DIAS Fellow (tenure-track assistant professor) in Media Studies

The Department of Design, Media and Educational Science and the Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS) at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) seek an outstanding candidate to fill a position as tenure-track assistant professor/DIAS Fellow in Media Studies. The candidate is expected to start on 1st September 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

We are looking for a researcher with clear potential for research excellence who thrives in and is inspired by interdisciplinary collaboration. The ideal candidate will contribute to high-quality media research in close collaboration with colleagues in the Media Research Group while embracing DIAS's mission of curiosity-driven inquiry and interdisciplinary dialogue. The successful candidate should have a strong and promising research profile within Media Studies and a demonstrated interest in collaborative and interdisciplinary research. The candidate will hold a joint position at the department and DIAS and should be prepared to engage in multiple and diverse research environments at SDU.

Who are we looking for?

We seek an ambitious and internationally oriented scholar with expertise in Media Studies who is eager to develop their research career within the DIAS framework.

The position is open with regard to theoretical orientation, empirical focus and methodological approach. We are particularly interested in research that advances our understanding of the complex and evolving role of media in society and that contributes to contemporary debates concerning media, culture, technology and social change. We are looking for excellence in one or several of the following research areas (including, but not limited to):

media theory, media change and digital cultures

platforms, social media, networked communication and datafication

artificial intelligence and emerging media technologies

media production, creative practice, media work and cultural industries

audiovisual, interactive and auditory media, including film, television, games and podcasting

media audiences, everyday media practices and participation

media, sustainability and societal challenges

We also welcome applicants whose research engages with media production and creative practices, including the cultural, technological, organisational and industrial conditions shaping contemporary media creation.

Applicants with other profiles within Media Studies are also encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate is expected to:

develop a strong international research profile and contribute actively to collaborative research initiatives, joint publications and externally funded research projects within the Media Research Group and the interdisciplinary environment at DIAS

contribute to high-quality research and publication activities

engage actively in interdisciplinary collaboration across SDU

contribute to attracting external research funding

participate in research dissemination and societal engagement

contribute to teaching, supervision and curriculum development in Media Studies at BA and MA level and, over time, to PhD supervision, while contributing to strengthen the connection between research and education

contribute actively to the academic and collegial life of both the department and DIAS.

Qualifications

The successful applicant must:

hold a PhD or similar qualifications within Media Studies

exhibit curiosity-driven research excellence, thinking beyond traditional boundaries

show potential for attracting external research funding. Experience in applying for external funding and a strong international network are considered comparative advantages

have a publication record that demonstrates their excellence and broad thinking

have relevant teaching and supervision experience at university level equivalent to that attained through a PhD degree, documented through a teaching portfolio

be fluent in English.

Tenure-track programme

The position is a tenure-track assistant professorship. During the tenure-track period, the assistant professor is expected to develop qualifications corresponding to associate professor level. Subject to a positive academic assessment before the end of the tenure-track period, the assistant professor will transfer to a permanent position as associate professor without a new advertisement.

The tenure-track process includes annual follow-up, mentoring, and a formal midterm evaluation aimed at supporting the candidate’s development in research, teaching, external funding, knowledge exchange, and academic citizenship.

The position is based at the Department of Design, Media and Educational Science in Odense and includes regular participation in DIAS and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS)

DIAS at SDU is a hub for interdisciplinary excellence at and beyond the frontier of knowledge, bringing together outstanding researchers from various disciplines to foster groundbreaking interdisciplinary research and bold innovation. DIAS nurtures a collaborative and curiosity-driven environment, encouraging scholars to think outside the box and challenge conventional boundaries. The institute values open-minded exploration and an ambitious yet collegial atmosphere with a strong sense of community. Researchers affiliated with DIAS are expected to contribute actively to DIAS activities, and engage in interdisciplinary collaborations across faculties and departments, both nationally and internationally.

About the department and the Media Research Group

The Department of Design, Media and Educational Sciences is one of two departments at the Faculty of Humanities at SDU. The department has approximately 150 employees and houses research and teaching in a wide range of different areas, including design studies, media studies, educational science, philosophy, information studies, library science, business communication and web communication. The department is located at Campus Odense, Campus Kolding and Campus Sønderborg.

