Postdoc position(s) at The Digital Democracy Centre (DDC)

The Digital Democracy Centre (DDC) at the University of Southern Denmark, Odense, invites applications for one or more full-time Postdoc positions within the interdisciplinary and cross-European research project FOOD-FRAMES.

The FOOD-FRAMES project explores how the food information environment across nine European countries affects sustainable food choices, often hindering the transition to healthier and more sustainable diets. The FOOD-FRAMES project adopts a systems approach to move beyond individual-centred discussions and contribute to a food information environment that supports sustainable and healthy diets.

At the DDC, Lena Frischlich serves as principal investigator. Frischlich’s research examines how digitalization creates new opportunity structures for both threats to democratic integrity and the fostering of democratic resilience. In the FOOD-FRAMES project, the Postdoc and Frischlich will examine the “supply” of misinformation and politicized debates about sustainable food choices in digital environments and examine the effects of the food information environment on citizens' attitudes and behavioural intentions.

Subject to final administrative procedures and approval, employment is expected to commence in April 2026 or soon thereafter and will run for a period of two years. The place of employment will be in Odense.

Research profiles and tasks
The research tasks within the project include collecting YouTube or social media data and digital news content, using manual and computational methods to analyze this content, and collaborating with the European project team on a cross-country survey. Thus, we are looking for candidates with a strong interest in digital political communication and misinformation research and experience with computational methods, specifically multimodal content analysis, and a background in fields such as communication, the social sciences (e.g., sociology, psychology, political science), or data science.

The candidate will work closely with Lena Frischlich and other team members and will be embedded in the larger interdisciplinary DDC environment.

Expectations and key responsibilities
The Postdoc(s) will be involved in all aspects of the research, from conception and execution to analysis, publication, and public dissemination. A solid set of field-specific methods is necessary.

Candidates are expected to be willing and able to contribute to the DDC by producing original research of high international quality, engaging in exchange of knowledge with relevant societal actors, including news media, the public, and policymakers, participating in grant acquisition and impact activities, and contributing to team building and the development of the centre.

Candidates are expected to:

• Be capable of working independently and in a team, for example, in data collection, writing scientific articles, and knowledge dissemination
• Contribute both academically and socially to the research environment at the DDC
• Be able to communicate project results in English both in writing and orally in academic contexts and to the broader public
• Knowledge in Danish, German, or Dutch is an advantage due to the planned analyses but is not mandatory
• Present research results at international conferences
• Work and be present at the Centre in Odense

Inquiries about the project and the positions can be addressed to the principal investigator Lena Frischlich ([email protected]).
If you experience technical problems, please contact [email protected].

What we offer at the DDC
The DDC is a part of the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences. It is an interdisciplinary Centre of excellence with members from computer science, law, media studies, political science, business, and organizations. The DDC believes in fostering a constructive, stimulating, and inspiring environment for both faculty members and students. The DDC’s ambition is to recruit, develop, and retain talented scholars committed to both research, education, and impact. Furthermore, the DDC wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

You can find further information about the DDC HERE.

Living and working in Denmark
Foreign applicants will be offered Danish language training as part of their employment. The International Staff Office (ISO) at SDU provides a variety of services for new employees, guests, and people who are considering applying for a job at the University of Southern Denmark. Among other things, the staff answers questions concerning salary, taxation, housing and accompanying family. Additional information about working in Denmark can be found at Work in Denmark.

Application and assessment process
Appointment to the position requires a PhD degree or equivalent. It will be in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the Danish state, with the associated circular on the protocol on job structure for academic staff at Danish universities, and the provisions for the position of postdocs as described herein.

An application must include:

• A letter stating your specific interest, motivation, and qualifications for the project in question (max. two pages)
• Detailed CV, including personal contact information and exact start and end dates for all employments and educational degrees.
• Copies of certificates and diplomas (BSc, MSc, and PhD degrees)
• The names and complete contact details (including phone numbers and email addresses) of at least two references
• A complete list of publications indicating which publications are most relevant for the position
• Up to three of the most relevant publications or unpublished chapters of the PhD thesis.
  NOTE: If publications have been co-authored, co-author statements must be included and contain information like in this example. The statement is just for your inspiration
• A teaching portfolio as documentation for teaching experience, and, if relevant, supervision qualifications. Formal application instructions and guide for teaching portfolio may be found HERE.

All non-Danish documents must be translated into English.

Documents should not contain a CPR number (civil registration number) – in this case, the CPR number must be crossed out.

Incomplete applications may be rejected without any substantive evaluation.

Assessment of applications will be done under the existing Appointment Order for universities. Applications will be assessed by an academic assessment committee that determines whether applicants are qualified to be a postdoctoral fellow. The committee may request additional information, and if so, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the necessary material. The committee reserves the right to arrive at a decision solely based on the material submitted.

Shortlisting may be used in the assessment process.

When the assessment committee has submitted its report, the applicants will receive the part of the evaluation that concerns them. The assessment report will subsequently be forwarded to the Head of Department who will assemble an appointment committee. The appointment committee will manage and complete a series of job interviews with especially promising applicants. On the basis of the applications, the written assessments, the job interviews, and a deliberation within the appointment committee, the head of department determines which candidate(s) will be offered the position.

We recommend reading "How to apply for a position at SDU" before applying.

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link "Apply now."

Uploaded files must be in PDF-format (unlocked). The application and CV must each not exceed 5 MB in file size.

Motivated application must be uploaded as ‘Cover letter’, CV must be uploaded as ‘Resume’. All other documents shall be uploaded as ‘Miscellaneous documents’.

Application deadline: February 15th at 11.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST).

Location
Odense M, Denmark

Apply Before
2026-02-15T22:59:00+00:00