Full-time PhD position(s) on conspiracy theories in political communication at the Digital Democracy Centre (5+3 or 4+4 scheme)

The Digital Democracy Centre (DDC) at the University of Southern Denmark, Odense, invites applications one or more full-time PhD positions studying conspiracy theories in political communication as part the German Research Foundation-funded research unit “Beyond Crazy: Integrating Benefits into the Analysis of Conspiracy Beliefs”.

The project at SDU focusses on political communicators and examines how conspiracy theories are shared in political communication, how the media and the public respond to such content, and how politicians perceive conspiracy theories. You can read more about the project HERE and learn more about our research unit and the other projects on our LinkedIn page HERE . Employment starts in April 2027 or soon thereafter. The place of employment will be in Odense.

Research profile and tasks:

The project combines qualitative and quantitative methods from the social sciences including content analysis, interviews, and social scientific experiments. The PhD student will be involved in all aspects of the research, from conception, execution, analysis, to publishing, and public dissemination.

A solid set of field specific method skills is necessary. Candidates are expected to be willing and able to contribute to the research unit and the DDC by producing original research of high international quality, engage in exchange of knowledge with relevant societal actors, including news media, the public, and policymakers, be part of impact activities, and contribute to team building and the development of the DDC.

Candidates are expected to:

- Be capable of working independently and in a team, for example in data collection, writing scientific articles, and knowledge dissemination

- Contribute both academically and socially to the research environment at the DDC and the research unit

- Be willing to present research results at international conferences

- Contribute to teaching

- Work and be present at the DDC in Odense

- Be able to communicate project results in English (both written and verbally), in academic contexts and to the broader public

- Danish is not necessary for this position. German is an advantage (due to the funding source) but is also not a requirement.

We are seeking candidates with a passion for excellent research with societal relevance and a background in fields such as communication, psychology, journalism, political science, sociology, or adjacent disciplines. The ideal candidate has experiences in both qualitative and quantitative social scientific research (or the strong interest in broadening existing knowledge in one empirical tradition to the other). You can read more about the qualification criteria expected from PhDs in the faculty's qualification guidelines (PDF download HERE ). Inquiries about the project and the positions can be addressed to the Vice-Director of the DDC, Associate Prof. Lena Frischlich ( [email protected] ).

About the Research Unit

The project is part of the research unit “Beyond Crazy: Integrating Benefits into the Analysis of Conspiracy Beliefs” and is thus part of a larger, interdisciplinary research network. This involves regular academic exchange with doctoral students and professors at the other locations, as well as participation in joint conferences, summer schools, and workshops. Candidates who wish to apply to multiple subprojects within the research group are invited to do so but are asked to inform us about their other applications in the application letter.

About the DDC

The project is embedded in the DDC, an interdisciplinary centre of excellence at the Faculty of Social Sciences. The DDC brings together members from computer science, law, media studies, political science, business, and organizations. The DDC believes in fostering a stimulating and inspiring environment for both faculty members and students. The DDC’s ambition is to recruit, develop, and retain talented scholars committed to both research, education, and impact. Furthermore, the DDC wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background. You can find further information about the DDC HERE .

Living and Working in Denmark

Foreign applicants will be offered Danish language training as part of your employment. International Staff Office (ISO) at SDU provides a variety of services for new employees, guests and people who consider applying for a job at the University of Southern Denmark. Among other things, the staff answers questions concerning salary, taxation, housing and accompanying family . Additional information about working in Denmark can be found at Work in Denmark .

Application and Assessment Process

You can apply for this position through either of the following schemes. All applicants must meet the general application requirements listed in the Application Requirements section below. Additional requirements apply to applicants who have not yet completed the necessary degree or ECTS credits, as specified under each scheme.

(a) 5+3 PhD Scheme

The 5+3 scheme is intended for applicants who have completed a relevant master's degree programme or equivalent documented qualifications corresponding to 120 ECTS or expect to complete their master's degree before the start of the PhD position.

Under this scheme, the PhD program consists of three years of full-time employment (100%). PhD students receive a full PhD salary throughout the three-year period, including pension contributions, in accordance with the applicable collective agreement.

Applicants who have not yet completed their master's degree:

You are welcome to apply even if you have not completed your master's degree by the application deadline. In addition to the general application requirements listed below, you must:

- State in your application when you expect to complete your master's degree and confirm that you will submit your diploma as soon as it becomes available.

- Submit your current academic transcripts, documenting the courses and examinations you have completed.

If selected, you may receive a conditional offer of admission and employment, subject to successfully completing your master's degree before the start of the PhD program. You must submit your final master's degree diploma as soon as it becomes available.

Details about the financial conditions for the 5+3 scheme are available HERE .

(b) 4+4 PhD Scheme

The 4+4 scheme is intended for applicants who are currently enrolled in a relevant 120 ECTS master's program at SDU or another university and who have completed, or expect to complete, at least 60 ECTS of their master's degree before the start of the PhD program.

Applicants currently enrolled at another university must transfer their master's enrolment to SDU before starting the PhD program. This requires admission to a relevant master's program at SDU and approval of the transfer of previously completed credits.

