The Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) is recruiting a fully funded, 18-months postdoctoral researcher for the DFF-funded research project Reimagining energy futures, designing techno-political orders: Germany and Poland at the crossroads of energy transition, to work on the case of Germany. The position is set to start September 1, 2025, or shortly thereafter.

The project examines how the Russian invasion of Ukraine has reshaped energy security perspectives across Europe, focusing on the contrasting approaches of Poland and Germany. The study employs the sociotechnical imaginaries framework to analyse how these national energy visions are being transformed, exploring the long-term consequences for European techno-political orders and policy choices.

The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to this project by conducting an in-depth analysis of the German case and collaborating on joint research activities. The postdoc will work alongside Senior Researcher Izabela Surwillo as part of the project team. The Senior Researcher will be conducting the analysis of the Polish case. The team will be based in Copenhagen, but both researchers are expected to conduct fieldwork abroad, fully funded by the project.

About the position

As a DIIS employee, you will be part of an inspiring and vibrant knowledge environment at an institution committed to excellence in multidisciplinary research, high-level policy analysis, and dissemination of international studies. Interdisciplinary collaboration is a cornerstone of DIIS’s research culture, valuing diverse theoretical and empirical perspectives. Therefore, it is essential that you are open to engaging with colleagues from various disciplinary backgrounds and contributing to a collaborative knowledge environment. You should also be ready to undertake policy studies of relevance for DIIS’ stakeholders.

Research at DIIS is structured into five research units, each with a specialised research focus. The postdoctoral researcher will be affiliated with the Sustainable Governance and Development unit.

As a postdoctoral researcher at DIIS, you will be expected to actively contribute to the thematic and theoretical advancement of research, both within your unit and across the institute. With no teaching obligations, you will have ample time to focus on your research. In return, you are expected to produce high-quality international publications and engage actively in DIIS’s research environment. The role also involves knowledge dissemination beyond academia, in terms of policy studies and engaging with relevant stakeholders to ensure the broader societal impact of your findings.

Qualifications

Applicants must have obtained a PhD in a relevant field before the start date of the position. The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

Academic Background: A strong research profile in energy policy, energy studies, security studies or related field, preferably with a focus on Germany or the broader European context.

Language Proficiency: Fluency in both English and German is required; proficiency in additional languages is considered an advantage.

Publication Record:  A demonstrated ability to publish in peer-reviewed, high-impact journals or reputable publishing houses.

Methodological Skills: Prior experience with NVivo software for qualitative data analysis is desirable.

Theoretical Expertise: Familiarity with the socio-technical imaginaries framework or related theoretical approaches is an advantage.

Personal Attributes: The ideal candidate shall be proactive, possess strong interpersonal and communication skills, and be eager to engage in a collaborative research environment.

DIIS as a workplace

We offer an attractive and inclusive workplace where all employees can develop their professional and personal skills. For us, knowledge sharing, dialogue and feedback are essential to create a dynamic workplace. You are therefore expected to proactively participate in the Institute’s joint efforts. We prioritize a high degree of presence, but to support a healthy work-life balance, we offer flexible working hours and the option to work remotely two days a week. Our offices are conveniently located directly opposite Nordhavn station, approximately 3 km from the inner city of Copenhagen.

DIIS is a diverse workplace, and we therefore encourage all qualified applicants to apply for the position regardless of their personal background. We are aware of the environmental consequences of our activities, and we are constantly seeking to become a more sustainable workplace, both daily and in relation to how we carry out our travel activities.

Salary and terms of employment

This is a full-time (37 hours per week) postdoctoral position with a fixed term of 18 months. The expected starting date is September 1, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter.

You will be employed according to the applicable collective agreement for academic employees in Denmark. The starting salary as a postdoctoral researcher is DKK 285.240,00 to 347.571,00 excl. pension (17,1%). In addition, there is an opportunity to negotiate a personal qualification supplement depending on your experience and skills. Depending on specific tasks and projects, functional supplements may also be considered.

Non-residents of Denmark may be eligible to apply for taxation under the special researcher scheme, which offers a gross tax rate of 32.84% for up to seven years. For further details, please refer to the Danish Tax Authorities.

Do you want to know more?

If you want to know more about DIIS as a workplace read more here. Questions about salary and employment conditions as well as the application process itself can be addressed to HR at hr@diis.dk. If you have further questions about the content of the position, you can contact Senior Researcher Izabela Surwillo at izsu@diis.dk.

The application

The application deadline is May 1, 2025, at 23.59.

Please note that we only accept applications sent via DIIS’s electronic recruitment system via the link on the right.

Your application must contain all the following documents: 

• A short motivation letter (500 words)
• Curriculum Vitae (max 2 pages; max. 6000 characters including spaces)
• Master’s and PhD diplomas, including transcripts. If university transcripts are in language other than English or a Scandinavian language, the explanation of the grading system should be attached.
• Documentation of academic qualifications, including a complete list of publications. 
• A one-page reflection (max. 3000 characters including spaces) on how you see yourself contributing to the larger project. The reflection may include methodological, empirical as well as theoretical aspects. 
• A maximum of 3 relevant research publications 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. 

Applications go through a shortlisting process before being sent for external assessment. The assessment process may take up to several months depending on the number of applications.

DIIS is an independent public research institution for international studies. We conduct and communicate multidisciplinary research on globalisation, security, development and foreign policy and within these areas we aim to be agenda-setting in research, policy and public debate.

DIIS participates in academic networks and publish in high-ranking academic journals, always striving to excel in academic scholarship.

We continuously assess Denmark's foreign and political situation and inform the Danish media, politicians and the public about our work