The Department of Design, Media and Educational Studies (Philosophy) invites applications for a 1-year postdoc position. The postdoc will contribute to the subproject “Going all in”, a study of the experiences and attitudes of dedicated users of VRChat, an online virtual world platform allowing users to interact with others with user-created 3D avatars and worlds.

The position is part of the collaborative research project Wellbeing and Virtual Worlds, funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark and is available from September 1., 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter. The project aims at examining the fundamental premises behind assessments of the quality of life in virtual worlds and contributing to a more nuanced understanding of life in virtual spaces. It comprises value theory and empirical studies of user experiences and the interplay between online and offline activities, combining philosophy, media studies (including game studies) and psychology. It is a collaborative project between SDU and the University of Aarhus (Department of Public Health).

In the subproject, dedicated platform users should be recruited and studied in depth, focusing on both their experiences and evaluations and their actual activities in- and outside VRChat. We welcome ideas and suggestions for sampling and recruitment and specific methodological and theoretical approaches. Apart from experience with qualitative research (preferably with a phenomenological orientation), qualifications in digital media research and methodology and wellbeing studies are particularly relevant. Ideas for specific subtopics or focuses can be submitted with the application, and the postdoc will have the opportunity to pursue their own special interests within the framework of the project. Applicants should, however, also be willing to develop their ideas in collaboration with the other project members and contribute to joint work within the project, including joint publications.

The SDU DME Media Section possesses internationally as well as nationally connected expertise in media domains including film, television, interactive gaming, auditory media, social media, and museum communication. We are invested in tracking the dynamic trajectories of these respective industries and their cultural fields, rooted in the idea that media are not just a product of society or technology, but also co-shape reality and can thus foster change. Work within the section embrace a forward-looking approach while grounding research in a deep historical understanding of the materiality and sociality of media and their practices. The SDU DME Philosophy Section is internationally very well connected and has a strong profile in both basic research (especially epistemology, value theory, ethics, political philosophy, philosophy of mind and phenomenology) and applied philosophy (e.g. philosophy of health, philosophy and climate change, philosophy of education, and philosophy of technology). It has attracted a substantial amount of external funding in recent years and is strongly involved in interdisciplinary collaboration.

Applicants will be expected to have a documented professional working proficiency level of written and spoken English.

Applicants must have a PhD-age of no more than four years, as required by Independent Research Fund Denmark.

The position is a research position only with no teaching duties.

Contact information
For further information about the position, feel free to contact associate professor Bo Kampmann Walther (walther@sdu.dk) (Media Studies, head of the subproject), and/or professor Søren Harnow Klausen (harnow@sdu.dk) (Philosophy, head of the Wellbeing and Virtual Worlds project).

Conditions of employment
The employment as postdoc is temporary (1 year). Employment stops automatically by the end of the period. An upgrade of pedagogical qualifications is not part of the position. Thus, employment as postdoc cannot stand alone as a qualification for later employment as associate professor/senior researcher.

Appointment to the position will be in accordance with the salary agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Please check links for more information on salary (only available in Danish) and taxation.

Application
The Faculty expects applicants to read the information "How to apply" before applying.

The application must include the following documents in English:

Motivated application/cover letter (max. 1 page)
Curriculum Vitae with applicant's e-mail and phone number
Copies of Certificates/Diplomas (Bachelor, Master, and Ph.D. degree) – Danish and/or English transcripts.
Complete list of publications.
Publications most relevant for the position. Please attach as one PDF-file for each publication (only full text publications (i.e., no links) can form the basis for assessment of the application). In case of co-authorship, a co-author statement must be submitted as part of the pdf-file

The application may also include:

Research statement.
Summary of experience in teaching.
Reference letters/References.
Documentation of other qualifications with relevance to the position.

Application and all appendices must be in English. Please always include a copy of original diploma/certificates. We only accept files in pdf-format no more than 10 MB per file. In case you have more than one file per field you need to combine the pdf-files into a single file, as each field handles only one file. We do not accept zip-files, jpg or other image files. All pdf-files must be unlocked and allow binding and may not be password protected.

The assessment process
Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee and the applicant will receive the part of the evaluation that concerns him/her. The assessment report will subsequently be forwarded to the Head of Department who will assemble an appointments committee. An interview may form part of the overall assessment of the applicants' qualifications.

The committee may request additional information, and if so, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the necessary material.

If the application does not meet the requirements mentioned above, the Faculty of Humanities may reject your application without further notice. Applications received after the deadline will neither be considered nor evaluated.

Shortlisting and tests may be used in the assessment process. Please note that only a shortlisted applicant will receive an assessment. Here you can read more about shortlisting at SDU.

We recommend that as an international applicant you take the time to visit Working in Denmark where you will find information and facts about moving to, working and living in Denmark, as well as the International Staff Office at SDU.

The application deadline: April 10, 2025 at 12.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST)

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

🕑 | Odense M | 2025-04-10 23:59:00

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