Centre for the Experimental-Philosophical Study of Discrimination (CEPDISC) at the Department of Political Science, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University invites applications for two postdoctoral positions.
The call is open for general applications in the research areas of the Centre, i.e., experimental-philosophical studies of discrimination, but special preference is given to applicants that can contribute to the subprojects described in this call.
The expected starting date is August 1, 2021 or as agreed upon. The duration for the positions is 3 years.
Job description
The position as postdoctoral researcher is a fixed-term academic research position. As part of small, interdisciplinary subproject teams within the centre, each postdoc position will cover a variety of tasks including research design, data collection, analysis and dissemination. The selected candidates will also be expected to contribute substantially to publications, both as first and secondary authors and to take part in the research activities at the centre on a daily basis. The positions includes relatively modest teaching obligations.
CEPDISC invites applications for the following positions:
Postdoctoral researcher under the “Empirical studies of citizens’ objections to discrimination – wp5”
The position under the “wp5” subproject is led by Associate Professor Andreas Albertsen (PI). The successful applicant will closely collaborate with the PI as well the other members of the team seeking to empirically examine citizen’s objections to discrimination.
This subproject will conduct empirical studies contributing to answering the second of CEPDISC's main research question, i.e., what are the main grounds for objecting to discrimination and how do these grounds relate? Addressing questions related to the public’s objections to discrimination as well as uncovering the logical relationships between these objections fall within the scope of this part of CEPDISC’s work. In WP5, we examine citizens’ objections to discrimination by conducting population-based survey experiments, in which representative samples of citizens are presented with short vignettes describing different cases of putative discrimination as well as condensed versions of philosophical arguments for why the cases are (or are not) wrongful discrimination. The findings of this large-scale study will be supplemented inter alia with structured in-depth interviews with a subsample of the people who participated in the survey experiment. The broader aim of this sub-project within CEPDISC is to uncover how citizens reason about discrimination and how this reasoning relates to normative theories of discrimination.
The successful applicant will closely collaborate with the PI and the other members at CEPDISC. In particular, the successful applicant is expected to have proficiency and experience with designing, planning and collecting data through representative surveys including experimental components. Furthermore, the candidate is expected to have an interest in normative theories of discrimination as well as an interest in empirical studies of moral reasoning and experimental philosophy.
Postdoctoral researcher under the “Experimental studies of the sources of prejudice and discrimination – wp7” project
The position under the “wp7” subproject is led by Professor Lotte Thomsen (PI).
This work package uses experimental methods to investigate the relational and psychological sources of discriminatory and prejudiced attitudes and behaviors. We seek to understand the nature of discriminatory behavior by examining it in light of our evolved psychology and as expressions of particular social concerns that arise with the challenges of living in large and diverse societies.
We will examine the origin of individual differences in views on how individuals and groups should be treated in terms of the different relational frames with which people approach society (e.g. equality, proportionality, communality, hierarchy), and will explore how they develop and are expressed differently depending on societal positioning (e.g. SES, gender) and experiences (e.g. in childhood).
The successful applicant will closely collaborate with the PI and the other members at CEPDISC. In particular, the successful applicant is expected to have an interest in social, personality, and/or evolutionary psychology, and a good understanding of social issues as the product of the interaction between psychological and societal influences and prior and current life outcomes. Advanced statistical proficiency is a strong advantage, ideally including areas such as longitudinal, multilevel and/or behavioral genetic modelling.
Your qualifications
We seek applicants with expertise within the areas of political and social psychology, sociology, philosophy, experimental philosophy, political science or related fields, preferably with a track record of experimental research projects on discrimination. Applicants who apply for a postdoc in connection with one of the two WPs mentioned above are required to possess a PhD-degree in either experimental philosophy, political, science, social/political psychology or related areas.
We expect the candidates to have excellent communication skills in spoken and written English, and an ability to produce state-of-the art experimental research and work in an interdisciplinary research environment where you interact and work together across sub-projects and research streams.
In addition to a CV and proof of PhD degree (or the near completion of a PhD degree), interested applicants should provide a 1-2 page application letter motivating why they are interested in the position and how they can contribute to specific research project(s) and CEPDISCS’s research activities in general. Applicants should also specify whether they are specifically interested in one of the positions or whether they are applying for a postdoc project on experimental-philosophical studies of discrimination that falls outside the projects listed above. In the latter case, the application letter must specify an idea for a project.
Who are we
Centre for the Experimental-Philosophical Study of Discrimination (CEPDISC) is part of the Department of Political Science at Aarhus University.
CEPDISC - is a centre of excellence devoted the experimental-philosophical study of discrimination and funded for a six-year period by the Danish National Research Foundation.
CEPDISC studies discrimination from an experimental-philosophical perspective. It asks three main research questions: 1) What is discrimination and what forms of discrimination exist? 2) What are the moral objections to discrimination? 3) What are the psychological mechanisms behind discrimination and what can and should be done, given these mechanisms, to mitigate discrimination?
Kasper Lippert-Rasmussen is the center leader of CEPDISC. CEPDISC’s core members are: Andreas Albertsen, Fabio Wolkenstein, Göran Duus-Otterström, Kim Mannemar Sønderskov, Lasse Laustsen, Lotte Thomsen, Marion Godman, Michael Bang Petersen, and Søren Flinch Midtgaard. Together the core members cover relevant fields in political theory/philosophy and social and political psychology.
For examples of current research and activities, please consult our website here.
Further information
Applicants are welcome to contact Centre Director Kasper Lippert-Rasmussen per email: Lippert@ps.au.dk and the respective workpackage leaders prior to submitting their application to learn more about the positions:
If you need help uploading your application or have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR supporter Anne Arnfeldt Källberg, Tel.: +45 8715 3631, Email:
aak@au.dkPlace of workCentre for the Experimental-Philosophical Study of Discrimination, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 7, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
International applicant? Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners:
http://ias.au.dk/au-relocation-service/. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here:
http://international.au.dk/research/Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here:
http://talent.au.dk/junior-researcher-development-programme/Terms of employmentThe appointment is made in accordance with the
Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities as well as the circular on the
Collective Agreement for Academics Employed by the State (in Danish).
The job content and qualification requirements are described in further detail in the
Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
Application procedureWhen you apply for this position it is mandatory to attach the following:
- Application
- Curriculum Vitae. You are encouraged to declare any periods of leave without research activity, including, for example, maternity leave, since your research activities are assessed in relation to your actual research time
- Education (diploma for master's, PhD and possibly higher doctoral degree)
- List of publications (the enclosed publications must be clearly marked on the list of publications)
- Publications. Up to three publications can be included in the application. In the event of several authors the publications must be accompanied by a co-author statement concerning the applicant's share of the collaborative work with the consent of the co-authors. Please use this template
- Teaching portfolio. The specific requirements regarding the documentation can be found here
Materials which cannot be uploaded together with the application may be submitted in three copies to Aarhus BSS HR & PhD, Aarhus University, Tåsingegade 1, 2nd floor, DK-8000 Aarhus C.
Read more about how to apply for an academic post at Aarhus BSS
hereThe evaluation processAfter the application deadline, an assessment committee is appointed. Please note that the assessment of applicants is based solely on the material received prior to the application deadline. For further information, see
Guidelines for Assessment Committee, Aarhus BSS.
All interested candidates are encouraged to apply regardless of personal background.
The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.Aarhus UniversityAarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,000 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 885 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/Deadline: 01 February 2021