Danish Institute for International Studies
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Postdoc in Qualitative Research on the Logics of Destruction in Civil War Danish Institute for International Studies in Denmark
Degree Level
Postdoc
Field of study
Anthropology
Funding
Time-limited, fully funded postdoc at DIIS. The position is offered as a 24-month appointment at 80% of full time (equivalent to 19 months full-time work), with flexibility for alternative arrangements as long as it ends before 30 June 2029. Fieldwork is fully funded by the project. Salary follows DIIS/AC agreements, with a normal starting salary of DKK 35,494.83–42,108.16 excl. pension for full-time employment, plus an 18.07% pension contribution and possible personal supplement.
Deadline
Oct 15, 2026
Country
Denmark
University
Danish Institute for International Studies
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About this position
The Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) is recruiting a fully funded postdoc for the project Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire: Uncovering Scorched Earth Tactics Through Remote Sensing (FIRES). The position is based in Copenhagen, Denmark, and starts on 1 March 2027 or shortly thereafter.
This postdoc focuses on qualitative research on the logics of destruction in civil war. The successful candidate will design and conduct an ethnographically grounded case study on the deliberate destruction of settlements, livelihoods, and/or cropland in internal wars. The project asks not only where and when scorched earth tactics occur, but what they are embedded in, what they are meant to accomplish, and how they are understood by perpetrators and affected communities.
The research sits within an interdisciplinary project combining remote sensing and qualitative methods. The postdoc will collaborate closely with the project team, including Senior Researcher Peer Schouten and Researcher Mikael Naghizadeh, and will engage with the project’s remote-sensing stream. Example case contexts mentioned in the call include northern Nigeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.
Applicants should have a PhD in anthropology, human geography, sociology, political science, conflict studies, history, or a cognate field in the humanities/social sciences. Strong experience with extended qualitative fieldwork in conflict-affected settings is expected, along with theoretically ambitious work. Historical or archival depth, competence in a relevant local language, and interest in spatial methods are considered advantages. English is the only required language.
The appointment is time-limited and fully funded. It is offered as a 24-month appointment at 80% of full time (equivalent to 19 months full-time work), with flexibility for alternative arrangements as long as the contract ends before 30 June 2029. Fieldwork is also fully funded by the project. Salary follows DIIS/AC collective agreements, with pension included.
To apply, submit the required documents through DIIS’ electronic recruitment system (Emply) by 15 October 2026. The application must include a motivation letter, CV, diplomas or proof the PhD will be completed before March 2027, publication list, documentation of policy/scientific dissemination, a two-page reflection on the proposed case and theory, and up to three relevant publications.
Funding details
Time-limited, fully funded postdoc at DIIS. The position is offered as a 24-month appointment at 80% of full time (equivalent to 19 months full-time work), with flexibility for alternative arrangements as long as it ends before 30 June 2029. Fieldwork is fully funded by the project. Salary follows DIIS/AC agreements, with a normal starting salary of DKK 35,494.83–42,108.16 excl. pension for full-time employment, plus an 18.07% pension contribution and possible personal supplement.
What's required
Applicants must have a PhD in anthropology, human geography, sociology, political science, conflict studies, history or a cognate humanities/social science field, and must have demonstrable experience of extended qualitative fieldwork in conflict-affected settings together with a record of theoretically ambitious work. Historical or archival depth, competence in a language relevant to the proposed case, and interest in spatial methods are desirable. Candidates must be skilled communicators in English; there are no language requirements besides English. The PhD must be obtained before March 2027 if not already completed.
How to apply
Apply through DIIS’ electronic recruitment system (Emply) before the deadline. Include a motivation letter, CV, Master’s and PhD diplomas or proof the PhD will be obtained before March 2027, publication list, documentation of policy/scientific dissemination, a two-page case/theory reflection, and up to three relevant publications with co-author statements if needed.
More information can be found here
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