The Department of Agroecology at Aarhus University, Denmark, is offering a postdoctoral position in Food, Agriculture and landscape systems research on the historical development of Danish and European Landscapes, starting 01-12-2024 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position will be available for a 3-year period.

This postdoctoral project will focus on conducting interdisciplinary historical research to address contemporary challenges within the European and Danish food and agriculture systems. Recent years have highlighted the urgent need for transformation in these systems to solve issues such as the nitrogen crisis, greenhouse gas emissions, animal welfare, pesticide use, lack of affordable healthy food, and the rising prevalence of obesity and other diet-related diseases.

The project thereby aims to bridge the gap between historical understanding and current efforts to transform the food and agriculture systems towards sustainability. While there has been significant academic and societal engagement in driving this transformation—through technological innovation, governance shifts, new regulations, and consumer behavior campaigns—there is a notable lack of historical context informing these approaches.

The project will be closely linked to the interdisciplinary www.sustainscapes.org Centre for Sustainable Landscapes under Global Change, funded until 2028 under the Novo Nordic Challenge program, and creates the opportunity to work closely with both Danish and International Peers, and a group of fellow young scientists. We expect that you will be an important part of the research environment and that you will contribute positively to the social working environment. We also expect that you will take part in our teaching activities and that you will report research results in high-impact scientific journals.
Your profile
We are searching for a highly motivated candidate who has

• A Ph D in agronomy, geography, bridging to social science/environmental economy, biology or similar
• Collaborative skills and ability to participate actively in teams
• A fondness of taking the initiative and the motivation to pursue a scientific career
• Documented experience in scientific writing and publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Research experience in some of the areas of historical data analyses and scenario studies integrated with modelling, handling of dataset collection and analysis in a geographical context, landscape studies and transition of agricultural systems

Further, we will prefer candidates with some of the following qualifications:

• Teaching and supervision experience at the BSc and MSc level
• Interest and preferably experience in developing competitive national and international research applications
• Insight into the development of Danish and European agriculture
• Experience with agricultural systems analyses, communication and involvement

Research focus

• Historical analysis: Investigate the historical development of the European and Danish food and agriculture systems to understand how they evolved to their current state.
• Statistical analysis: Further development of systemic agro-food system models based on historical and current agricultural data.
• Interdisciplinary approach: Integrate perspectives from history, environmental science, economics, and sociology to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issues.
• Contemporary relevance: Analyze how historical events and decisions have shaped present-day challenges and opportunities within these systems.
• Future implications: Explore how new historical insights can influence contemporary discussions and strategies, shaping future solutions and policies.

Impact
By providing a deeper historical perspective through an interdisciplinary lens, this research will help identify more effective solutions to today’s problems. Moreover, understanding how the past is perceived and discussed in the present can reshape our visions for the future and the strategies we develop to achieve those visions. This project aims to create new historical understandings that will contribute to reshaping the future of food and agriculture systems in Europe and Denmark
Who we are
At the Department of Agroecology, our main goal is to contribute to sustainable solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems within the areas of soil, plants, animals, humans, and the environment. We want to make a difference by contributing to both fundamental knowledge generation and the attainment of sustainable production systems via innovative research, contracted policy advice, and education. This is for example carried out in relation research centers connected, i.e. the Sustainscape.org mentioned above and the associated Land-CRAFT.dk Pioneer Centre. We offer professional laboratories, greenhouses, semi-field, and field-scale research facilities, advanced computing capacities as well as an extensive national and international researcher network. The department consists of eight research sections with around 270 highly dedicated employees, of which approximately 50% are scientific staff. More information can be found here.
What we offer

• An informal and multicultural research environment with high professionalism, where accountability, commitment, helpfulness, flexibility, and close collaboration is a prerequisite solving the core tasks
• A good social environment with activities and routines that make it possible to talk across and strengthen the inclusive relationship, and where mutual trust, respect, kindness, and professional sparring are emphasized
• A flexible workplace with a good work-life balance
• An exciting and varied working environment, where two days rarely resemble each other. We are often busy, and we work creatively for solutions to societal challenges
• Subsidized preschool child care and a free education system from primary school up to university level
• Universal health insurance as a resident of Denmark, including family members officially residing in Denmark
• Five weeks paid holiday per year
• In connection with childbirth: the right to have a total of 52 weeks shared maternal/paternal leave with full or partial salary pay

Place of work
The place of work is Aarhus University, Campus AU Viborg, Blichers Alle 20, 8830 Tjele. The affiliation will be with the Department of Agroecology.
More information can be obtained from professor Tommy Dalgaard (tommy.dalgaard@agro.au.dk, phone +45 20706132) and tenure track assistant professor Morten Graversgaard (morten-graversgaard@agro.au.dk).

Application procedure
Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.
Letter of reference
If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.
Formalities and salary range
Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.