Aarhus University, Grundtvig Study Centre at the Department of Culture and Society

Postdoctoral scholarship at the Grundtvig Study Centre

The Grundtvig Study Centre at the Department of Culture and Society, Aarhus University invites invitations for a fixed-term position as a postdoc scholar for a two-year period, with the option of a one-year extension. The job is being advertised based on a wish to strengthen the research environment at the centre. The position is available from 1 March 2014 or as soon as possible thereafter. This is a full-time position.

The position
The postdoc scholarship is being advertised with a view to appointing a young, talented researcher to take part in an interdisciplinary research area which is full of perspectives at the Grundtvig Study Centre. The Grundtvig Study Centre is responsible for publishing a digital version of Grundtvig’s collected works. The centre also has special research responsibilities based on Grundtvig’s works and the influence of his ideas, past and present. The digital text versions at grundtvigsværker.dk constitute a unique tool for anyone searching for information on Grundtvig, thereby forming a unique point of departure for innovative communication and research work.

Applicants are asked to prepare a project description that is linked to the research of the Grundtvig Study Centre and incorporates the digital version of Grundtvig’s works as well as methods from the digital humanities.
The successful applicant will be expected to include the digital version of Grundtvig’s works and methods from the digital humanities in his/her research; and will also be expected to contribute to Aarhus University’s core services within the fields of teaching, talent development and knowledge exchange. In making the appointment, the emphasis will be placed on:

Research
The goal of the Grundtvig Study Centre is to create the framework for making further progress in Grundtvig research with regard to the systematic reading of Grundtvig’s works. One of the ways of doing this is via the centre’s digitisation project, which opens up for new approaches to Grundtvig’s works so they can be included and analysed on a broader and more qualified foundation.

The centre is looking for a postdoc scholar with proven commitment and the ability to cooperate with the most important areas of national and international Grundtvig research, as well as being able to cooperate with other digitisation projects in the humanities (the State and University Library and the Royal Library, for instance). The successful applicant will be expected to cooperate with the other employees of the Grundtvig Study Centre with a view to promoting the centre’s research efforts.
He/she will also be expected to perform tasks connected with research conferences and seminars. 

Teaching
The position will involve about 20% teaching as agreed with the director of the Grundtvig Study Centre and relevant degree programme directors.

Knowledge exchange
The successful applicant will be expected to have experience of knowledge exchange with society as a whole. The position includes communication tasks, for instance at the Danish University Extension and other institutions of adult education.  
For more information, please contact Michael Schelde, the director of the Grundtvig Study Centre, tel.: +45 28992591, mail: mic@teo.au.dk

Qualifications
Employment as a postdoc scholar requires research qualifications corresponding at least to the satisfactory completion of a PhD degree programme within the field in question.
The successful applicant will be expected to provide evidence of:

• A strong background in the field of religion, theology, history or similar disciplines
• Specific research into Grundtvig and/or adjacent research areas, including comparative studies
• Interest in and/or experience of interdisciplinary cooperation as well as interdisciplinary research and teaching
• Interest in and/or experience of participation in collective research projects and an internationally oriented research and publication profile
• Interest in and/or experience of supervision and talent development.

The successful applicant is expected to contribute to the faculty’s research and teaching environment by being present on a daily basis.
For more information about applications and the appointment procedure, please contact HR partnerr Louise Søndergaard, e-mail ls@hum.au.dk.
All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background.

Your application must be uploaded in English.

The Grundtvig Study Centre is part of the Department of Culture and Society, Aarhus University
The Grundtvig Study Centre is located in Vartov, Copenhagen and at the Department of Culture and Society, Aarhus University, Aarhus
The successful applicant will work at the Grundtvig Study Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus Campus.

The Grundtvig Study Centre is characterised by its open, appreciative and cross-disciplinary research environment with ambitious objectives achieved through a dialogue-based form of management which attaches value to ideas and initiatives of a research-related, communicative and practical nature. For more information, please see www.grundtvigcenteret.dk and www.grundtvigsværker.dk.

Department of Culture and Society
The Grundtvig Study Centre is anchored at the Department of Culture and Society, where the object of research and teaching is the interplay between culture and society in time and space:

-  From the traditional disciplines of the humanities and theology to applied social research
-  From Antiquity to the issues facing contemporary societies
-  From familiar Danish cultural forms to other very different worlds
-  From local questions to global challenges.

The department’s goal is to produce compelling research with an international resonance, as well as offering teaching and talent development of high quality. The department has a broad cooperative interface with society, both in Denmark and abroad, and contributes to social innovation, research communication and further and continuing education.
For a more detailed description of the department, please see this website. 

The Faculty of Arts
The Faculty of Arts is one of four main academic areas at Aarhus University. 
The faculty contributes to Aarhus University’s research, education, talent development and knowledge exchange activities.
With its 800 academic staff members, 300 PhD students, 13,000 BA and MA students, and 2,500 students following continuing/further education programmes, the faculty constitutes a strong and diverse research and teaching environment.
The Faculty of Arts consists of the Department of Aesthetics and Communication, the Department of Culture and Society, the Department of Education, the Centre for Teaching Development and Digital Media, and the AU Centre for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Each of these units has strong academic environments that form the basis for interdisciplinary research and education.
The faculty’s research and teaching activities take place within the context of extensive international collaboration and share the common goal of contributing to the development of knowledge, welfare and culture in close interaction with society. 

Read more at arts.au.dk/en/ 

Formalities 

• The Faculty of Humanities refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
• Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.
• 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 application and relevant enclosures may be found in the Guidelines for applicants for academic positions.
• Teaching portfolio, degree certificate (copy), curriculum vitae, complete list of publications and verified information on previous teaching experience must be submitted with the application.
• When you submit your application, please upload a maximum of five samples of your scholarly output.

All interested are urged to apply irrespective of personal background.

Deadline
All applications must be made online and received by 6 February 2014.
Please apply online here

Aarhus University offers an inspiring education and research environment for 44,500 students and 12,000 members of staff, ensuring results of a high international standard. The budgeted turnover for 2013 amounts to DKK 6.3 billion. The university's strategy and development contract are available at www.au.dk/en.