Postdoc position in Addressing Unavoidable Non-Economic Losses to Climate-Induced Events for Communities in the Arctic
SDU Climate Cluster (SCC) is looking for a postdoc with expertise in Arctic Climatology, Sea-Ice conditions, Anthropology, or other similar fields, preferably with a focus on Arctic Cultures. More specifically, the focus is loss of Indigenous knowledge and culture, and loss of subsistence livelihoods due to sea ice melt in Greenland.
The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 2 years. The starting date is on 1st of October 2025.
Short presentation of the research project
The postdoc position is a part of the externally funded research project: Lost to Climate:
The Arctic is experiencing some of the fastest warming on the planet, leading to coastal erosion, permafrost thaw, wildfires, and sea-ice loss. Despite adaptation measures, these impacts undermine the well-being of Arctic communities, both economically (e.g. by damaging infrastructure) and non-economically (e.g. by damaging cultural heritage and psychosocial health). In both research and policy debates, these impacts are referred to as economic and non-economic losses and damages, respectively. In most countries, non-economic losses and damages escape policy metrics and are thus neglected in public policy. This neglect is unfortunate due to the profound negative impact of non-economic losses and damages on the well-being of present and future generations. Better and more climate adaptation should lessen (economic and) non-economic losses and damages. However, there is a point at which the additional improvements in human and ecological capital that more adaptation would bring may not be worth the additional investment. Stated differently, when a certain level of adaptation has been reached – namely when a certain level of non-economic losses and damages avoidance has been secured – a community may decide that funding is better spent on other issues. Both the type of information required to make these decisions and the decision-making processes that can achieve socially just outcomes are unknown. In this project, we aim to bridge these knowledge gaps. LostToClimate is an effort in knowledge co-production. It involves (i) an interdisciplinary team of scientists and (ii) rural Arctic communities in Finland, Sweden, Norway, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, and the United States of America, including several Indigenous communities. The project relies on a range of ethnographic methods, including art-based approaches to elicit participation, and community specific dialogues that seek to place scientists and community members on an equal footing. In the project, we will answer four research questions. First, what types of non-economic losses and damages can be expected in the Arctic? Second, what non-economic losses and damages versus adaptation trade-offs are communities willing to make? Third, how can we deliver the evidence required to articulate just responses to non-economic losses and damages? Fourth, what types of responses to non-economic losses and damages do Arctic communities prefer?
Job description
The postdoc will analyze loss of Indigenous knowledge and culture loss of subsistence livelihoods due to sea ice melt in Greenland and advise authorities on appropriate responses and policies based on local needs and priorities. Further, understand and analyze amicable and flexible future inter-cooperations between local communities and national authorities.
Requirements
- The successful candidate has a PhD in Arctic Climatology, Sea-Ice conditions, Anthropology or other similar fields, preferably with a focus on Arctic Cultures. More specifically, the focus is loss of Indigenous knowledge and culture, and loss of subsistence livelihoods due to sea ice melt in Greenland.
- The PhD must be obtained within the last 8 years
- Knowledge of Greenland and Greenlandic spoken language is an advantage
The successful candidate will work at SDU Climate Cluster, an interdisciplinary research collaborative focusing on climate change and the consequences for human societies https://www.sdu.dk/en/forskning/sdu-climate-cluster . The work language is English (or Danish). The application will be based at SDU in Odense.
The postdoc will be supervised jointly by Professor Sebastian Mernild and by Associate Professor Rico Kongsager (Head of the Project) from University College Copenhagen (Københavns Professionshøjskole).
Contact information
For information about the project, please contact Sebastian Mernild at [email protected] and/or Rico Kongsager at [email protected]
If you are not a Danish-speaking applicant, please ensure that you use the English website to access the electronic application form to receive further information in English.
Application, salary and conditions of employment
The employment as postdoc is temporary. 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.
The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations), Cirkulære om overenskomst for Akademikere i staten 2021 (the document only exists in Danish).
Working at University of Southern Denmark
The 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. International staff in tenured positions will be offered Danish language training in connection with the employment and are expected to achieve Danish language competences at CEFR B2-level within 5 years from being appointed.
SDU Climate Cluster is located on the island of Funen at the university's main campus in Odense – the third-largest city in Denmark with 180.000 inhabitants. Odense provides family-friendly living conditions in a historic city with an urban feel where nature and other recreational areas are never far away. The city has excellent connections with public transportation to Aarhus and Copenhagen.
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 must include:
- A letter stating your specific interest, motivation, and qualifications for the project (400 words).
- Curriculum Vitae with applicant's e-mail and phone number
- Documentation of qualifications (examination certificates/PhD diploma, etc.)
- Complete list of publications indicating the publications attached
- Applicants may choose a maximum of three publications for assessment
Application and all appendices must be in English. Please always include a copy of the 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.
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 Science 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.
Applications should be sent electronically via the link "apply online" and the Faculty expects applicants to read the information " How to apply " before applying.
Incomplete applications and applications received after the deadline will neither be considered nor evaluated.
The assessment process
Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee and the applicant will receive the part of the evaluation that concerns them. 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 will 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.
Application deadline
Application deadline: 10 August 2025 at 23:59 hours local Danish time
The University is signatory of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA). We wish our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.
About SDU and Odense
SDU was founded in 1966 and now has more than 27,000 students, almost 20% of whom are from abroad. It has more than 3,800 employees, and 115 different study programmes in the fields of the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences, and engineering. Its main campus is located in Odense, the third largest city in Denmark, but is present also in Kolding, Sønderborg, Esbjerg and Copenhagen.
SDU Climate Cluster is located at the university's campus in Odense - a vibrant city with 180.000 inhabitants on the island of Funen with a rich cultural life and only 1½ hour away from the Danish capitol, Copenhagen. The city of Odense provides family-friendly living conditions with the perfect combination of a historic city centre with an urban feel and yet close proximity to beaches and recreational areas. Its location on the beautiful island of Funen is ideal with easy access by train or highway to the bigger cities of Aarhus and Copenhagen. As the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen, Denmark’s famous fairytale author, the city is home to a vibrant and creative population that hosts numerous festivals and markets throughout the year.
Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark.
