Tenure-track Assistant Professor or Associate Professor of Ecological Economics

Department of Food and Resource Economics

Organisation/Company: University of Copenhagen
Department: Department of Food and Resource Economics
Research Field: Economics, Environmental Science
Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2), Established Researcher (R3)
Positions: PhD Positions
Country: Denmark
Application Deadline: 16 Mar 2025 - 12:00 (Europe/Copenhagen)
Type of Contract: Permanent
Job Status: Full-time
Hours Per Week: 37
Offer Starting Date: 1 Sep 2025
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Tenure-track Assistant Professor or Associate Professor of Ecological Economics
Department of Food and Resource Economics
Faculty of Science
University of Copenhagen

We seek to make an appointment in Ecological Economics to complement the Department’s ongoing research. The candidate is expected to have a profile with emphasis on system complexity at different scales and how this affects the understanding and modelling of economics, the environment, and their interactions. It can also include aspects of value pluralism, and non-equilibria economic modelling.

The candidate is expected to have:

• A PhD in Ecological Economics or similar
• A strong theoretical foundation
• A strong system perspective and insight into both natural and social science
• Genuine interest in and scientific capacity to challenge and be challenged by perspectives from related fields such as earth science, environmental economics, human geography, political ecology
• Commitment to develop and engage in joint research with researchers working in related fields
• Open to combining methods and theories, to bring new perspectives, methods and skills to the research, teaching and public consultancy of the department

Tenure-track Assistant Professor:
The tenure-track assistant professor’s responsibilities will primarily include research, including obligations with regard to publication/scientific communication and research-based teaching with associated examination obligations within ecological economics and the related fields of the department's teaching programmes. To a limited extent, the position may also include other tasks.

The tenure-track assistant professor must have an academic standing showing internationally high-quality research and have internationally recognized high potential to make a future impact.

Assessment of applicants for the tenure-track assistant professorship will primarily consider their level of documented, internationally competitive research. The ability to attract external funding will be considered together with outreach qualifications. Teaching qualifications are not mandatory, but documented teaching qualifications and teaching experience will be considered.

Associate Professor:
Applicants are required to have university-level teaching experience, documented teaching competencies and will be required to explain and reflect upon one’s own teaching practice and portfolio. Formal pedagogical training or supervision equivalent to the University of Copenhagen teacher training programme for assistant professors is required.

Responsibilities include the applicant’s own research, development of the field, assessment tasks, grant applications, and research management such as supervision and training of research fellows and other staff. The associate professor must also teach, supervise, prepare and participate in examinations, and fulfill other tasks requested by the Department.

Assessment of applicants for the associate professorship will primarily consider their level of documented, original scientific production at an international level, including contributions to developments in their field, as well as their documented teaching qualifications. Managerial and outreach qualifications of applicants including ability to attract external funding will also be considered.

University of Copenhagen’s criteria for recognizing merit:
Six overall criteria apply for assistant professor / associate professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The six criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organizational contribution, external funding and leadership) are considered a framework for an overall assessment of the candidates. Furthermore, each candidate should be assessed according to the specific requirements stated in the job advertisement.

The tenure-track assistant programme:
The tenure-track programme is a career programme and an assigned mentor will provide the tenure-track assistant professors with guidance related to career development, other academic topics and administrative procedures.

Performance of the tenure-track assistant professor will be followed via internal yearly evaluations and a mid-term and final international evaluation by an assessment committee. If the ‘final appraisal’ is positive you will be promoted as associate professor.

Terms of employment:
The position is open from 1 September 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff. Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

The position will be based in the department section where the profile fits best. The employed candidate is expected to collaborate broadly within and outside the Department.

Filing of application:
The position may be applied for at the tenure-track assistant professor level or associate professor level. Please note that it is possible to apply at more than one level. If applied at more than one level, separate applications should be submitted.

Applying for the tenure-track assistant professorship please include:

• Please describe and document international network and relations
• Please describe and document internationally based activities
• Positions held at universities/research institutions outside Denmark
• Outreach activities, i.e. popular lectures or other activities in the media
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)
• Research plan - description of current and future research plans
• If available, description and documentation of teaching and supervision experience and qualifications:
  • Experience with supervision of BSc and MSc students
  • Teaching experience
  • Formal pedagogical training
• Separate reprints of up to 5 particularly relevant papers

Applying for the associate professorship please include:

• Curriculum vitae including information about external funding
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)
• Research plan – description of current and future research plans
• Separate reprints of 5 particularly relevant papers

The deadline for applications is 16 March 2025, 23:59 GMT+1

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee. Interviews will be held on 15 August 2025.

Please refer to the following no. in future communication in this case:
211-0234/24-2N Tenure-track Assistant Professor of Ecological Economics
211-0669/24-2E Associate Professor of Ecological Economics.

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard.