Postdoctoral Position: Regarding SENSE: Sensory Education in Children with Multiple Impairments (Recruiting Grant, Foecker)
The Danish School of Education (DPU) at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University, invites applications for a fixed-term, two-year postdoctoral position associated with the AUFF-funded research project SENSE: Sensory Education in Children with Multiple Impairments.
The position is full-time (37 hours per week) and begins on 1 March 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The position is based within the Department of Educational Psychology at DPU’s Emdrup campus in Copenhagen (see the description of DPU below).
DPU is committed to diversity and encourages all qualified applicants to apply, regardless of their personal background.
Research context
We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join a project investigating how children with special needs engage with gamified sensory activities, and how these activities influence enjoyment, perception and cognition. The project aims to advance inclusive education by developing a theoretical and empirical basis for multisensory enrichment in learning environments.
The successful applicant will contribute to both the theoretical development and the empirical implementation of the project, working closely with schools, teachers, children and interdisciplinary collaborators.
Key responsibilities include:
Qualifications
Applicants must hold a PhD degree or document equivalent qualifications in Education, Educational Psychology, or a related field. Applicants must be able to document, relevant to the position:
Although the Aarhus University application system includes an option to upload letters of recommendation, please do not include letters of recommendation or references with the application. Applicants who are invited to an interview may be asked to provide references. The successful applicant will be expected to contribute to the department’s academic environment. We emphasise the importance of good working relationships, both among colleagues and with our students.
Further information
For further information about the position, please contact Professor Julia Föcker via email at jufo@edu.au.dk or by telephone on + 45 93509009.
Read about the Department of Educational Psychology here.
The application must be submitted in English.
Deadline
Applications must be received no later than 15 January 2026.
The application deadline is 11.59 pm Danish time (Central European Time) on the deadline day.
Aarhus University aims 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 regard equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.
Shortlists may be prepared of candidates selected for detailed academic assessment. A committee appointed by the head of school is responsible for selecting the most qualified candidates. Further information about shortlisting at the Faculty of Arts can be found here: shortlisting
About the Danish School of Education
The Danish School of Education at Aarhus University is Denmark’s largest centre for research and teaching in the fields of education, didactics and learning, with approximately 240 full-time researchers, including 80 PhD students, and 4,500 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students. The school’s activities are characterised by a high degree of interdisciplinarity and close interaction with society, including businesses, organisations, government agencies and institutions, both in Denmark and abroad.
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 equivalent to level B2 (CEFR) within approximately three years of commencing the appointment, in order to handle tasks, including administrative and managerial responsibilities, and to participate fully in the activities of the Danish School of Education. These include, but are not limited to, teaching and examining students, reading work-related texts and participating in meetings and collegial gatherings in Danish.
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
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.
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The position is full-time (37 hours per week) and begins on 1 March 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The position is based within the Department of Educational Psychology at DPU’s Emdrup campus in Copenhagen (see the description of DPU below).
DPU is committed to diversity and encourages all qualified applicants to apply, regardless of their personal background.
Research context
We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join a project investigating how children with special needs engage with gamified sensory activities, and how these activities influence enjoyment, perception and cognition. The project aims to advance inclusive education by developing a theoretical and empirical basis for multisensory enrichment in learning environments.
The successful applicant will contribute to both the theoretical development and the empirical implementation of the project, working closely with schools, teachers, children and interdisciplinary collaborators.
Key responsibilities include:
- investigating children’s interactions with gamified tactile and multisensory activities, and assessing their impact on enjoyment, perceptual performance and cognitive processes
- reviewing and synthesising relevant literature to develop a robust theoretical framework linking sensory technologies to multisensory learning and inclusion
- recruiting participants and schools, coordinating data collection and managing ethics procedures
- conducting school visits to engage directly with children, observe their behaviour and preferences, and collaborate with teachers
- designing and running online studies investigating the digital experiences and learning environments of children with special needs
- analysing behavioural data and contributing to theory development
- preparing manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals and contributing to conference presentations.
Qualifications
Applicants must hold a PhD degree or document equivalent qualifications in Education, Educational Psychology, or a related field. Applicants must be able to document, relevant to the position:
- a research profile within special needs education or a related field in education, documented by a PhD dissertation and/or research publications
- experience in independently managing research projects
- experience with qualitative data analysis, documented in relevant publications
- experience working with children in educational or developmental contexts; experience with children with special needs is an advantage
- excellent communication and interpersonal skills for productive engagement within the research team and with external organisations
- experience in planning and conducting educational fieldwork
- excellent proficiency in the Danish language.
- a track record of high-quality research publications at an international level, commensurate with career stage.
Although the Aarhus University application system includes an option to upload letters of recommendation, please do not include letters of recommendation or references with the application. Applicants who are invited to an interview may be asked to provide references. The successful applicant will be expected to contribute to the department’s academic environment. We emphasise the importance of good working relationships, both among colleagues and with our students.
Further information
For further information about the position, please contact Professor Julia Föcker via email at jufo@edu.au.dk or by telephone on + 45 93509009.
Read about the Department of Educational Psychology here.
The application must be submitted in English.
Deadline
Applications must be received no later than 15 January 2026.
The application deadline is 11.59 pm Danish time (Central European Time) on the deadline day.
Aarhus University aims 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 regard equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.
Shortlists may be prepared of candidates selected for detailed academic assessment. A committee appointed by the head of school is responsible for selecting the most qualified candidates. Further information about shortlisting at the Faculty of Arts can be found here: shortlisting
About the Danish School of Education
The Danish School of Education at Aarhus University is Denmark’s largest centre for research and teaching in the fields of education, didactics and learning, with approximately 240 full-time researchers, including 80 PhD students, and 4,500 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students. The school’s activities are characterised by a high degree of interdisciplinarity and close interaction with society, including businesses, organisations, government agencies and institutions, both in Denmark and abroad.
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 equivalent to level B2 (CEFR) within approximately three years of commencing the appointment, in order to handle tasks, including administrative and managerial responsibilities, and to participate fully in the activities of the Danish School of Education. These include, but are not limited to, teaching and examining students, reading work-related texts and participating in meetings and collegial gatherings in Danish.
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/
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.
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/
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Deadline: 15 January 2026
Academic contact person:
Julia Föcker
Professor
jufo@edu.au.dk
Vacant positions: 1
Hours per week: 37
Number of months: 24
Expected date of accession: 01 March 2026