Researcher/Senior Researcher in Maritime History

The National Museum of Denmark is seeking a candidate to fill a position as Researcher/Senior Researcher within the field of Maritime History. The National Museum of Denmark has a strong track record of marine archaeological research and conservation. It is currently establishing an interdisciplinary and international Research Centre for Maritime and Submarine Cultural Heritage with a focus on the preservation of underwater cultural heritage and various aspects of the maritime history of Denmark from ancient times to the present. In addition to strengthening research within these areas, there will be a strong focus on communicating the results to a wider public and contributing to the inclusion of maritime history within the planned developments of the National Museum in Copenhagen.

We are looking for a candidate with a broad chronological approach to Danish maritime history or is willing to establish and work with such an approach and engage in cross-disciplinary research and wider academic cross-disciplinary discussions. Furthermore, it will be considered a plus if the candidate has an interest in the preservation of underwater cultural heritage.

Job description

For the first five years the position is financed by Dampskibsselskabet Orient´s Fond//NORDEN, and the Researcher/Senior Researcher will be part of the new Research Centre, headed by Professor David Gregory, and will contribute to the development and implementation of the research programme funded by the foundation. Current projects at the Centre for Maritime and Submarine Cultural Heritage include the documentation, conservation and dissemination of an early medieval shipwreck; various studies into the decay of archaeological materials in the marine environment; archival and physical investigation of Danish shipwrecks in international waters; and the study of the marine environment in relation to Denmark’s maritime economy.

During this five-year period, it will be possible for the successful applicant to develop their own research within the maritime area providing content and input for the Museum’s public dissemination on all relevant platforms. The aim is to make the Museum’s collections and the results of the Research Centre relevant and visible to a wider audience in relation to the development of the new National Museum in Copenhagen. Overall, the successful candidate must contribute to the museum's general strategy 2019-2024 (https://natmus.dk/uploads/media/National_museum_of_denmark_strategy_2019_-_2024.pdf)

The Researcher/Senior Researcher will be organizationally embedded in one of our three research sections but will work closely with the head of the new Research Centre, Professor David Gregory.

Essential qualifications and experience

We are looking for a Researcher/Senior Researcher who

• holds a PhD in history or a related discipline
• has experience with high-level research within maritime cultural history
• has a proven record of international publications
• has experience with working with historical paper archives (primarily in Danish)
• will apply for and obtain external funding for research projects and/or consultancy work in collaboration with internal and external partners
• has an aptitude for collaboration and coordination across disciplinary boundaries, and innovative approaches to research in maritime cultural history and/or material culture
• has an ability to engage in wider academic and comparative discussions of cross-disciplinary relevance
• has a good national and international network
• possesses good interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain good collaboration with colleagues and external partners
• has a valid driver´s license

The applicants are expected to have obtained their experience from previous employment at an institute of higher education, a sector research institution, a museum or the equivalent.

Since the primary working language at the National Museum is Danish, a non-Danish-speaking employee is expected to acquire the necessary Danish language skills within a short period of time (max. two years).

The employment is associated with regular travel activity (total maximum of one month per year).

Terms of salary and employment

The working hours are 37 hours a week. Terms of pay and employment are determined in accordance with the collective agreement for academics employed by the Danish state and executive order of 30 October 2015 on the job structure for academic staff with research responsibilities in archives, libraries, museums etc. under the Danish Ministry of Culture.

The appointment of a Researcher is a part of a tenure track, where the candidate after no more than 4 years will be assessed by an expert assessment committee. If the evaluation is positive, the candidate will transfer to a position as Senior Researcher. In case of two non-positive evaluations, the Museum will proceed with a termination of employment.

The position as Senior Researcher is permanent.

The position as Researcher/Senior Researcher is expected to be filled by the 1st of June 2024 or as soon as possible hereafter.

The place of work will primarily be at the National Museum of Denmark in Brede, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, north of Copenhagen.

Application procedure

The National Museum is actively working to promote equality among employees and encourages all qualified, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position.

The application is to be submitted in English and must include the following:

• Letter with motivation for the application (max. one page)
• Curriculum vitae, incl. education, language skills, record of public dissemination and other skills relevant for the position
• A description of current research and future research plans (max. 3 pages)
• Complete list of publications (mark the publications sent in for evaluation)
• Copies of 3 publications to be considered in the assessment. Full copies must be sent by post or uploaded as pdf (maximum size pr. file 2 mb) via the electronic recruitment system. Links to publications are not accepted
• Copies of university exams, Master diploma and PhD certificates or equivalent
• Transcript of university exams into English, if not written in English, Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish

If a publication to be considered in the evaluation has more than one author, or is the result of a collective effort, it must be clearly specified which part of the publication the applicant is responsible for. In the absence of a specification, the expert Assessment Committee will disregard that publication(s).

Applications must be sent via the electronic recruitment system on our website www.natmus.dk/job and must be uploaded by 1st March 2024.

Any publications to be included in the assessment must be received by the National Museum on 1st March 2024. Publications can either be uploaded to the recruitment system or sent to Nationalmuseet, Frederiksholms Kanal 12, DK-1220 København K, Denmark, marking the envelope ‘Personale’. Publications sent to the Museum must be submitted in 3 copies. Only books or similar will be returned.

The National Museum of Denmark will set up an expert Assessment Committee with external participation to evaluate the applications. When the Committee has completed its assessment, each applicant will receive the part of the overall assessment that specifically refers to her/him. Qualified applicants will be invited for interviews in a panel set up by the Museum.

For specific questions about the position, please contact Deputy Director Lars Højer, [email protected], phone +45 41 20 69 05


Nationalmuseet er Danmarks kulturhistoriske hovedmuseum og et statsmuseum under Kulturministeriet. Nationalmuseet styrker historiebevidsthed og medborgerskab ved at belyse Danmarks og verdens kulturer og deres indbyrdes afhængighed. Ca. 655 medarbejdere er fordelt på 4 afdelinger: Forskning, Samling og Bevaring, Museer og Slotte, Nationalmuseet København samt Drift og Administration. Se mere om Nationalmuseet på www.natmus.dk