The Danish School of Education (DPU) at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University, invites applications for a position as an associate professor in educational and developmental psychology, commencing on 1 March 2027.

Associate Professor in Educational and Developmental Psychology

This is a full-time position commencing on 1 March 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The position is based at DPU, at either the Aarhus campus or the Emdrup campus in Copenhagen. The selected applicant will be expected to participate in day-to-day activities at the school, including teaching and supervision. Some travel should be expected between the school’s campuses in Aarhus and Copenhagen.

The position

The position involves research and university teaching in the fields of educational and developmental psychology. The selected applicant will help further develop the existing research and teaching environment within the Department of Educational Anthropology and Educational Psychology, with a particular focus on developmental psychology in early childhood.

The position involves teaching at Master’s level and conducting research in the fields of educational and developmental psychology. The selected applicant will become part of a well-established academic environment within the Department

The selected applicant should be able to document experience conducting empirical research, both independently and in collaboration with others, including studies within childhood developmental psychology, using qualitative, quantitative and/or mixed methods.

Preference will be given to applicants who can document an interest in one or more of the following research areas: Transitions between institutions and families; family life, children’s psychological, emotional and relational development in and across different settings.

Preference will be given to applicants able to teach and supervise in psychological and educational assessments and psychometrics.

Research

The selected applicant will be expected to:

• develop new research projects relevant to the field of educational and developmental psychology
• contribute to collaborative research initiatives at DPU, both nationally and internationally
• pursue external research funding
• contribute to theoretical, methodological and empirical developments in the fields of early childhood and/or childhood studies and/or family studies.
• Applicants must outline their vision and plans for contributing to the suggested research fields.

Teaching

The selected applicant will teach and supervise students at all levels across relevant degree programmes at DPU, particularly the Master’s degree programme in educational psychology, including the specialisation in educational psychological counselling (PPR) and related electives, as well as in the field of early childhood. Teaching may also be expected on the professional Master’s degree programme in well-being.

Talent development

Associate professors at DPU/AU are expected to continuously develop their competences in supervising students at the Master’s and PhD levels, including the development and teaching of PhD courses focusing on theory, methodology and/or specific methods in collaboration with colleagues. Applicants are invited to describe their experiences of and plans or ideas for talent development.

Knowledge exchange

The selected applicant will be expected to engage in knowledge exchange as described in the strategy of the Faculty of Arts, for instance through collaboration on research with external partners, public dissemination activities, consultancy work or collaboration with relevant stakeholders. Applicants should document any prior experience of knowledge exchange activities and outline their plans for maximising the impact of their research within educational and developmental psychology and its implications for practice.

Qualifications

Applicants must hold a PhD degree or equivalent qualifications in a relevant field and be able to document:

• a research profile within developmental psychology in the fields of daycare/reception class and/or family life, as well as children’s psychological and relational development in early childhood
• an international publication profile, including experience of participation in international networks
• experience applying for and obtaining external research funding
• knowledge of and interest in psychodynamic–relational theories of personality, identity and selfhood from a developmental perspective, whether from a supportive and/or a critical position.
• experience conducting empirical research, preferably using a range of methodologies relevant to the field of developmental psychology
• knowledge of psychological tests and assessment tools relevant to early childhood and developmental psychology.

Further information
For further information about the position, please contact the head of the Department of Educational Anthropology and Educational Psychology, Charlotte Mathiassen, email: [email protected], tel.: +45 6186 3645.

The application must be submitted in English.

About the Danish School of Education

The Danish School of Education (DPU) is one of the three schools at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University.

Across its two locations at Campus Emdrup in Copenhagen and Nobel Park in Aarhus, DPU is home to approximately 200 academic and administrative staff, as well as approximately 80 PhD students.

Our degree programmes

The Danish School of Education currently offers a Bachelor’s degree programme in educational studies and ten Master’s degree programmes in a range of educational and pedagogical disciplines, as well as six professional Master’s degree programmes that can also be studied as single-subject courses.

Approximately 2,000 students are enrolled in the school’s Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes, with approximately 250 students enrolled in professional Master’s degree programmes.

Many of these programmes are offered at DPU’s locations in both Copenhagen and Aarhus, with students fairly evenly divided between the two campuses.

Our research

The Danish School of Education is Denmark's largest university environment for basic and applied research in pedagogy and education.

The school is home to strong research environments within educational studies, educational theory and curriculum studies, general education, educational psychology, educational anthropology, educational sociology and educational philosophy,

In addition, we conduct interdisciplinary research focused on specific educational fields of inquiry, particularly schools and early childhood education and care.

DPU promotes public awareness of research in education and pedagogy through extensive dissemination activities with the aim of providing society with a rich and robust knowledge base.

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 to handle tasks, including administrative and managerial responsibilities, and to participate fully in the activities of the Danish School of Education within approximately two years of commencing the appointment. These activities include, but are not limited to, teaching and examining students, reading work-related texts and participating in meetings and collegial gatherings in Danish.

Formalities

• Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).
• 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 teaching portfolio, a complete list of published works, a research plan, copies of degree certificates and no more than five examples of academic production (mandatory).

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

Terms of employment

• Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.

• Salary and terms of employment are governed by the Cirkulære om overenskomst for akademikere i staten (in Danish). You will be employed as (xxx) at base pay level 4–8 with additional supplements in accordance with the Cirkulære om protokollat om visse ansættelsesvilkår for videnskabeligt personale ved universiteter (in Danish).

  The job content and qualification requirements are described in further detail in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

  About Arts

  The Faculty of Arts is one of Northern Europe’s most significant faculties for research and higher education in the humanities, theology and education. Within this broad academic scope, the faculty comprises approximately 700 researchers, 200 PhD students, 9,000 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students, and 1,500 further and continuing education students. We believe that the best ideas arise when different perspectives meet – and that research, teaching and innovation are best developed in dialogue with the surrounding society.

  You can find more information here: Faculty of Arts | Aarhus University

  The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.