Assistant professorships in International Politics with attention to (Critical) Intelligence and Security Studies

The Department of Political Science and Public Management University of Southern Denmark Odense invites applications for one or more 3-year assistant professorships at the Section for International and Regional Politics (IRP).

We are looking for talented and dynamic individuals with the ambition of establishing themselves as leading scholars in their field of research. We are particularly interested in scholars working in International Politics with attention to (Critical) Intelligence and Security Studies.

Starting date is planned for February 1 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The IRP-section is part of the Department of Political Science and Public Management under the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences. The Department is organized around three research sections including the International and Regional Politics section as well as several cross-disciplinary research centres and research groups. Currently the department employs around 125 people and attracts 2500 students in its various full-time bachelor and master programs as well as part-time professional master programs. For a detailed description of the departments profile and activities and more information about its strategy please visit the departmentswebsite.

Research in international politics at the IRP-section focuses mainly though not exclusively on contemporary security issues peace conflict and war studies. The researchers have a strong research profile and a dynamic doctoral training program and extensive partnerships with other Danish and European institutes and universities. The IRP-section is responsible for teaching introductory IP courses at bachelor level and specialized graduate courses in Political Science especially in the Masters program in International Security and Law and in the professional Master program in Intelligence and Cyber Studies. All international politics researchers of the IRP section are associated with the Center for War Studies (CWS) which facilitates inter-disciplinary research into fundamental questions of war peace and international order. For a detailed description of the research and activities of the Center for War Studies please visit the CWSwebsite.

We are now looking for candidates who can support the department in realizing its strategic objectives. The successful candidates will be able to produce original ideas through high-quality and pioneering research within areas of relevance to the IRP section and to Center for War Studies and will engage in effective knowledge exchange through our high-quality study programs and through genuine engagement with societal actors and the wider public. The successful applicants will be tasked with a range of obligations in the IRP section and in the Department of Political Science and Public Management including:

• Conduct and publish research at a high international level in areas of relevance to the International and Regional Politics section and to the Center for War Studies i.e. security studies.
• Conduct relevant teaching and supervision within the departments entire portfolio of study programs including the full-time political science program the Master program in International Security and Law and the professional Master in Intelligence and Cyber Studies
• Apply for relevant individual/collective external research funding to develop the research environment in line with the strategic goals of the Department and the IRP section
• Conduct administrative tasks at the department
• Engage in knowledge exchange activities with the wider society
• Engage in and contribute to a good work environment at the section and the department level.

For applicants to qualify for the position the following criteria must be met (please consult the Scholarly Qualification Matrix:

• Delineate a research profile aligned with the strategy of the International and Regional Politics Section indicating the potential for international scholarly impact and for facilitating research cooperation within the Center for War Studies
• Publications of research at an internationally recognized level
• Documented experience with teaching and/or supervision
• A strong teaching potential aligned with the departments educational profile and a keen interest in developing teaching skills new teaching formats and/or courses.
• Documented experiences with applying for smaller grants
• Contributions to collaborations and networks internationally and nationally
• A proven willingness to contribute to the social and professional life of the Department and/or the research group.
• Experience with and genuine interest in outreach or knowledge-sharing activities and/or cooperation with external partner.

In alignment with the new ministerial classification of academic ranks and titles research and teaching competencies will be given equal weight in the assessment of any candidate. It is additionally important to us that applicants have good interpersonal skills and are dedicated to take part in the everyday academic and social environment at the department. Such engagement can be documented by for example past engagement in social and professional activities.

For further information please contact the Head of Section Associate Professor Kira Vrist Rønn .

Application

Appointment to the positions requires a PhD or equivalent and will be in accordance with the salary agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.

• An application must include the following:
• A detailed CV
• A letter of motivation
• A detailed research plan (max 3 pages) for the next 3 years that describes the applicants:
  • Potential to advance the field (both empirically and theoretically)
  • Relationship to the aim and goals of IRP and the Centre for War Studies
  • Planned national and international collaborations
  • Potential to obtain external funding
• Certificates/Diplomas (Master and PhD degree)
• Teaching portfolio. Formal application instructions and guide for teaching portfolio may be foundhere.
• A complete list of publications indicating which publications are most relevant for the position
• Up to3 of the most relevant publications. Please upload a pdf for each : If publications have been co-authored co-author statements must be a part of this pdf and must include information like in thisexample. The statement is just for your inspiration.
• Please attach the PhD dissertation as a publication if such exists.

All non-Danish documents must be translated into English.

Documents should not contain a CPR number (civil registration number) in this case the CPR number must be crossed out.

Applicants are encouraged to read the informationHow to applybefore applying. If you experience technical problems when uploading the application please contact.

UPLOAD GUIDE: Motivated application should be uploaded as Cover letter Curriculum Vitae should be uploaded as Resume. All other documents should be uploaded as Miscellaneous documents.

Application deadline: November 15 2025at 11.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST)

Assessment and selection process

Assessment of applications will be done under existing Appointment Order for will be assessed by an assessment committee. Shortlisting may be applied and only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment.Read about shortlisting at committee may request additional information and if so it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the necessary material. Incomplete applications may be rejected without any substantial evaluation.

When the assessment committee has submitted its report applicants will receive the part of the assessment that concerns themselves. The assessment report will subsequently be forwarded to the Head of the Department of Political Science and Public Management who will form an appointment committee. Interviews and tests may be part of the overall evaluation by the appointment committee.

Based on information from the entire recruitment process the Head of Department determines which applicants will be offered a position.

Conditions of employment

Employment will be in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the state with the associated circular on the protocol for the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for assistant professor as described herein.

The person employed in the position may based on a specific individual managerial assessment be exempted from time registration also known as a self-organiser.

An assistant professor is expected to complete the Lecturer Training Programmeduring their employment.

SDU recommends that international applicants take the time to visitWork in Denmarkwhere there is information and facts about moving to working and living in Denmark as well asthe International Staff Office at SDU.

The Department of Political Science and Public Management believes in fostering a stimulating and inspiring environment for both faculty members and students. The departments ambition is therefore to recruit develop and retain talented scholars committed to both academic excellence and departmental development. Furthermore the department wishes our staff to be gender balanced and reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

About SDU

The University of Southern Denmark was established to create value for and with society. Whether our contributions come in the form of excellent research innovative solutions education or learning we must make a positive difference to society and contribute to a sustainable future. We do this by cultivating talents and creating the best environments for research and learning. It is therefore crucial that SDU retains develops and recruits talent. At the same time we need to ensure consistently high quality in all our activities and we can only do that with the right people. The Universitys researchers lecturers students managers and technical/administrative staff are the foundation of our success.