Postdoc in necessary agroecological transitions of European food systems with insights from Danish living labs

Department of People and Technology, Roskilde University, invites applications for a position as postdoc in necessary agroecological transitions of European food systems with insights from Danish living labs from 1st of February 2026. The position as postdoc is limited until the end of March 2028.

The Department of People and Technology at RUC is involved with development of sustainable solutions, applying experimental approaches and supporting people's active commitment. The Department is covering human, society, health and IT scientific fields as well as planning, intervention and design inclined fields. The postdoc is anchored in the research group Sustainability Transitions and Environmental Planning. The research group addresses the urgent need for sustainability transitions in response to today's complex and interconnected ecological, technological, and socio-political crises. The group generates inter- and transdisciplinary knowledge to support an environmentally sustainable development and reduce resource consumption across key societal sectors.

Read more about the research group at

This position is anchored in two European research projects: IntercropVALUES ) and CropCat ). It offers a unique opportunity to engage in practice-oriented, transdisciplinary research in close collaboration with farmers, advisors, entrepreneurs, food system actors, and public institutions. IntercropVALUES explores intercropping systems as an agroecological strategy from a value chain and systems perspective. CropCat, part of the European Agroecology Partnership, investigates how the use of minor crops (e.g. legumes and field vegetables) can be increased within sustainable food system transitions. The postdoc will synthesize and analyze existing qualitative data from Co-Innovation Case Studies, in which public and private stakeholders co-develop and test intercropping solutions. The position also involves contributing to methodological developments in living labs, evaluating both contextualized and cross-case learnings within the CropCat framework. In addition, the researcher will conduct qualitative data collection (e.g. interviews, workshops, and focus groups) connected to the Danish living labs involved.

Responsibilities and tasks

The postdoc will be responsible for synthesizing and analyzing qualitative data, with particular emphasis on transformative actor perspectives, including those emerging from dominating regime actors to grassroots and civil society initiatives. The position involves contributing to the design, facilitation, and evaluation of Living Lab activities, with a focus on participatory and place-based approaches. The postdoc will co-develop and test methodological tools that support agroecological transitions and is expected to publish in high-quality international journals while also engaging in knowledge exchange with practitioners and policymakers. Active participation in the interdisciplinary research environment at Roskilde University (RUC) and in the broader European project networks is essential. Candidates with expertise in social movements connected to agroecology, food sovereignty, or community-based sustainability initiatives are particularly encouraged to apply, as such experience is highly relevant to the project's aims.

Applicants should be comfortable working in Danish, as some research activities are conducted in Danish as part of context-specific fieldwork. In addition, student interaction may involve teaching and supervision within Danish-language study programmes at the bachelor's and master's levels.

The research is funded by EU HORIZON-CL6-2022-BIODIV-01 (IntercropVALUES) and The Agroecology Partnership funded by Horizon Europe (CropCat).

The ideal candidate is expected to

• Engage actively in transdisciplinary, practice-oriented research on agroecological transitions within European food systems.
• Collaborate closely with farmers, advisors, and other stakeholders in living lab and co-innovation contexts.
• Demonstrate strong analytical and written communication skills and show motivation to publish in international peer-reviewed journals.
• Contribute constructively to a collaborative, reflexive, and interdisciplinary research environment.
• Commit to advancing sustainable and socially just food system transformations.

Qualifications

• PhD in social or environmental sciences with documented expertise in agroecology, food sovereignty, and socio-ecological transformation processes.
• Demonstrated experience with participatory and transdisciplinary research methods involving collaboration across scientific, farming, and civil society actors.
• Proven ability to integrate social movement perspectives, policy analysis, and practice-based insights to advance sustainable food system innovations.
• Strong record of research dissemination, including communication of complex sustainability topics to both academic and non-academic audiences.
• Active engagement in international and grassroots networks on agroecology, climate justice, and food system transformation in European and global contexts.

The ideal candidate shall be enterprising and possess good communication skills, be visible and involved in the department's daily activities, in addition to being willing to engage in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration across the department.

Assessment

In the assessment of the candidates consideration will be given to;

• Ability to collaborate with practitioners to gather and apply more experience-based knowledge
• Capacity to publish high-quality scientific research with forward-looking research perspective
• Competence in promoting and translating research findings into practice and societal impact
• Willingness to contribute to the development of internal and external partnerships

Questions

For further information about this position, please contact Professor Henrik Hauggaard-Nielsen tel or mail

Terms of employment

Until June 2026 the employment is 25 hours. The rest of the period it is full time. You will refer to Head of the Department, Peter Kjær.

The position will be filled according to the Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.

Application procedure

After the deadline for applications the Dean will shortlist applicants for assessment with assistance from the recruitment committee including the chairperson of the assessment committee.

Shortly after the application deadline all applicants will be notified whether or not their application has been selected for assessment.

The shortlisted applicants will be informed about the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant will be given the opportunity to comment on the composition of the committee and - later on - their assessment.

Once the recruitment process is completed, all applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application.

Application

To apply for the position go to

Only applications in English are accepted.

Applications must include:

1. Cover letter

2. CV

3. Documentation of education

4. Teaching portfolio (read more about teaching portfolio at Roskilde University here)

5. A complete list of publications

6. A maximum of 5 relevant scientific works 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

Please submit your application no later than

Material received after this date will not be taken into consideration.

Roskilde University wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Ansøgningsfrist

Afdeling

Institut for Mennesker og Teknologi/ Department of People and Technology

Stillingskategori

Videnskabelig personale (VIP)

Kontakt os

Henrik Hauggaard-Nielsen

Professor

Roskilde Universitet

Universitetsvej 1

Postboks 260

4000 Roskilde