DIAS Assistant Professor in Cognitive psychology, Clinical psychology, or Health psychology

The Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS) and the Department of Psychology at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) seek an outstanding candidate to fill a position as tenure track* assistant professor / DIAS-fellow in the field of either cognitive psychology, clinical psychology, or health psychology. The candidate is expected to start onSeptember 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

We are looking for a researcher with clear potential for research excellence who thrives in and is inspired by interdisciplinary collaboration. The ideal candidate will be expected to contribute to high-quality research in their field while embracing DIAS’s mission of curiosity-driven inquiry and interdisciplinary dialogue. The successful candidate should have a strong and promising research profile, with potential for attracting external research funding, and a demonstrated ability to work across disciplines. The candidate will be attached to both the Department and DIAS and should be prepared to engage in multiple and diverse research environments at SDU.

Who are we looking for
We invite applications for a position in either cognitive psychology, clinical psychology, or health psychology. We are seeking a candidate with a strong research profile in one of these areas, and who is interested in, or has experience with, working across multiple fields of psychology.

We place particular emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, where psychology interfaces with psychiatry, neuroscience, and the health sciences more broadly. Our ambition is to foster a research and teaching environment that connects fundamental theoretical insights with applied approaches in clinical populations.

The successful candidate will join a dynamic research community characterized by interdisciplinarity, innovation, and strong national and international collaborations.

The ideal candidate should demonstrate:

• A commitment to engaging in boundary-crossing interdisciplinary research and dialogue.
• A strong commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, contributing to research that bridges multiple fields.
• Strong interest in driving internationally competitive research activities at the highest level of ambition.
• Engagement in various forms of research dissemination, including interdisciplinary research and dialogue.

Qualifications
Successful applicants must:

• Hold a PhD or similar qualifications within relevant fields of psychology or related fields
• Exhibit curiosity-driven research excellence, thinking beyond traditional boundaries.
• Be fluent in English.
• Show potential for attracting external research funding. Experience in applying for external funding and a strong international network are considered comparative advantages.
• Have research publications that demonstrate their excellence and broad thinking.

The Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS)
DIAS at SDU is a hub for interdisciplinary excellence at and beyond the frontier of knowledge, bringing together outstanding researchers from various disciplines to foster groundbreaking interdisciplinary research and bold innovation. DIAS nurtures a collaborative and curiosity-driven environment, encouraging scholars to think outside the box and challenge conventional boundaries. The institute values open-minded exploration and an ambitious yet collegial atmosphere with a strong sense of community. Researchers affiliated with DIAS are expected to contribute actively to DIAS activities, mentor DIAS fellows, and engage in interdisciplinary collaborations across faculties and departments, both nationally and internationally.

The Department of Psychology
The Department of Psychology has been established over the last 15 years and forms the research basis for the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in psychology on Campus Odense (130+ students per cohort) and Campus Esbjerg (75 students per cohort).

SDU’s Odense Campus brings together all health sciences in a new building opened in 2023, directly connected to the university hospital currently under construction—offering an excellent setting for interdisciplinary collaboration. SDU’s compact campus structure further supports cross-disciplinary research.

Our newly established Esbjerg branch provides a unique opportunity to help shape its education and research profile. The psychology program in Esbjerg has a strong focus on community and applied psychology, emphasizing co-creation with industry, public institutions, and civil society.

The Department is organized into three units across our two campuses, including 1) health and cognitive psychology, 2) clinical psychology, and 3) community psychology.

For more information on the department units, research foci and education program, see https://www.sdu.dk/en/om-sdu/institutter-centre/institut_psykologi

Living and working in Denmark
Foreign applicants will be offered Danish language training as part of the employment.

The International Staff Office (ISO) at SDU provides a variety of services for new employees, guests and people who consider applying for a job at the University of Southern Denmark. Read about working in Denmark (Danish rules and guidelines) here

Additional information
For further information about being an assistant professor at DIAS, please contact DIAS director Sten Rynning at +45 6550 2193 or by email to [email protected] .

For more questions about the position please contact Rikke Holm Bramsen, Head of Department, at +45 6550 7251 or by e-mail to [email protected] .

Application deadline
March 1, 2026, at 23.59 hrs. CET

Employment terms and salary
The candidate will be attached tothe Department of Psychology in Odense and is also expected to participate in DIAS activities and interdisciplinary cooperation in Odense regularly.

The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC).

The salary consists of a basic salary based on seniority and a centrally agreed supplement attached to the specific job category.

In addition to the basic salary and fixed position structure supplements attached to the job category, the collective agreement and the university salary policy allow for further supplements (i.e. qualification or job-based supplements) by local agreement and negotiation.

The current salary level (as of November 1, 2025) for an assistant professor is DKK 470,849.30* per year (consisting of a base salary of DKK 409,267 and a position structure supplement of DKK 61,581.91) (*based on salary level 6).

Please note that all the numbers are before tax, without pension (18,07 %) and other negotiated supplements. Both the base salary and the position structure allowance are pensionable. SDU pays pension contribution.

For more details on salary and taxation, please refer to the provided links about salary and taxation.

Teaching obligations will be reduced compared to a standard assistant professorship at SDU, allowing more time for research and leadership activities.

To qualify for the position as Assistant Professor you must have obtained a PhD or similar degree by the application deadline.

*The Danish tenure track employment
The Danish tenure-track employment is a focused assistant professorship with a guaranteed assessment for an open-end position as an associate professor within the tenure-track assistant professor's field of study.

The tenure-track assistant professor will be assigned a mentor upon employment, and annual performance, and development reviews will be held to ensure the progress of the assistant professor's development towards meeting the qualifications of an associate professorship.

The transition from assistant professor to associate professor

Within the 6th year of employment, the tenure-track assistant professor is expected to transition into a position as an associate professor, based on a positive assessment conducted by a formally approved assessment committee, consisting of a chair, appointed by the University of Southern Denmark, as well two external committee members approved by the dean, the academic council, and the tenure-track committee of the university.

Application requirements
We strongly recommend that you read How to apply for a position at SDU before you apply.

Applications must be in English and submitted electronically via the "Apply now" link provided below.

If you experience technical problems, please contact [email protected]

The application must include (as PDF files) (please note that the application (the motivation letter) and CV must not exceed 10 MB in total):

• A letter of motivation that clearly explains the applicant's interest, qualifications, and motivation for the position.
• A detailed CV including documentation of experience, and contacts for possible references.
• An elaborated research and funding plan (max 4 pages) for the next three years including a description of synergy with the department's activities and the potential to benefit from DIAS’s interdisciplinary environment.
• Certificates/Diplomas (copies of Master and PhD degree diplomas).
• A complete list of publications, indicating which publications are most relevant for the position.
• 3of the most relevant research publications. Please upload a pdf for each publication.
• a teaching portfolio, documenting teaching experience as well as supervision qualifications.

Please note that all the above-mentioned information must be included in the application.

Only applications written in English will be considered and incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration. Applications received after the application deadline will not be considered. References may be obtained.

Shortlisting and assessment
Shortlisting will be used as part of the initial selection process. Read about shortlisting at SDU.

Assessment of shortlisted applications will be done under the existing Appointment Order for universities. Shortlisted applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. The committee may request additional information, and, if so, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the necessary material.

When the assessment committee has submitted its report, the applicant will receive part of the evaluation that concerns themselves.

Applications that are incomplete regarding the above requirements will not be assessed by the committee.

About SDU
SDU is committed to fostering a diverse staff that reflects society’s diversity. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their personal background.

SDU was founded in 1966 and now has over 27,000 students, nearly 20% of whom are international. SDU employs more than 3,800 staff and offers 115 study programs across disciplines such as the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences, and engineering. While SDU’s main campus is in Odense, it also has campuses in other locations.

Equal opportunity employment
The University of Southern Denmark is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, or any other protected status.

The University of Southern Denmark wishes our staff to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position. SDU conducts research in critical technologies, which, due to the risk of unwanted knowledge transfer, are subject to several security measures. Therefore, based on information from open sources, background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position.

Location
Odense M, Denmark

Apply Before
2026-03-01T22:59:00+00:00