Under this scheme, the PhD program lasts four years. During the first two years, you will be enrolled in both your master's program and the PhD program at SDU. Once you have completed your master's degree and passed the qualifying examination, you will transition to employment as a salaried PhD student for the remaining two years.

Financial conditions under the 4+4 PhD Scheme:

During the first two years, you will receive an increased student grant (PhD SU stipend) rather than a full PhD salary. This stipend is lower than the regular PhD salary and does not include pension contributions.

You may also be eligible for ordinary student subsidies (SU) during this period, depending on your individual circumstances and the applicable SU regulations. Please note that international applicants, particularly those from outside the EU, may not qualify for ordinary SU and should therefore not assume that they will receive this additional financial support.

During the final two years, you will receive the regular PhD salary, including pension contributions, in accordance with the applicable collective agreement.

Applicants who have not yet completed 60 ECTS of their master's degree:

You are welcome to apply even if you have not completed the required 60 ECTS by the application deadline. In addition to the general application requirements listed below, you must:

- State in your application when you expect to complete the required 60 ECTS.

- Submit your current master's degree transcripts, documenting any courses and examinations already completed.

As part of the general application requirements, you must also submit your bachelor's degree diploma and academic transcripts.

If selected, you may receive conditional admission to the PhD program, subject to successfully completing the required 60 ECTS before the start of the program.

Once you have passed the outstanding examinations, you must submit the relevant academic transcripts. Your conditional admission can then be converted into final admission.

Further information about the 4+4 scheme can be found HERE .

Details about the financial conditions for the 4+4 scheme are available HERE .

Further information about The PhD School at SDU Business School and The Faculty of Social Sciences can be found on the PhD School's website .

Application Requirements

All applicants, regardless of whether they are applying under the 5+3 or 4+4 PhD scheme, must submit an application in English containing the following documents:

- A motivational letter: A short (1-1.5 pages) letter stating your motivations to apply for the position and what makes you a good fit to the advertised position. You must clearly state whether you are applying under the 5+3 or 4+4 PhD scheme.

- A project description : A project description (max. two pages excluding references) explaining how you would work within the predefined research in the subproject of the research unit. Include references to literature within the project field and a description of how your skills provide a solid foundation for the research conducted in the subproject. The purpose of the description is to evaluate your academic skills, not to propose an independent PhD project.

- Curriculum vitae: A detailed CV, including personal contact information and relevant dates.

- Academic documentation: Your bachelor's degree diploma and, if applicable, master's degree diploma, including academic transcripts. If you have not yet completed the required degree or ECTS credits, you must also provide the additional information and documentation specified under the relevant PhD scheme above. Foreign diplomas that are not in Norwegian, Swedish or English must be accompanied by a translation into Danish or English, as well as a translation of the official description of the marking scale used.

- PhD application form: A completed PhD program application form, available HERE (https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms%2Fcertificate-checker%3Flogin%3Dfalse%26originalUrl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.sdu.dk.mcas.ms%252F-%252Fmedia%252Ffiles%252Fph%252C-d-%252Cd%252C-d-%252C-skolen%252Fapplication-form-for-phd-ny.docx%253FMcasTsid%253D20892%26McasCSRF%3D8866943b189dcdd80cfa3b3893331a1df4a4cf4c4f5ecbe2ae86edfb69eea6eb&data=05%7C02%7Clped%40sdu.dk%7C5c8b3ce6fa004e8eceb308df35c69c98%7C9a97c27db83e4694b35354bdbf18ab5b%7C0%7C0%7C639288799279240833%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kZRt%2Fp3Ba7aFLPZNVlI52s5%2Bk%2B3yyxAhpIuB4adffO4%3D&reserved=0). You must indicate which PhD scheme you are applying for in the form.

- References: Names and complete contact details, including phone numbers and email addresses, of at least two academic or professional references.

Please ensure that your application clearly identifies the PhD scheme you are applying for and includes all required documentation, including any additional information specified under the relevant scheme.

Documents should not contain a Danish CPR number (civil registration number) – in this case, the CPR number must be crossed out.

Applications that are incomplete may be rejected without any substantive evaluation. The assessment of applications will be carried out in accordance with the existing Appointment Order for universities.

Applications will be evaluated by an academic assessment committee, and applicants will be informed of the committee’s assessment by the university. The committee may request additional information; in such cases, it is the applicant’s responsibility to provide the required material. The committee reserves the right to make its decision solely based on the submitted documentation. Applications received after the deadline will be rejected.

Shortlisting may be used in the assessment process.

We recommend reading " How to apply for a position at SDU " before applying.

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link "Apply now".

Uploaded files must be in PDF (unlocked). The application and CV must each not exceed 10 MB in file size.

Application deadline: 11 th of December 2026, 11:59 PM/23:59 (CET/CEST)

Salary and employment terms

Salary is determined in accordance with the applicable collective agreement and based on objective and gender-neutral criteria, including the content of the position, responsibilities, and qualification requirements.

As an applicant, you are entitled to information about the starting salary and salary range for the position. This information will be provided during the recruitment process.

SDU does not collect information on applicants’ previous salary.