PhD Special Call: Recreational user perspectives and tranquilizer-culture among youth in Denmark

The Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research invites applications for a Ph.D. position in the field of prescription drug use (tranquilizers and related substances) among youth (both in and outside treatment programs) in Denmark at the PhD Programme Social Science and Business.

The position is available from 1 October 2025 (or as soon as possible thereafter).

The research project

The PhD position offers the opportunity to take part in an international and engaging research environment as the position forms part of a larger research project called ‘Pharmaceutical trajectories: Transformations in the meanings and uses of prescription tranquilizers’ headed by Associate Professor Margit Anne Petersen and funded by Independent Research Fund Denmark. The overall research project focuses on the complex relationship between substance-use and (digital) culture, focusing on the interconnections between legal and illegal transactions and trajectories related to prescription tranquilizers. The project contains three parts; 1) tracking the historical transformation in medical and cultural representations of benzodiazepines and related substances in Europe 2) digital trading practices among dealers through online markets and social media platforms and 3) perceptions and subjective experiences among users (the PhD project advertised here).

The PhD student will be expected to take part in joint activities and collaborative efforts connected with the overall project. You can read more about the project here and here.

The research group

The project is based at Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research, and included in the PhD position is one semester’s international research stay. An international expert panel consisting of internationally renowned scholars forms part of the collaboration: Professor Geoffrey Hunt (AU/Scientific Analysis Institute), Dr. Bernd Werse (Göethe-universität), Associate Professor Thomas F. Søgaard (AU) and Professor Andrea Tone (McGill University).

Job description

The PhD project specifically focuses on personal trajectories related to the use of prescription tranquilizers and related substances, including a focus not only on the use but also the symbolic meanings attached to the substances. The aim is to recruit a broad sample of approx. 40 young people (15-25 years old), both from treatment programs, and from various educational and social settings. The PhD project is to be carried out as part of the overall research project, however, the PhD student's role in the described project will depend on the chosen candidate and his/her own PhD project description. Hence, you must write a project description on how you would carry out the research within the frames of the overall project.

Your qualifications:

• We are looking for a candidate with a Master's degree in social science (Anthropology, Sociology or related fields).
• The data collection is to take place in Denmark, so the PhD student must be fluent in Danish.
• Experience with qualitative methods is required, and related research experience or knowledge is an advantage but not required.

Project duration

This is a three-year PhD project funded by Independent Research Fund Denmark.

The Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research

At the Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research we conduct social-science research in the alcohol and drug fields. Our research projects focus on treatment, prevention, policy and recreational consumption. We conduct research on both legal and illegal drugs. The Centre is interdisciplinary and the employees have a background in a range of disciplines including anthropology, psychology, sociology, law and public health. Our task is to establish and conduct research projects, teach, communicate knowledge about alcohol and drug use, and collaboration with national players in the area as well as international research institutions. 

The Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences is one of six departments at Aarhus BSS - one of the five faculties at Aarhus University. Aarhus BSS unites the social science and business-related research fields and brings them closer together to reflect the close relationship between society and the business community. As part of a Top 100 university, Aarhus BSS and the Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences have achieved the distinguished AASCB, AMBA and EQUIS accreditations.

Further information

For further information about the position, please contact Associate Professor Margit Anne Petersen, map.crf@psy.au.dk

Place of work

Bartholins Allé 10, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark

Formal requirements

You can read more about how to apply in the application guide and find the rules and regulations of the PhD education here.

The following criteria are decisive in the assessment of the candidates:

• the applicant’s academic qualifications (assessed on the basis of the qualifying degree)
• the quality and relevance of the project proposal
• the applicant’s level of academic aptitude and assessed ability to complete the project within the framework of the PhD programme

You can read more about the assessment procedure and committees appointed by the dean here.

Applicants are very much encouraged to supply documentation as to how they rank compared to their class (both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees). This may for example be in the form of a letter from your University stating either how you rank as an individual student compared to other students the year you graduated ("ranks as no. 6 out of 111" or "ranks as among the best 8 percent") or if that is not possible, general information from your University as to how grades were distributed in the year of your graduation, will be appreciated.

Please note that Aarhus BSS Graduate School reserves the right to evaluate the applications on the basis of the documentation received before deadline, and you will not necessarily be asked for further documentation. Furthermore, Aarhus BSS Graduate School reserves the right to reject application that do not comply with the limitations as stated in the application guide (see link above).

Terms of enrolment

PhD students at Aarhus BSS Graduate School are always enrolled. The enrolment happens in accordance with the Ministerial PhD Order no. 1039 of August 27, 2013 and the terms stated in the Rules and Regulations for the PhD programmes at Aarhus BSS Graduate School. Both can be found here.
If relevant: If you are enrolled in part A of the 4- or 5-year schemes you will receive a SU PhD Scholarship according to the rules set out in the State Educational Grant and Loan Scheme (SU, in Danish). In addition, you will be offered to undertake paid work of up to 280 hours during your part A enrolment period.

Terms of employment

If you are offered employment at Aarhus University in connection with enrolment in the 3-year scheme, the appointment is made in accordance with the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities as well as the circular on the Collective Agreement for Academics Employed by the State (in Danish). The job content and qualification requirements are described in further detail in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

You can read more about the 3-, 4- and 5-year scheme here.

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/