The position is based at DPU, at either the Aarhus campus or the Emdrup campus in Copenhagen. The selected applicant is expected to take an active part in the daily activities of the school, including teaching and supervision. As the school has campuses in both Aarhus and Copenhagen, some travel between campuses should be expected. 

The position 

The position involves research and university teaching in the fields of educational psychology and developmental psychology. The selected applicant will contribute to the further development of the existing research and teaching environment within the Department of Educational Psychology and Educational Anthropology, with a particular focus on developmental psychology in early childhood. 
  
The selected applicant will contribute to teaching at master’s level and conduct research in general developmental psychology, with a strong profile in psychodynamic-relational and individual psychological approaches to learning, development and well-being in infancy/early childhood as well as in family, day-care and school contexts.  

The selected applicant should preferably be able to teach and supervise  in assessment and psychometrics.  

The selected applicant is expected to have a central research interest in one or more of the following areas:  upbringing practices, cognitive and/or socio-emotional development, mental health, high-quality learning environments, family dynamics and transitions between institutions and families, with a particular focus on daycare and reception class (indskoling) and/or family life and on children’s psychological and relational development in the early years. 

Applicants are expected to conduct independent and collaborative empirical research, including studies within developmental psychology in early childhood, using qualitative, quantitative and/or mixed methods.  

Research 

The selected applicant is expected to: 

• develop new research projects relevant to the field of educational psychology, applying theories of individual development (e.g. psychodynamic-relational, narrative or personality-based approaches), ideally with expertise in psychometrics and assessment  

• contribute to collaborative research initiatives at DPU, both nationally and internationally 

• pursue external research funding 

• contribute to theoretical, methodological and empirical developments in the fields of early childhood and/or childhood studies and/or family studies.  

Applicants must outline their vision and plans for contributing to the suggested research fields.  

Teaching 

The selected applicant must teach and supervise across all levels of degree programmes at DPU, notably the master’s degree programme in educational psychology, including the specialisation in educational psychological counselling (PPR) and related electives, as well as in the field of early childhood. Teaching on the professional master’s degree programme in well-being may also be expected.  

Talent development 

The associate professor is expected to continuously develop supervision competences at master’s and PhD levels, including the development and teaching of PhD courses focusing on theory, methodology and/or specific methods, in collaboration with colleagues. Applicants are invited to describe their experience of, and plans or ideas for, talent development. 

Knowledge exchange 

The selected applicant is expected to engage in knowledge exchange as described in the strategy of the Faculty of Arts, for instance through research collaboration with external partners, public dissemination, consultancy work or collaboration with relevant stakeholders. Applicants should document any prior experience of knowledge exchange and outline their plans for the impact of their research within developmental psychology and its implications for practice. 

Qualifications for the associate professorship 

Applicants must hold a PhD degree or equivalent qualifications in a relevant field and be able to document: 

• a research profile within developmental psychology in the fields of daycare/reception class and/or family life as well as children’s psychological and relational development in early childhood  

• an international publication profile, including experience of participation in international networks 

• experience of obtaining external research funding 

• knowledge and experience of psychodynamic-relational theories of personality, identity and selfhood from a developmental perspective 

• experience of empirical research, preferably using a range of methodologies relevant to the field of developmental psychology 

• knowledge of psychological tests and assessment tools relevant to early childhood and developmental psychology. 

Further information 
For further information about the position, please contact the head of the Department of Educational Anthropology and Educational Psychology, Charlotte Mathiassen, by email: cham@edu.au.dk or tel.: +45 6186 3645.  

The application must be submitted in English.   

About the Danish School of Education 

The Danish School of Education (DPU) is one of the three departments at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University. 

Across its two locations at Campus Emdrup in Copenhagen and Nobel Park in Aarhus, DPU is home to approximately 200 academic and administrative staff, as well as roughly 80 PhD students. 

Our degree programmes  

The Danish School of Education currently offers a Bachelor’s degree programme in educational science and ten Master’s degree programmes in a range of educational and pedagogical disciplines, as well as six professional Master’s degree programmes that can also be studied as single-subject courses.  

Approximately 2,000 students are enrolled in the school’s Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes, with approximately 250 students enrolled in professional Master’s degree programmes. 

Many of these programmes are offered at DPU’s locations in both Copenhagen and Aarhus, with students fairly evenly divided between the two campuses. 

Our research 

The Danish School of Education is Denmark's largest university environment for basic and applied research in pedagogy and education. 

The school is home to strong research environments within educational science, educational theory and curriculum studies, general education, educational psychology, educational anthropology, educational sociology and educational philosophy, 

In addition, we conduct interdisciplinary research aimed at specific educational fields of inquiry, particularly schools and early childhood education and care. 

DPU promotes public awareness of research in education and pedagogy through extensive dissemination activities with the aim of providing society with a rich and robust knowledge base. 

International applicants   

International applicants are encouraged to read about family and work-life balance as well as 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 broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including a relocation service and career counselling for expat partners. For information about taxation, see the taxation aspects of international researchers’ employment by AU. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here: http://international.au.dk/research/  

An appointee who does not speak Danish will be required to acquire proficiency in Danish to handle tasks, including administrative and managerial responsibilities, and to participate fully in the activities of the Danish School of Education within approximately two years of commencing the appointment. These include, but are not limited to, teaching and examining students, reading work-related texts and participating in meetings and collegial gatherings in Danish.  

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, a research plan, 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

About Arts

The Faculty of Arts is one of Northern Europe’s most significant faculties for research and higher education in the humanities, theology and education. Within this broad academic scope, the faculty comprises approximately 700 researchers, 200 PhD students, 9,000 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students, and 1,500 further and continuing education students. We believe that the best ideas arise when different perspectives meet – and that research, teaching and innovation are best developed in dialogue with the surrounding society.

You can find more information here: Faculty of Arts | Aarhus University

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/