The Danish School of Education (DPU) at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University, invites applications for a position as an associate professor in educational and developmental psychology , commencing on 1 March 2027.

This is a full-time position based at DPU, at either the Aarhus campus or the Emdrup campus in Copenhagen. The selected applicant will be expected to participate in day-to-day activities at the school, including teaching and supervision. Some travel should be expected between the school’s campuses in Aarhus and Copenhagen.

The position

The position involves research and university teaching in the fields of educational and developmental psychology. The selected applicant will help further develop the existing research and teaching environment within the Department of Educational Anthropology and Educational Psychology, with a particular focus on developmental psychology in early childhood.

The selected applicant should be able to document experience conducting empirical research, both independently and in collaboration with others, including studies within childhood developmental psychology, using qualitative, quantitative and/or mixed methods.

Preference will be given to applicants who can document an interest in one or more of the following research areas:

Transitions between institutions and families
Family life
Children’s psychological, emotional and relational development in and across different settings

Preference will be given to applicants able to teach and supervise in psychological and educational assessments and psychometrics.

Research

The selected applicant will be expected to:

Develop new research projects relevant to the field of educational and developmental psychology
Contribute to collaborative research initiatives at DPU, both nationally and internationally
Pursue external research funding
Contribute to theoretical, methodological and empirical developments in the fields of early childhood and/or childhood studies and/or family studies

Applicants must outline their vision and plans for contributing to the suggested research fields.

Teaching

The selected applicant will teach and supervise students at all levels across relevant degree programmes at DPU, particularly the Master’s degree programme in educational psychology, including the specialisation in educational psychological counselling (PPR) and related electives, as well as in the field of early childhood. Teaching may also be expected on the professional Master’s degree programme in well-being.

Talent development

Associate professors at DPU/AU are expected to continuously develop their competences in supervising students at the Master’s and PhD levels, including the development and teaching of PhD courses focusing on theory, methodology and/or specific methods in collaboration with colleagues.

Applicants are invited to describe their experiences of and plans or ideas for talent development.

Knowledge exchange

The selected applicant will be expected to engage in knowledge exchange as described in the strategy of the Faculty of Arts, for instance through collaboration on research with external partners, public dissemination activities, consultancy work or collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Applicants should document any prior experience of knowledge exchange activities and outline their plans for maximising the impact of their research within educational and developmental psychology and its implications for practice.

Qualifications

Applicants must hold a PhD degree or equivalent qualifications in a relevant field and be able to document:

A research profile within developmental psychology in the fields of daycare/reception class and/or family life, as well as children’s psychological and relational development in early childhood
An international publication profile, including experience of participation in international networks
Experience applying for and obtaining external research funding
Knowledge of and interest in psychodynamic–relational theories of personality, identity and selfhood from a developmental perspective, whether from a supportive and/or a critical position
Experience conducting empirical research, preferably using a range of methodologies relevant to the field of developmental psychology
Knowledge of psychological tests and assessment tools relevant to early childhood and developmental psychology

About the Danish School of Education

The Danish School of Education (DPU) is one of the three schools at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University. Across its two locations at Campus Emdrup in Copenhagen and Nobel Park in Aarhus, DPU is home to approximately 200 academic and administrative staff, as well as approximately 80 PhD students.

Our degree programmes: The Danish School of Education currently offers a Bachelor’s degree programme in educational studies and ten Master’s degree programmes in a range of educational and pedagogical disciplines, as well as six professional Master’s degree programmes that can also be studied as single-subject courses. Approximately 2,000 students are enrolled in the school’s Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes, with approximately 250 students enrolled in professional Master’s degree programmes.

Our research: The Danish School of Education is Denmark's largest university environment for basic and applied research in pedagogy and education. The school is home to strong research environments within educational studies, educational theory and curriculum studies, general education, educational psychology, educational anthropology, educational sociology and educational philosophy. In addition, we conduct interdisciplinary research focused on specific educational fields of inquiry, particularly schools and early childhood education and care. DPU promotes public awareness of research in education and pedagogy through extensive dissemination activities with the aim of providing society with a rich and robust knowledge base.

International applicants are encouraged to read about family and work-life balance as well as the attractive working conditions and other benefits of working at Aarhus University and in Denmark, including healthcare, paid holidays and, if relevant, maternity/paternity leave, childcare and schooling.

An appointee who does not speak Danish will be required to acquire proficiency in Danish to handle tasks, including administrative and managerial responsibilities, and to participate fully in the activities of the Danish School of Education within approximately two years of commencing the appointment. These activities include, but are not limited to, teaching and examining students, reading work-related texts and participating in meetings and collegial gatherings in Danish.

About Arts

The Faculty of Arts is one of Northern Europe’s most significant faculties for research and higher education in the humanities, theology and education. Within this broad academic scope, the faculty comprises approximately 700 researchers, 200 PhD students, 9,000 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students, and 1,500 further and continuing education students. We believe that the best ideas arise when different perspectives meet – and that research, teaching and innovation are best developed in dialogue with the surrounding society.

Job description automatically summarized using AI

Aarhus Universitet