Researchers in the department are organized in research groups that foster collaboration across job categories. The preferred candidate will join the Media Research Group, a group of 13 junior and senior members researching different aspects of media studies.

The group is a collaborative and internationally oriented research environment with expertise across film, television, games, auditory media and social media. It combines historical and theoretical perspectives with research into contemporary media industries, media use and media cultures. Members of the group collaborate on research, education and publication activities and share a strong commitment to collegiality, intellectual curiosity and interdisciplinary engagement. Current research interests include digitalisation, artificial intelligence, sustainability, media industries, media audiences and the societal implications of media change. Applicants are encouraged to consider how their expertise may contribute to ongoing and future collaborations within the group.

Working at University of Southern Denmark

The International Staff Office (ISO) at SDU provides a variety of services for new employees, guests and people who consider applying for a job at the University of Southern Denmark. International staff in tenured positions will be offered Danish language training in connection with the employment and are expected to achieve Danish language competences at CEFR B2-level within 5 years from being appointed.

The University is signatory of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA). We wish our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Contact information

Further information about the position may be obtained from Head of Department, Alexandra Holsting, aho@sdu.dk, or Head of Media Research Group, Prof. Susana Tosca, stosca@sdu.dk. Information about the department and the Faculty of Humanities is available on the University of Southern Denmark website.

For further information about being a fellow at DIAS, please contact DIAS director Sten Rynning at +45 6550 2193 or via email at director-dias@sdu.dk.

For questions related to CV, diplomas etc., please contact humfak-hr@sdu.dk

Conditions of employment

Employment is governed by the collective agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC).

The salary comprises a seniority-based base salary and a centrally agreed supplement.

Additional supplements may be negotiated locally.

As of 1 August 2026, the annual salary for an Assistant Professor is DKK 480,224.96 (salary level 6), consisting of a base salary of DKK 417,456 and a supplement of DKK 62,768.96.

All amounts are stated before tax, before added pension (18.07%), and any additional supplements. Pension contributions are paid by SDU, and both salary components (the annual salary and the supplement) are pensionable. For further information, please see SDU’s pages on salary, taxation, and general employment conditions.

Persons employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial assessment, be exempted from time registration, also known as a “self-organizer”

Application

Applications must be submitted electronically and should include the following documents:

application letter

curriculum vitae

certificates and diplomas

complete list of publications

research plan for the coming years

Teaching portfolio – please read more here

Documentation of experience with knowledge exchange, collaboration, and external funding, where relevant

Up to 4 relevant publications. One pdf-file per publication should be attached. In case of co-authorship, a co-author statement must be submitted as part of the pdf-file.

References letters and other relevant qualifications may also be included. References may also be sent directly to humfak-hr@sdu.dk

All non-Danish documents must be translated into English.

Application and all appendices must be in Danish, English or one of the Scandinavian languages. Please always include a copy of original diploma/certificates. We only accept files in pdf-format no more than 10 MB per file. In case you have more than one file per field you need to combine the pdf-files into a single file, as each field handles only one file. We do not accept zip-files, jpg or other image files. All pdf-files must be unlocked and allow binding and may not be password protected.

The assessment process

Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee, and the applicant 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 appointments committee. An interview may form part of the overall assessment of the applicants' qualifications.

The committee may request additional information, and if so, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the necessary material.

If the application does not meet the requirements mentioned above, the Faculty of Humanities may reject your application without further notice. Applications received after the deadline will neither be considered nor evaluated.

Shortlisting and tests will be used in the assessment process. Please note that only a shortlisted applicant will receive an assessment. Here you can read more about shortlisting at SDU

The application deadline is 1st March, 2027 at 11.59 PM/23.59 (CET).

The University of Southern Denmark is committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of personal background, and strive to reflect the diversity of society in our staff

If you are not a Danish-speaking applicant, please ensure that you use the English website to access the electronic application form to receive further information in English.

We recommend that as an international applicant you take the time to visit Working in Denmark where you will find information and facts about moving to, working and living in Denmark, as well as the International Staff Office at SDU.

About SDU

SDU was founded in 1966 and now has more than 27,000 students, almost 20% of whom are from abroad. It has more than 3,800 employees, and 115 different study programmes in the fields of the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences, and engineering. Its main campus is located in Odense, but SDU is present also in Kolding, Sønderborg, Esbjerg and Copenhagen.