Tenure-track Assistant Professor or Tenured Associate Professor of American History with a Global Focus

The School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University invites applications for the position of either tenure-track assistant professor or tenured associate professor of American history with a global focus based at the Department of English.

The tenure-track assistant professorship begins with a full-time, five-year appointment as an assistant professor with a view to permanent employment as a tenured associate professor. For information about attaining tenure, see ‘Tenure review and the tenure-track assistant professorship’ below.

The associate professorship is full time and tenured.

Applicants must state the category of position (tenure-track assistant professor or tenured associate professor) for which they are applying. Applications in which this is not specified will not be considered.

The appointment begins on 1 January 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter.
The School of Communication and Culture is committed to diversity and encourages all qualified applicants to apply regardless of their personal background.

The position

We are looking for an applicant with a specialisation in the history of the United States of America or a closely related field in American studies. Candidates with an interdisciplinary orientation towards one or more areas that bridge the humanities and social sciences (such as cultural studies or gender studies) are particularly welcome to apply.

We envision a colleague concerned not only with American history, society, politics and culture but also with the processes whereby societies and cultures interact and influence each other. Individuals able to contribute to the development of our students’ knowledge, skills and competences in subjects related to interculturality (such as migration and transnational identities) are encouraged to apply.

In sum, we are looking for an innovative and dedicated applicant who will enhance the research and teaching profiles of the department nationally and internationally and contribute to Aarhus University’s core activities in the areas of research, teaching and supervision, talent development and knowledge exchange.

Research

We particularly welcome applications from Americanists with a global, international and/or transatlantic focus, whose research foregrounds the relations between the United States and the wider world. Applicants working within, across and beyond national boundaries are encouraged to demonstrate how their research connects American history and society with multiple other English-language nations and cultures.

The successful applicant will be expected to take a role in developing research in the areas of American history, society, politics and culture. The successful applicant will be expected to publish original peer-reviewed research internationally as well as making scholarly contributions to developments within the field. The successful applicant will also be expected to contribute to research initiatives in relation to both the field of American history or a closely related field in American Studies and the research community at the department in terms of new collaborative research projects with internal and external partners and in terms of external research funding applications. The ability to demonstrate a relevant and dynamic interdisciplinary research agenda will be considered an advantage. Candidates with a demonstrated ability to employ cutting-edge research methodologies to address complex questions are strongly encouraged to apply.

Teaching and supervision

The successful applicant will be expected to give lectures, teach courses and supervise students across the department’s Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes. Responsibilities may also include PhD supervision and teaching interdisciplinary courses for students at the Department of English and possibly for other students at the School of Communication and Culture.

The successful applicant will be expected to apply innovative teaching methods and to contribute to the ongoing development of degree programmes and curricula. In this connection, experience of degree programme and curriculum development at universities or similar institutions will be an advantage.

All teaching at the Department of English is in English, and therefore applicants must have native or near-native command of English.

The core courses to which we expect the successful candidate to contribute include the following:

On the On the On the On the Please indicate in your application to which courses you could contribute.

Tenure-track assistant professor

Teaching responsibilities include teaching as well as individual and group supervision at BA and MA levels. The successful applicant will be expected to participate in the curriculum development of the BA and MA degree programmes mentioned above, including the application of innovative teaching methods such as collaborative student involvement.

Tenured associate professor

We are looking for applicants with teaching and supervision experience in the field of American history or a closely related field in American Studies at the university level.
In addition to the duties described in the case of the assistant professor, a successful applicant at the level of associate professor will be expected to take an active role in the ongoing development of the BA and MA degree programmes mentioned above. In this connection, experience of degree programme and curriculum development at universities or similar institutions will be an advantage.

The successful applicant at the level of associate professor will be expected to supervise and help develop the careers of early-career researchers as well as recruiting and supervising PhD students and participating in the development and implementation of PhD courses within the field.

Finally, associate professors may be responsible for research, study programme and course management, guidance and supervision as well as academic assessment work. The university determines the exact weighting of the various responsibilities. The weighting of the responsibilities may vary over time.

Knowledge exchange

It is expected that the successful applicant will engage in knowledge exchange, for instance in terms of research collaboration with private companies, government consultancy, collaboration with civil society, and the public dissemination of knowledge.

The successful applicant will have excellent opportunities to engage in relevant collaborative initiatives with partners inside and outside Aarhus University.

Qualifications

Tenure-track assistant professor

Applicants for the position of assistant professor must have a PhD degree or must document equivalent qualifications in a relevant field related to American history or a closely related field in American Studies that bridges the humanities and social sciences (such as cultural studies or gender studies) as well as teaching and research experience equivalent to that attained through a PhD degree. Applicants for the position of assistant professor must be able to document, relevant to the position: an internationally oriented research profile within American history or a closely related field in American Studies as documented by a PhD dissertation and/or research publications relevant teaching experience at university level, including innovative teaching methods. Furthermore, it will be considered an advantage if applicants can document a track record of research publications of a high international standard, as commensurate with the length of the applicant’s academic career an outstanding and innovative doctoral dissertation in an area related to and relevant for the position experience of participation in national and international research networks time spent abroad working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions.

