The Department of Arts and Cultural Studies in the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Copenhagen is inviting applications for a Postdoc in Cultural Studies starting on 1 September 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.
This is a fixed-term position for 17 months.
Job content
The postdoc will be connected to the Novo Nordic Foundation-funded research project Twisting the Fabric of Space: The Art and Politics of the Hidden which has Kasper Opstrup as its Primary Investigator. An interest in magic, folklore, and the legacies of surrealism are conspicuous in contemporary art and theory worlds. Twisting the Fabric of Space investigates this phenomenon through detailed analyses of a select group of contemporary artists as well as a historical analysis of earlier 20th century artistic practices situated between art, politics, and esotericism, a concatenation that constitutes what the project develops as ‘weird entanglements.’ The project is hosted by the Department of Arts and Cultural Studies at UCPH.
The postdoc focuses primarily on the contemporary perspective, relying on some of the data from the project’s historical perspective to investigate the use and misuse of facts and fictions in contemporary art and theory worlds with an emphasis on worldbuilding and what loosely can be referred to as conspiracy theories, i.e., fictions that want to make themselves real. Besides writing at least one peer-reviewed article and presenting its data at an international conference, the postdoc will be part of organising a conference and an exhibition as part of the project, meaning that good organisational skills will be required.
Qualification requirements
Appointment as a postdoc presumes research qualifications on at least PhD level.
For more about postdoc positions and qualification requirements, see the Ministry of Education and Research’s Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.
Additionally, the postdoc is presumed to have had a proven engagement with the relationship between art, politics, and the occult and/or symbolism, surrealism, and situationism. The postdoc is also expected to have experience with organising events, conferences, exhibitions or related activities.
Application
All applications must be submitted online, in PDF or Word format, via the link “Apply for the position” at the bottom of the page.
Applications may be written in Danish or English and must include the following attachments:
- Personal statement (max. one page)
- CV (max. two pages)
- Documentation of qualifications (exam certificates and PhD diploma)
- Complete publication list (attached publications must be marked with an asterisk). The list must be structured systematically and divided into the following categories:
- Peer-reviewed publications:
- Monographs and anthologies
- Articles in journals
- Book chapters/anthology contributions, etc.
- Non-peer-reviewed publications:
- Publications disseminating research findings, etc.
Applicants can attach a maximum of three publications. The publication dates must be clearly marked on the list. The selected publications must be uploaded as attachments and numbered 1–3.
- A research plan that includes a brief description of previous research, current research areas and upcoming research, and also accounts for experience with research organisation, research collaborations, international relations and any external/intersectoral collaborations (max. three pages).
- Documentation of teaching competencies/teaching portfolio (see the UCPH guidelines for teaching portfolios here) and other work on the dissemination of research.
Only material in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and English will be evaluated.
Assessment criteria
Applicants will primarily be assessed in relation to their research qualifications, including their publications, ability to conduct independent research and participate in research collaborations, and their experience of research management. In addition, the applicant’s research plan and research potential will be assessed in relation to the overall project described above.
Teaching qualifications are not a requirement, but if the postdoc is expected to teach, then documented teaching experience can be included in the overall assessment.
The recruitment process
Once the deadline for applications has expired, the head of department will consider advice from the appointment committee and select applicants for assessment. All applicants will be notified whether they have been shortlisted. The Dean will then set up an expert assessment committee to consider the applications. The selected applicants will be informed who is serving on the committee. They will be offered the opportunity to comment on the committee’s assessment of their application before the appointment is announced.
Further information about the application procedure can be found on the University of Copenhagen’s website: Rekrutteringsproces – for videnskabelige medarbejdere – Københavns Universitet (ku.dk) and at HR, e-mail: hrsc@hrsc.ku.dk. Please state ID number 211-1745/24-2I #1 on request.
Further information about the position is available from the project’s primary investigator, Kasper Opstrup, e-mail: kasper.opstrup@hum.ku.dk.
Remuneration and terms of employment
The appointment is for a fixed term of 17 months and will be made in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). In addition, a total pension contribution of 17.1% of salary and pensionable supplements will be allocated. It will be possible to negotiate further supplements on the basis of qualifications.
We seek to reflect the breadth and diversity of society and encourage applications irrespective of personal background.
The deadline for applications is 23:59 on 1 April 2024 CEST.
Any applications or additional material submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Deadline: 2024-04-01 at 23:59
Unit: Faculty of Humanities
Read the job description at the university homepage or apply.