The Department of Political Science and Public Management, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, invites applications for one 2-year postdoctoral researcher in Public Administration or related fields. 

The position is part of the project “Promoting healthy ageing through voluntary efforts” (ProHealth) led by Associate Professor (Promotion Program) Mette Kjærgaard Thomsen and funded by the Tryg Foundation. 

The project focuses on management of volunteers at nursing homes. The overall purpose of the project is to develop and test the impact of a training intervention designed to upskill the ability of nursing home managers and activity coordinators – who are responsible for the voluntary effort – to effectively recruit, screen and match, develop, and retain volunteers on outcomes related to residents’ active and healthy ageing. Methodologically, the project plans to apply interviews, collect large-scale survey data and conduct one large randomized controlled trial. 

The applicant will be part of a collective research team and is expected to engage in collaborations with Mette Kjærgaard Thomsen and the other members of the team. The position offers very good opportunities to strengthen the applicant’s national and international network as well as methodological skills through a two-week research stay at another university, and participation in international conferences and method courses. 

The successful applicant(s) will be affiliated with the Public Administration Research Group. Members of the group study public management, leadership, organization, governance paradigms, public employees, civil servants, public finances, citizen-state interactions, local and central government, and local elections. Members of the section publish both in leading public administration, management and leadership and political science journals as well as Danish and English monographies and anthologies.

The planned starting date is August 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

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 Public Administration Research Group 

• Document a strong research outcome and publishing experience with international peer-reviewed journals/presses

• Document the ability to engage in professional networks

• Document experience with knowledge exchange activities

We also emphasize that the successful applicant:

• Has conducted research on volunteering, co-production, leadership/management, or has interest in these topics

• Has strong skills in qualitative interviews and is able to conduct interviews and communicate in Danish as the ProHealth project involves close collaboration with Danish nursing homes

• Has experience with successful collection and management of large-scale survey data

• Has an interest in conducting collaborative research

• Is willing to spend time on disseminating knowledge from the project to the wider society (together with the rest of the research team)

It is also 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 about the project and the position, please contact Associate Professor (Promotion Program) Mette Kjærgaard Thomsen, mtho@sam.sdu.dk. 

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 research plan (max 2 pages) that describes:

  • how the applicant can contribute to the ProHealth project (both in terms of substance and methodology) 

• Copy of certificates/diplomas (Master and PhD degree)

• A complete list of publications, indicating which publications are most relevant for the position

• Up to 3 of the most relevant publications. Please upload a pdf for each publication. NOTE: If publications have been co-authored, co-author statements must be a part of this pdf and must include information like in this example. 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, and all documents must be in pdf format, no more than 5 MB per file. 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 information "How to apply" before applying. If you experience technical problems when uploading the application, please contact hcm-support@sdu.dk. 

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’. 

The application deadline is 15 May 2026 at 11.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST). 

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link "Apply now" on our website.

Assessment and selection process

Assessment of applications will be done under existing Appointment Order for universities. Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. Shortlisting may be applied, and only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment. Read about shortlisting at SDU.  The 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 a postdoc position as described herein. 

For a detailed description of the entry criteria and a job description for a postdoc, as well as a descriptions of the assessment and hiring processes at the Department of Political Science and Public Management, please consult the department’s Scholarly Qualification Matrix – REEAD.

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”.

SDU recommends that international applicants take the time to visit Work in Denmark, where there is information and facts about moving to, working and living in Denmark, as well as the International Staff Office at SDU.

About the Department of Political Science and Public Management

The Department of Political Science and Public Management is part of the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences and currently has approximately 90 permanent employees as well as several part-time employees. Currently, the department attracts around 2,500 students in its various full-time bachelor and master programs as well as part-time professional master programs. The department is located on three of the University of Southern Denmark’s campuses in Odense, Sønderborg and Esbjerg, respectively. 

The department is organized around three research sections in Public Administration, Welfare and Politics, International and Regional Politics, and Journalism as well as several cross-disciplinary research centres and research groups. 

The department believes in fostering a stimulating and inspiring environment for both staff members and students. Therefore, the department’s ambition is to recruit, develop, and retain talented scholars committed to both academic and educational excellence and departmental development. Furthermore, the department wishes the staff to reflect the diversity of society and, thus, welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

For a detailed description of the department's profile and activities and more information about its strategy, please visit the department's website.