Tenured associate professor

Applicants for the position of tenured associate professor must have a PhD degree or must document equivalent qualifications in a relevant field related to American history or a closely related field in American Studies that bridges the humanities and social sciences (such as cultural studies or gender studies) as well as teaching and research experience commensurate with that attained through an assistant professorship. Applicants must be able to document, relevant to the position: an internationally oriented research profile as documented by a strong international peer-reviewed research publication record within American history or a closely related field in American Studies experience of participation in international research projects as well as national and international research networks teaching and supervision competences and experience at BA and MA levels, including curriculum development experience of knowledge exchange the completion of a teacher-training programme designed for university teaching or an equivalent qualification experience of applying for external research funding. Furthermore, it will be considered an advantage if applicants can document time spent abroad working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions.

Finally, all applicants at both levels are asked to provide some thoughts and ideas concerning their research plans for the next five years and to state how they see themselves and the department contributing to future research developments within the field, including their plans for publication, funding applications and collaborations with external partners.

Please note that although the application process can be completed on the Aarhus University system without uploading publications or a teaching portfolio, applications that do not include uploaded publications (maximum five for the tenure-track assistant professorship and maximum eight for the associate professorship) as well as a (or equivalent documentation of teaching experience and qualifications) will not be considered.

Although the Aarhus University application system includes an option to upload letters of recommendation, please do not include letters of recommendation or references with the application. Applicants who are invited to an interview may be asked to provide references.

Tenure review and the tenure-track assistant professorship

To become tenured, the tenure-track assistant professor must be assessed as qualified as an associate professor during the last six months of the final year of employment at the latest or, if the tenure-track assistant professor requests it, at an earlier time within the first four years of employment. The assessment is based on the tenure-track assistant professor’s fulfilment of the qualification requirements that apply to associate professorships and the criteria stated in the original advertisement. If the assessment is positive, the tenure-track assistant professor will be offered a tenured position as an associate professor at Aarhus University.

At the time of tenure review for the position of associate professor, the tenure-track assistant professor is expected to have developed a strong research profile at a high international level and published the equivalent of at least two peer-reviewed scholarly articles per year. The tenure-track assistant professor is further expected to have contributed actively to collaborative research and research initiatives with other local, national and/or international researchers in the field. This includes having participated in attracting research funding from external funding bodies and having spent a period of research at one or more recognised research institutions.

At the time of tenure review for the position of associate professor, the tenure-track assistant professor must document the ability to undertake teaching tasks independently at all levels within their own core subject area and document the breadth of their teaching competences at all levels including supervision: they must have taught three to four courses a year, depending on the nature of the specific courses; they must have engaged in supervision activities such as thesis supervision at Bachelor’s and/or Master’s level; and they must have conducted exams. The tenure-track assistant professor is also expected to have participated in curriculum development and to have contributed actively to the academic and research environment of the department. Lastly, the tenure-track assistant professor must have completed the university’s prior to tenure review.

Work environment

Active participation in the daily life of the department is a high priority, and we emphasise the importance of good working relationships, both among colleagues and with our students. To maintain and develop the department’s excellent teaching and research environment, the successful applicant is expected to be present at the department on a daily basis.

We respect the balance between work and private life and strive to create a work environment in which that balance can be maintained. You can read more about in Denmark.

International applicants

International applicants are encouraged to read about the and other benefits of working at Aarhus University and in Denmark, including healthcare, paid holidays and, if relevant, maternity/paternity leave, childcare and schooling. Aarhus University offers a wide variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including a and an . You can also find information about the .

An appointee to the position of associate professor who does not speak Danish will be required to acquire proficiency in Danish sufficient to manage tasks, including administrative and managerial responsibilities and to participate fully in the activities of the School of Communication and Culture within approximately three years of commencing the appointment. These include, but are not limited to, reading work-related texts and taking part in meetings and collegial gatherings in Danish.

The tenure-track assistant professor must demonstrate proficiency in Danish at the time of the tenure review for the associate professor position. At this point, the tenure-track assistant professor must have achieved a level of Danish proficiency to be able to read work-related texts, handle administrative responsibilities and participate in meetings and collegial gatherings in Danish.

The department

The place of employment is the Department of English. The Department of English is one of the largest and most international departments within the Faculty of Arts, with some 70 researchers and lecturers from various countries. The department has a strong international profile and a robust research network. Research and teaching at the department covers English language and linguistics, international business communication, English as a foreign and an international language, and the literature and social/historical/media studies of countries and regions in which English is the primary language. The department prioritises research of the highest international standard and offers numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary research collaboration.

Prospective applicants are invited to view the .

School of Communication and Culture

The school is a part of the Faculty of Arts. You will find information about the school and its , and diverse activities on its .

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact Peter Mortensen, Head of the Department of English, by e-mail: .

If you need help uploading your application or have questions about the recruitment process, please contact Arts HR support by email: .

If you want to apply for the position as Tenure-track Assistant Professor of American History with a Global Focus, please apply online .

If you want to apply for the position as Tenured Associate Professor of American History with a Global Focus, please apply online . 

Qualification requirements

Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.

Formalities

Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities. Appointment shall be in accordance with the . Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the. Further information on the application and supplementary materials may be found in . 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 no more than eight examples of academic production (mandatory) . Please upload this material electronically along with your application.

If nothing else is noted, applications must be submitted in English. Application deadline is at 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:

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners: . Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here:

Faculty 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, 240 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 withsociety.

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The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

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