One postdoc position is available as part of the research project ‘Complaining as a window onto citizens’ expectations of the welfare state in Britain

One postdoc position is available as part of the research project ‘Complaining as a window onto citizens’ expectations of the welfare state in Britain and Denmark, 1960s–2020s’ funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF).

The Department of Culture and Language at the University of Southern Denmark (Odense, Denmark) is offering one fully funded three-year postdoc position commencing 1 April 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter.

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate to undertake postdoctoral research as part of a three-year project led by Assistant Professor Gareth Millward (University of Southern Denmark).

Short Presentation of the Research Project
Across the world, people are dissatisfied with their governments and welfare states. They are not shy about making that known, be that in the media, online, or through direct complaints to specific authorities and service providers. But to complain that a system is in dysfunction, one must have an idea of how it ought to function. Complaints are therefore useful testimony in understanding citizens’ hopes and desires for their welfare states. This project asks what complaints about social security tell us about what citizens in postwar societies thought the welfare state ought to be. It compares the British and Danish welfare states to identify continuities and differences between countries and over time. Due to its contemporary nature, it also seeks to inform present-day debates about “deservingness” and justice in social security.

Job Description
The postdoc will investigate how Danish people complained about social security between the 1960s and the 2020s. They will collaborate with Principal Investigator (PI) Gareth Millward to establish a framework for which types of complaint will be investigated and why. They will also work directly with PI on comparative historical analyses of the British and Danish cases, helping guide the direction of the overall project. They will lead the Danish part of the investigation, being responsible for their own research and publication output under the guidance of the PI. The postdoc will co-organize a conference on complaining across Europe, which will lead to an edited volume.

We welcome suggestions from the candidate on how to lead this research. This could (but does not have to) include reflections on methodology and source material such as:

• how to define a “complaint” for the purposes of this study;
• what source bases could be used;
• which disciplines other than archival history could provide insights;
• which elements of social security would be especially useful; and/or
• which sources and methods would be best suited to a comparative study.

The postdoc will be based at SDU’s Odense campus.

Requirements

• Candidates must have a PhD in history, ethnography, sociology, gender studies, cultural studies, communications, or a related subject.
• The PhD must have been obtained within the last four years by the time of commencement. (Career gaps due to parental leave, medical leave, or other reasons will be considered.)
• The candidate must have proficiency in Danish (for reading and analyzing source material) and English (for academic publication and day-to-day communication with the research team).
• Once appointed, the postdoc is expected to contribute to collaborative work, which may include co-authorship and conference organization.

For further information, please contact Gareth Millward ([email protected]) or Vice Head of Department Anne Klara Bom ([email protected] )

If you are not a Danish-speaking applicant, please ensure that you use the English website to access the electronic application form to receive further information in English.

Application, salary and conditions of employment
The employment as postdoc is temporary. Employment stops automatically by the end of the period. An upgrade of pedagogical qualifications is not part of the position. Thus, employment as postdoc cannot stand alone as a qualification for later employment as associate professor/senior researcher.

The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations), Cirkulære om overenskomst for Akademikere i staten 2021 (the document only exists in Danish).

The application must include:

• A research proposal outlining your approach to the project (max 2000 words).
• A letter stating your specific interest, motivation, and qualifications for the project (400 words).
• Curriculum Vitae with applicant's e-mail and phone number
• Documentation of qualifications (examination certificates/PhD diploma, etc.)
• Complete list of publications indicating the publications attached
• Applicants may choose a maximum of three publications for assessment

Application and all appendices must be in Danish, English or one of the Scandinavian languages. Please always include a copy of original diploma/certificates. We only accept files in pdf-format no more than 10 MB per file. In case you have more than one file per field you need to combine the pdf-files into a single file, as each field handles only one file. We do not accept zip-files, jpg or other image files. All pdf-files must be unlocked and allow binding and may not be password protected.

Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee and the applicant will receive the part of the evaluation that concerns him/her. The assessment report will subsequently be forwarded to the Head of Department who will assemble an appointments committee. An interview may form part of the overall assessment of the applicants' qualifications.

The committee may request additional information, and if so, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the necessary material.

If the application does not meet the requirements mentioned above, the Faculty of Humanities may reject your application without further notice. Applications received after the deadline will neither be considered nor evaluated.

Shortlisting and tests may be used in the assessment process. Please note that only a shortlisted applicant will receive an assessment. Here you can read more about shortlisting at SDU.

Applications should be sent electronically via the link "apply online" and the Faculty expects applicants to read the information "How to apply" before applying.

We recommend that as an international applicant you take the time to visit Working in Denmark where you will find information and facts about moving to, working and living in Denmark, as well as the International Staff Office at SDU.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Application deadline 9 January 2025 23.59 CET

Placering: Odense, Denmark