The Gaia Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme, funded by the EU under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), offers 15 positions across two recruitment rounds. The first round, in 2024, will start now.

This programme is open to early-career researchers from all disciplines, including Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Health Sciences, and Engineering. Based at the University of Southern Denmark’s Climate Cluster (SCC), Gaia aims to foster interdisciplinary research by integrating fellows into a collaborative network of academic, public, and private partners.

Fellows will benefit from advanced interdisciplinary training, bridging academic research with societal applications, to address critical climate challenges and the green transition. Emphasis is placed on developing leadership and collaboration skills, preparing participants to take on significant roles in research and innovation within climate-related sectors.

Key Research Themes:

• The green transition and nature-based solutions
• Value systems, perceptions, and worldviews
• Energy, technology, and society
• Education, relationships, and ecoliteracy
• Sustainability and adaptation in the Nordic and Arctic region
• Resource use, innovation, and the circular economy
• Digital technology, information, and citizen empowerment
• International development and climate challenges
• Transport, society, and human health
• Behavioural change and the green transition.

Applications Process
How does it work?
You have an idea that fits within the ten research themes of Gaia , you find and contact a potential researcher at SDU, about your application and ask them if they would like to be your supervisor and you then gather all the material you need to make your application.

Supervision
Each postdoctoral fellow will have a main SDU supervisor, and co-supervisor as well as a non-academic partner organisation mentor. Fellows are advised to find and contact their potential main supervisor through SDU’s researchers’ portal .

Eligibility:

• Applicants have to find a supervisor at SDU (see above).
• Mobility Rule : Applicants must not have lived, worked or studied in Denmark or at SDU for more than 12 months in the three years before 31 December 2024 (recruitment start).*
• Relevant Ph D in Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Health Sciences, or Engineering by the call deadline (date of Ph D defence/viva).
• Have a maximum of eight years full-time equivalent research experience measured from the date stated on the Ph D diploma.
• The application must be in English.
• The research proposal must be relevant to the GAIA programme mission of climate mitigation, adaptation, and the green transition (see themes page ).
• Successful applicants must move to Denmark by the time of employment.

• Mobility eligibility window is from 1 January 2021 until 31 December 2024.

Application Material:

• Research proposal must fall into the ten research themes (max ten pages including images, tables and Gantt chart, recommended font size 11, line spacing 1.15) ( use template provided )
• CV with full scientific track record, publications and career breaks ( use template provided )
• Motivation letter (max. two pages)
• Ph D diploma (scanned copy) / if defended, a letter of completion will suffice
• Place of activity / place of residence of the last three years
• Proof of communication with the supervisor confirming their support for the application (e.g. letter of support or e-mail).

Up to two letters of recommendation from the graduating university or previous employers (optional but encouraged).

For further information please contact Professor Sebastian Mernild at mernild@sdu.dk or Project Manager Annabell Moser at annabellm@sdu.dk .

Application, salary etc.
The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations). Please check links for more information on salary (only available in Danish) and taxation .

Shortlisting may be used in the assessment process.

Incomplete applications and applications received after the deadline will neither be considered nor evaluated.

To qualify you must have passed a Ph D or equivalent. Applications will be assessed by an expert assessor/committee. Applicants will be informed of their assessment by the university.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link "Apply now". Attached files must be in Adobe PDF format. We strongly recommend that you read How to apply for a position at SDU before you apply.

Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark.