Postdoctoral position in Social Philosophy

The Department of Philosophy and History of Ideas, School of Culture and Society, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University invites applications for a 2.5 years fixed-term postdoctoral position in social philosophy.

The appointment begins on November 1 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. Place of work will be Jens Chr. Skous Vej 7, 8000 Aarhus C.

The university is keen for its staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified applicants regardless of their personal background.

Research context

The successful applicant will join the ERC-funded project The Glue of Society: A Social Ontology of Social Cohesion [GLUE], led by PI Associate Professor Nicolai Knudsen. The GLUE project aims to provide a philosophical clarification of the concept and value of social cohesion and to account for its role in constituting and maintaining the social world. For more information, please refer to www.aarhussocialontology.com/glue.

We are looking for a researcher with a background in social philosophy, preferably with a specialisation in social ontology. A track record of research in critical theory, phenomenology, and/or political philosophy is an advantage but not a requirement.

The postdoc will contribute to Phase 3 of the GLUE project, which develops a critical social ontology of social cohesion. The postdoc is expected to pursue an independent research agenda within this framework. Possible research foci include, but are not limited to:

• What is the relation between social cohesion and social justice, and can a socially cohesive system be unjust?
• What can contrastive phenomena such as domination, oppression, discrimination, marginalization, polarization, and social fragmentation reveal about the nature and value of social cohesion?
• How can and do social institutions enable, sustain, or undermine social cohesion?
• Are there obligations to maintain or restore social cohesion? Who bears such obligations, and under what conditions?
• What normative and affective conditions must be satisfied for individuals to participate in a socially cohesive system, and what are the consequences (for the system and for its members) when those conditions are not met?

The position

The successful applicant is expected to

• develop their research within the framework of the GLUE project,
• write solo- and co-authored articles and publish the results in high-ranked peer-reviewed international scientific journals in a timely fashion,
• present their research at national and international events,
• initiate and help to organise research workshops, conferences, seminars, and other activities.

On-site presence at Aarhus University is a requirement for this position.

Application material and procedure

The applicants are asked to submit:

• a research proposal (maximum three pages) in which they indicate how they will contribute to the overall project. The project description should ideally demonstrate excellent knowledge of the relevant philosophical literature,
• a concise statement of motivation for applying for the position (maximum one page),
• a maximum of 2 publications or works-in-progress relevant to the position.

The research activities will be evaluated in relation to the actual research time. We therefore encourage applicants to specify any periods of leave they may have had without research activities (e.g. maternity/paternity leave), so we can subtract these periods from the span of their academic career when evaluating their productivity.

Please read the full job description and apply at the university homepage

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