The Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) is recruiting a 36-months postdoctoral researcher to contribute to DIIS Maritime, an interdisciplinary research initiative at DIIS focusing on maritime security. The postdoc position is set to start April 1, 2027, or shortly thereafter. You will be placed in either the Global Security and Worldviews unit or the Foreign Policy and Diplomacy unit, depending on your specific research profile.

DIIS Maritime’s overall purpose is to explore how geopolitical tension and hybrid threats at sea impact the operational conditions for international shipping and the maritime sector. Its research spans the waters around the Kingdom of Denmark and global trade corridors of interest to especially the Danish shipping and maritime industries. 

The applicant is invited to define a research proposal within the following scope: 

As climatic changes and geopolitical and geoeconomic tensions are reshaping maritime security dynamics in the Arctic and North Atlantic region, the proposed postdoc research project should explore how states, industries, and other non-state actors engage in these developments. The aim is to assess how changing conditions in the region affect the operational environment for shipping and maritime industries with stakes in the Arctic, and the project should yield both policy and conceptual perspectives.

While the geographical focus can be region-wide or sub-regional, research proposals addressing Russian perspectives on the maritime Arctic are particularly welcome. This can also include Russian-Chinese cooperation in the Arctic, the role and interests of other states, e.g., India or Japan, as well as industry actors and commercial interests.

Disciplinarily, the research may span, inter alia, security studies, law, anthropology or history. DIIS Maritime offers a budget for research stays and fieldwork, and the proposal should include reflections on the envisioned methodology and data collection.

In addition to academic output, the postdoc will take part in DIIS Maritime’s recurring information-sharing efforts internally and with external stakeholders across the public and private sectors through written policy analysis and oral briefings. The postdoc will be part of the ‘Arctic work package’ of DIIS Maritime, working alongside postdoc, Lin Alexandra Mortensgaard.    

About the position
As a DIIS employee, you will be part of an inspiring and vibrant knowledge environment at an institution committed to excellence in multidisciplinary international studies research, high-level policy analysis, and dissemination. Interdisciplinary collaboration is a cornerstone of DIIS’s research culture, valuing diverse theoretical and empirical perspectives. Therefore, it is essential that you are open to engaging with colleagues from various disciplinary backgrounds and contributing to a collaborative knowledge environment.

Research at DIIS is structured into five research units, each with a specialized research focus. The postdoctoral researcher will be affiliated with one of them, depending on the theoretical and empirical focus of the research proposed.

As a postdoctoral researcher at DIIS, you will be expected to actively contribute to the thematic and theoretical advancement of research, both within your unit and across the institute. With no teaching obligations, you will have ample time to focus on your research. In return, you are expected to produce high-quality international publications and engage actively in DIIS’s research environment. The role also involves knowledge dissemination beyond academia, in terms of policy studies and engaging with relevant stakeholders to ensure the broader societal impact of your findings. For this post.doc. position, particularly dissemination to and dialogue with the maritime industry as well as policy makers, relevant authorities under the Government of Greenland, the Government of the Faroe Islands, and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense will be important.

Qualifications
Applicants must have obtained a PhD in a relevant field before the start date of the position. The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

Academic and Practical experience: The ideal candidate has a strong research profile combining maritime expertise with security studies and ideally also a geographical focus on the Arctic and North Atlantic.

Language Proficiency: English is required. Importance of more languages depends on the research proposed.

Publication Record:  A demonstrated ability to publish in recognized, peer-reviewed journals or reputable publishing houses. Policy publications, commentaries or other media participation is an added bonus.

Methodological Skills: Experience with in-depth studies methodologically relevant for the research proposed should be documented.

Theoretical Expertise: Some prior knowledge of relevant literature framing the research proposed is expected.

Personal Attributes: The ideal candidate would be independent, possess strong interpersonal and communication skills, and be able to engage in a collaborative research environment.

DIIS as a workplace
We offer an attractive and inclusive workplace where all employees can develop their professional and personal skills. For us, knowledge sharing, dialogue and feedback are essential to create a dynamic workplace. You are therefore expected to proactively participate in the Institute’s joint efforts. We prioritize a high degree of presence, but to support a healthy work-life balance, we offer flexible working hours and the option to work remotely two days a week. Our offices are conveniently located close to Østerport station, centrally in the city of Copenhagen. Read more about DIIS strategy (DIIS entry criterias and DIIS expectations)  at the bottom of this site here

DIIS is a diverse workplace, and we therefore encourage all qualified applicants to apply for the position regardless of their personal background. We are aware of the environmental consequences of our activities, and we are constantly seeking to become a more sustainable workplace, both daily and in relation to how we carry out our travel activities. 

Salary and terms of employment
This is a full-time (37 hours per week) postdoctoral position with a fixed term of 36 months. The expected starting date is April 1, 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter.

You will be employed according to the applicable collective agreement for academic employees in Denmark. The starting salary as a postdoctoral researcher is postdoctoral researcher is DKK 423.221 to 502.075 incl. functional allowance and excl. pension (18,07%). In addition, there is an opportunity to negotiate a personal qualification supplement depending on your experience and skills. 

Non-residents of Denmark may be eligible to apply for taxation under the special researcher scheme, which offers a gross tax rate of 32.84% for up to seven years. For further details, please refer to the Danish Tax Authorities.

Do you want to know more?
If you want to know more about DIIS as a workplace read more here. Questions about salary and employment conditions as well as the application process itself can be addressed to HR at hr@diis.dk. If you have further questions about the content of the position, you can contact Postdoc Lin Alexandra Mortensgaard on lamo@diis.dk or Senior Researcher Jessica Larsen jela@diis.dk .

The application
The application deadline is 5 October, 2026, at 12.00. Please note that we only accept applications sent via DIIS’s electronic recruitment system at the bottom of the job advertisement.

Your application must contain all the following documents: 

• A short motivation letter (max 1000 words) including reflections on how experiences documented in the CV prepares you for the research proposed.
• Full academic Curriculum Vitae.
• Master’s and PhD diplomas, including transcripts. If university transcripts are in language other than English or a Scandinavian language, the explanation of the grading system should be attached. If you have not handed in your thesis at the application deadline, please include a statement from your main PhD supervisor or Head of PhD school, confirming your progress and expected date of a successful PhD defense before April 1, 2027. 
• A complete list of publications. 
• A two-page statement on the research proposed (max. 6000 characters including spaces), arguing the relevance and coherence of methodological, empirical as well as theoretical aspects.
• A maximum of 3 relevant research publications that you want included in the assessment. If any of the publications that you want included in the assessment are the result of a joint effort, the extent and the nature of your contribution to each individual work must then be clarified in a co-author statement. 

Applications go through a shortlisting process before being sent for external assessment. The assessment process may take up to several months depending on the number of applications.

Photo: Ulrik Gad Pram

DIIS is an independent public research institution for international studies. We conduct and communicate multidisciplinary research on globalization, security, development and foreign policy and within these areas we aim to be agenda-setting in research, policy and public debate.

DIIS participates in academic networks and publish in high-ranking academic journals, always striving to excel in academic scholarship.

We continuously assess Denmark's foreign and political situation and inform the Danish media, politicians and the public about our work