The Department of Political Science at Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, invites applicants for a PhD scholarship in cyber security and hybrid threats in a changing world order. The position is available from September 1, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter, and it involves a full-time three-year scholarship under the Aarhus BSS Graduate School at Aarhus University.

The PhD scholarship is part of the research project “Security and Humanitarian Law”, funded by Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University.

The research project on Security and Humanitarian Law

The research project examines the various hybrid threats that are increasingly directed against open Western societies, including Denmark, in the context of the growing tensions of the evolving multipolar and confrontational world order.

The aim of the project is to obtain a deeper understanding of (1) the hybrid threats that open societies are facing, such as cyber-attacks, high-technological warfare, economic coercion, disinformation and political subversion, (2) the relationship between hybrid threats and more conventional forms of warfare, (3) the changing relevance of such threats in the context of a multipolar and confrontational world order, and (4) ways in which open societies may strengthen their resistance towards such threats given the geo-political turn in world politics, new balance of power logics, and the reappearance of war and aggression in Europe. This also involves the political and legal challenges that occur in the attempt to strengthen open, democratic societies against hybrid threats, ranging from alliance dilemmas to the growing pressures on international humanitarian law.

PhD proposals and project descriptions are not expected to cover this broad research agenda in its entirety, but rather specific aspects of it, selected, motivated, theorized and designed by the applicant.

The research group

The research project will be caried out by scholars from the Department of Political Science (which will host this PhD scholarship) and the Department of Law who will cooperate in the Centre for Security and Humanitarian Law, which serves as an interdisciplinary framework for the development of ideas and research.

Associate Professor Tonny Brems Knudsen, Department of Political Science, will be the main advisor. The department will also appoint a co-advisor, depending on the content of the successful PhD proposal. The PhD scholar is expected to be present at the Department of Political Science on a daily basis to cooperate with the advisors and the research group and participate in the activities of the PhD school.
 

The PhD position

The PhD project is to be carried out as part of the research project. The PhD student´s role in the research agenda listed above will depend on the chosen candidate and his / her own PhD project description related to the topic of the overall project. Hence, applicants must write a project description on how to carry out the research within the frames of the overall project.

The application must meet the requirements mentioned in the the application guide.

During the project the PhD candidate will complete a PhD education as described in the rules and regulations for the PhD programme

Qualifications

We are looking for a PhD candidate who is highly motivated to contribute to the research agenda described above, and to the academic and social environment at the Department of Political Science, Aarhus BSS and the Centre for Security and Humanitarian Law. We will look for the following qualifications, among others:
 

• A relevant MA (for instance Political Science or International Relations).
• Academic competencies in the broad field of cyber security and hybrid threats in a changing world order, including relevant theoretical skills.
• The ability to formulate independent and original research questions and designs, including advanced social science methods.
• Strong writing skills.

Further information

For further information about the position, please contact Associate Professor Tonny Brems Knudsen, Department of Political Science, tbrems@ps.au.dk, 40 17 21 90
 

Place of work

Bartholins Allé 7, 8000 Aarhus C
 

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’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.

Om Aarhus Universitet

Aarhus Universitet er et fagligt bredt og forskningsintensivt universitet med høj kvalitet i uddannelse og forskning, og et stærkt engagement i samfundsudviklingen nationalt og globalt. Universitetet tilbyder et inspirerende uddannelses- og forskningsmiljø for 39.000 studerende inklusiv 1.800 ph.d.-studerende og 8.000 medarbejdere med en årlig omsætning på 6,6 mia. kr. Læs mere om ph.d.-programmerne på Aarhus Universitet på www.phd.au.dk.