PhD and Postdoc Positions in Indo-European Studies and Linguistics at University of Copenhagen University of Copenhagen in

The University of Copenhagen is offering a fully funded PhD scholarship at the Department of Nordic Studies and Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities. The position is part of the Indo-European Dark Ages Illuminated project, which aims to reconstruct the cultural vocabulary of the Indo-European 'Dark Ages'—the period between the dissolution of Proto-Indo-European and the emergence of its daughter branches. Research areas include historical linguistics, Indo-European studies, linguistic phylogenetics, database design, and archaeolinguistics. The project covers semantic fields such as clothing, metals, animal husbandry, agriculture, foods, social structure, religious practices, warfare, transport, economy, and construction. The successful candidate will carry out their own PhD project within this framework, focusing on the historical account of lexical items in one or more Indo-European branch proto-languages, considering both inherited and loan words. The project is supervised by PI Thomas Olander and involves collaboration with the Roots of Europe research centre and the Language History group.

The PhD programme consists of three years of full-time study (180 ECTS credits), culminating in a public thesis defense. Candidates will participate in active research environments, contribute to academic activities, and may have teaching obligations. Applicants must have a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field, with strong knowledge of historical linguistics and Indo-European studies. Skills in academic English are required, and German reading proficiency is advantageous. The scholarship provides a monthly salary starting at DKK 31,200 (EUR 4,100) plus pension, with additional work obligations at the department. The University of Copenhagen supports international researchers and offers a diverse, inclusive workplace.

To apply, candidates must submit an online application with all required documents, including a cover letter, CV, project description, abstract, diplomas, transcripts, and a time schedule. The application must be in English or Danish. The deadline for applications is 1 February 2026. For further details, visit the official PhD School website and refer to the provided links. Contact PhD Coordinator Thomas Olander for academic queries.