Aarhus University, The Department of the Study of Religion, School of Culture and Society, Faculty of Arts
Postdoctoral position as part of the research project “Religious Communities in a Virtual Age” at the Department of the Study of Religion
Institution Type: | College / University |
Location: | Denmark |
Position: | Post-Doctoral Fellow |
The Department of the Study of Religion, School of Culture and Society, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University invites applications for a 24-month fixed-term postdoctoral position in the Study of Religion, with a particular focus on the lived religion of religious communities in a digital and post-pandemic world.
The appointment begins on 1 November 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The successful applicant will be based at the School of Culture and Society, Aarhus University, Department of the Study of Religion, Jens Chr. Skous Vej 3-7, 8000 Aarhus C.
The university is keen for its staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes
applications from all qualified applicants regardless of their personal background.
Research context
This post is part of the project Religious Communities in a Virtual Age (Recovira), running between seven universities across Europe, funded by the CHANSE consortium and led by Dr Joshua Edelman. This project will document, compare and analyse the ways in which members of religious communities have been changed in the wake of the profound social disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the core objective of the project is to understand the role of and turn to the digital in religious practices during the pandemic and afterwards. The overall project addresses the following research questions:
- How has the nature, structure, and experience of religious life changed as religious communities have replaced and supplemented established in-person gathering with virtual meetings and elements of digital culture?
- As the digitisation of religious practice and community life increases, how have the roles that religion plays in public life changed?
Each of the seven countries undertake independent but similar studies that examine the ways the social, ritual, communal, and personal lives of religious communities of different kinds have developed since the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in terms of their embrace of the digital. For the Danish study, the main purpose of the postdoc is to undertake research in contemporary Danish religious life by preparing, conducting, analysing and disseminating studies of selected religious communities in the Denmark (both in person and online, as necessary) under the direction of the Danish PI, Henrik Reintoft Christensen.
The emergence of a digital age was evident already before the pandemic. The past few decades have witnessed the emergence of a rapidly growing and fast-expanding scholarship on religion, the internet and digital culture. Digital influences have been present largely at the margins of religious life, of great interest to academics but less important for the everyday practices of the majority of communities. With the pandemic and its restriction on in-person social gathering, however, religious communities have needed to turn to digital tools such as Zoom and YouTube more directly and more often in order to continue their practical work, and scholarship has followed this. The rapid expansion of digitised religious life during COVID-19 has led to shifts in authority, community organisation and practice that are likely to have a long-term effect on how Europeans of different backgrounds practice religion.
The Danish team is responsible for collecting and reviewing existing survey data on religion and the pandemic and critically analyse them with respect to each other and to the qualitative findings of the project.
Applicants must write a 5-page project proposal, that aim to study the practices, structures, and rituals of at least three different religious communities in Denmark which have been altered by the embrace of digital tools and structures. One of these should be the majority church (the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark), the others should be part of different religious traditions, one Islamic and a third one which could be Buddhist. The project proposal should 1) include a problem statement, 2) relate to relevant studies of pandemic and digital consequences for religious communities, and 3) present a suitable methodological design.
Qualifications
- Applicants for this position must hold a PhD degree or equivalent level in anthropology, sociology, study of religion, or similar disciplines.
The successful applicant will be expected to:
- Be proficient in Danish, as it will be necessary in most encounters with religious communities. Additional language competences relevant for communicating with other religious communities is an advantage.
- Have experience with qualitative methods ideally both from fieldwork (also virtual) and interviews. Experience with religious communities is an advantage.
- Understand survey methodology. Experience with quantitative methodologies is an advantage.
- Contribute to the successful completion of the work packages on the research project in corporation with the other team members and the PI.
- Contribute to the organisation of workshops, seminars and conferences (academic and public).
- Present findings at international research conferences and publish results in peer-reviewed, international scientific journals.
- Present findings for non-academics and non-specialists in both Danish and English across various media platforms.
- Be able to work independently as part of the larger team of researchers.
- Teach courses at BA and/or MA level (max.20%, by agreement with the Head of Department) in the Study of Religion.
The position
Applicants are asked to submit:
- a research proposal (max. 5-pages) in which they present their ideas for how to study religious community life both virtually and non-virtually
- a concise statement of motivation for applying for the position (max. 2-pages).
- a CV (max. 2-pages).
- a maximum of five publications.
- a teaching portfolio.
For further information about the project, please contact PI, Henrik Reintoft Christensen by e-mail: hc@cas.au.dk
Professional references or recommendations should not be included. Applicants who are selected for an interview may be asked to provide professional references.
Applications must be uploaded in English.
For more information about the application, please contact HR supporter Marianne Birn, e-mail mbb@au.dk
The work environment
The Department of the Study of Religion is concerned with religion in its comprehensive sense. The studies cover all major world religions and other religions and phenomena essential to the history of religion, past and present. This is reflected in the academic staff's research competences, which not only include a broad spectrum of empirical skills but also a wide range of theoretical and methodological approaches from fields including history, philology, history of literature, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, psychology, and phenomenology of religion. As postdoc the successful candidate will be expected to use the office at Nobelparken at least three days a week when not conducting fieldwork. For more information of the department, the educational programs and ongoing research activities. Please see: https://cas.au.dk/en/about-the-school/departments/the-study-of-religion
School of Culture and Society
At the School of Culture and Society 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 local questions to global challenges.
The school’s goal is to produce compelling research with an international resonance, as well as offering teaching and talent development of high quality. The school has a broad cooperative interface with society, both in Denmark and abroad, and contributes to social innovation, research communication and further and continuing education.
Qualification requirements
Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.Formalities
The Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).- Appointments shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation 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 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, copies of degree certificates and examples of academic production (mandatory, but no more than five examples). Please upload this material electronically along with your application.
If nothing else is noted, applications must be submitted in English. The 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: shortlistingFaculty of Arts
The Faculty of Arts is one of five main academic areas at Aarhus University.The faculty contributes to Aarhus University's research, talent development, knowledge exchange and degree programmes.
With its 550 academic staff members, 275 PhD students, 9,500 BA and MA students, and 1,500 students following continuing/further education programmes, the faculty constitutes a strong and diverse research and teaching environment.
The Faculty of Arts consists of the School of Communication and Culture, the School of Culture and Society and the Danish School of Education. Each of these units has strong academic environments and forms the basis for interdisciplinary research and education.
The faculty's academic environments and degree programmes engage in international collaboration and share the common goal of contributing to the development of knowledge, welfare and culture in interaction with society.
Read more at arts.au.dk/en
The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.
Aarhus University
Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,000 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 885 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/
Contact: |
For further information about the project, please contact PI, Henrik Reintoft Christensen by e-mail: hc@cas.au.dk |
Website: | https://au.career.emply.com/ad/postdoctoral-position-as-part-of-the-research-project-religious-communities-in-a/8jsiyh/en |
Primary Category: | Religious Studies and Theology |
Secondary Categories: | None |
Posting Date: | 09/16/2022 |
Closing Date | 10/13/2022 |