Postdoctoral position in Social Philosophy at the Department of Philosophy and History of Ideas, Aarhus University

The Department of Philosophy and History of Ideas, School of Culture and Society, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University invites applications for a 2.5 years fixed-term postdoctoral position in social philosophy.

The appointment begins on November 1 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. Place of work will be Jens Chr. Skous Vej 7, 8000 Aarhus C.

The university is keen for its staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified applicants regardless of their personal background.

Research context

The successful applicant will join the ERC-funded project The Glue of Society: A Social Ontology of Social Cohesion [GLUE], led by PI Associate Professor Nicolai Knudsen. The GLUE project aims to provide a philosophical clarification of the concept and value of social cohesion and to account for its role in constituting and maintaining the social world. For more information, please refer to https://www.aarhussocialontology.com/glue.

We are looking for a researcher with a background in social philosophy, preferably with a specialisation in social ontology. A track record of research in critical theory, phenomenology, and/or political philosophy is an advantage but not a requirement.

The postdoc will contribute to Phase 3 of the GLUE project, which develops a critical social ontology of social cohesion. The postdoc is expected to pursue an independent research agenda within this framework. Possible research foci include, but are not limited to:

What is the relation between social cohesion and social justice, and can a socially cohesive system be unjust?
What can contrastive phenomena such as domination, oppression, discrimination, marginalization, polarization, and social fragmentation reveal about the nature and value of social cohesion?
How can and do social institutions enable, sustain, or undermine social cohesion?
Are there obligations to maintain or restore social cohesion? Who bears such obligations, and under what conditions?
What normative and affective conditions must be satisfied for individuals to participate in a socially cohesive system, and what are the consequences (for the system and for its members) when those conditions are not met?

The position

The successful applicant is expected to

develop their research within the framework of the GLUE project,
write solo- and co-authored articles and publish the results in high-ranked peer-reviewed international scientific journals in a timely fashion,
present their research at national and international events,
initiate and help to organise research workshops, conferences, seminars, and other activities.

On-site presence at Aarhus University is a requirement for this position.

Application material and procedure

The applicants are asked to submit:

a research proposal (maximum three pages) in which they indicate how they will contribute to the overall project. The project description should ideally demonstrate excellent knowledge of the relevant philosophical literature,
a concise statement of motivation for applying for the position (maximum one page),
a maximum of 2 publications or works-in-progress relevant to the position.

The research activities will be evaluated in relation to the actual research time. We therefore encourage applicants to specify any periods of leave they may have had without research activities (e.g. maternity/paternity leave), so we can subtract these periods from the span of their academic career when evaluating their productivity.

Only submitted publications and manuscripts will be assessed; a list of publications is not sufficient. As a result, applications without submitted publications or manuscripts will not be assessed.

Professional references or recommendations should not be included. Applicants who are selected for an interview may be asked to provide professional references.

The application must be submitted in English.

Qualifications

Applicants for this position must hold a PhD degree in Philosophy or a related field or be able to document equal qualifications.
Applicants must document:

expertise in social philosophy or a related field such as moral philosophy, political philosophy, or political theory,
an interest in social normativity, social institutions, marginalization, and/or social categories,
a research profile of high international quality relative to the applicant’s career stage,
the ability and willingness to engage in close collaboration with the team and the local research environment,
fluency in written and spoken English.

For further information about the position, please contact PI Associate Professor Nicolai Knudsen at knudsen@cas.au.dk.

For further information about the application procedure, please contact iks-hr-sag@au.dk.

The work environment

The Department of Philosophy and History of Ideas at Aarhus University is the largest of its type in Denmark, and – owing in particular to the productive tension between the systematic and historical perspectives – the research conducted is characterised by methodological pluralism. The researchers are involved in a variety of interdisciplinary projects both within and outside the Faculty of Arts.
Read more here: https://cas.au.dk/en/about-the-school/departments/philosophy-and-history-of-ideas/

The School of Culture and Society

The School of Culture and Society is a vibrant research community dedicated to understanding the cultural and social conditions that shape human life. Our work examines how people interact with their environments, from prehistory to the present, and across both local contexts and global dynamics. Through cross-sector and cross-disciplinary partnerships, we aim to drive research innovation and contribute to address the major questions facing society. In both research and education, we are committed to bringing the humanities into active dialogue with partners beyond the university.
The School is committed to:

Fostering an international environment characterized by strong academic and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Embracing an innovative and experimental approach to research, teaching, and communication.
Cultivating a school that both generates knowledge and educates students for the present and future.
Advancing a broad engagement with digital humanities.
Upholding a strong commitment to both local and global societal challenges.
Creating an inclusive, diverse, and sustainable workplace and organization.

Read more about the school here School of Culture and Society - Aarhus University

International applicants

International applicants are encouraged to check Family and work-life balance in Denmark (au.dk) and Attractive working conditions (au.dk) for further information about the 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 and onboarding services for international AU staff and career counselling for expat partners. For information about taxation, see Taxation aspects of international researchers’ employment by AU .

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 complete list of published works, copies of degree certificates and examples of academic production (mandatory, but no more than two examples). Please upload this material electronically along with your application.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here: https://talent.au.dk/junior-researcher-development-programme/

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 37,000 students (FTEs) and 8.700 employees and has an annual revenue of EUR 1.106 billion. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/

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