Associate Professor in Public Health: Children and Young People

At the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH), University of Southern Denmark (SDU), a position as Associate Professor in Public Health is hereby advertised with a focus on interdisciplinary, qualitative studies of children’s and young people’s health and well-being, commencing on 15 April 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

About your future research environment  

The National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) is part of the University of Southern Denmark and is located in Copenhagen. As a national public health institute, we conduct research to improve public health in Denmark and Greenland. At the same time, we contribute internationally to the development of knowledge, theories and methods in the field of public health.

We offer an inspiring research environment in the heart of Copenhagen with skilled and dedicated colleagues from diverse research and educational backgrounds. Here, you will have the opportunity for academic exchange and further development of your own research areas, as well as participation in national and international networks. The position is anchored in the research group Health Promotion and Interventions, which conducts research on interventions addressing public health issues and works with methodological and theoretical challenges related to the design and evaluation of intervention and implementation studies. Our research concerns children, young people and families, as well as vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, and takes place in a range of settings, including daycare institutions, primary and lower secondary schools, upper secondary education, the healthcare system, municipal services, supermarkets and local communities.  
You will actively participate in the daily activities of the research group and work closely with other researchers at NIPH.  

The duties include research, teaching and dissemination within the institute’s areas of expertise, including:  
- Children’s and young people’s health, well-being and everyday life
- The significance of digital media for children’s and young people’s lives and health
- Health promotion and implementation research in daycare institutions, schools and upper secondary education
- Interdisciplinary, practice-oriented research and development projects, including process evaluation
- Advanced qualitative methods, including ethnography, interviews, focus groups and child-centred approaches
- Teaching and supervision at bachelor’s and master’s level, including qualitative methods, children’s and young people’s health, and implementation
- Preparation of applications for external funding as well as project management and coordination
- Contributions to the further development of the research environment, including method development and research group activities
 
The following qualifications are highly valued:  
You have established yourself as a qualified researcher within qualitative methods, children’s and young people’s health, and intervention and implementation research, and you possess strong research and teaching qualifications at a high level. You have a relevant publication profile and extensive experience in disseminating research to researchers, practitioners, and other target groups. You have broad collaborative networks and experience in research collaboration with practitioners. As a person, you are dedicated and possess strong communication skills. You are able to build trusting relationships with students, colleagues, and external partners alike. As a teacher, you communicate up-to-date, relevant knowledge in an engaging, clear and understandable way, and as a supervisor you are skilled, inspiring, and supportive.  

Qualifications  
- A PhD degree in Public Health, Education, Sociology, Anthropology or a related field
- Experience with intervention and implementation research
- Documented experience in research on children’s and young people’s health
- A strong profile within qualitative research
- Experience in collaborating with practitioners, exchanging knowledge and disseminating research
- Experience in national and international research collaboration
- Documented teaching experience at university level and experience supervising students (e.g. bachelor’s or master's students)
- Proficiency in Danish and English at a high level, both orally and in writing
- Documented experience with scientific publications within relevant research areas
 

Further information regarding the position can be obtained from:  
Research Leader Susan Andersen,  mailto:suan@sdu.dk

Terms and conditions of employment  
Appointment as an Associate Professor is for a fixed term of three years, commencing on 15 April 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Appointment to the position will be in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the state with the associated circular on the protocol for the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for associate professor as described herein. Please check links for more information on salary (only available in Danish) and taxation.

The person employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial assessment, be exempted from time registration, also known as a self-organiser.

The assessment and evaluation process
Shortlisting may be used in the assessment process. Please note that only shortlisted applicants will receive an assessment. Read about shortlisting at SDU. 
Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee and the shortlisted applicants will receive the part of the evaluation that concerns them. The committee may request additional information, and if so, it is the responsibility of the applicants to provide the necessary material. Interviews and tests may form part of the overall assessment carried out by the appointment committee.  
Based on information from the entire recruitment process, the Head of Institute will decide which applicant is offered the position. 

The application

Applicants are encouraged to read the information "How to apply" before applying. 

Assessment of the candidates is based on the application material, and the application must include:

• Motivated application

• Curriculum vitae

• Master’s degree and PhD degree certificates or equivalent (copy of original + verified English translation)

• Teaching portfolio

• Research plan, including an account of your own research and preferably a vision for future research 

• A complete list of publications

• Up to six of the most relevant publications. Please attach one PDF file per publication. In cases of co-authorship, a co-author declaration must be submitted as part of the PDF file.

• Reference letters/references may also be included

• A statement of other qualifications relevant to the position.

We request files in pdf-format no more than 5 MB per file. All pdf-files must be unlocked and allow merging and may not be password protected. Documents should not contain a CPR number (civil registration number) – in this case, the CPR number must be crossed out.

UPLOAD GUIDE: Motivated application shall be uploaded as ‘Cover letter’, Curriculum Vitae shall be uploaded as ‘CV’. All other documents shall be uploaded as ‘Miscellaneous documents’.

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

If you experience technical problems, please contact mailto:hcm-support@sdu.dk

Application deadline 18 November 2026 at 23.59 (CET) 

We recommend that as an international applicant, you take the time to visit Work 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 University of Southern Denmark wishes to reflect the surrounding society and therefore encourages all qualified candidates, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position.  

About SDU  
The University of Southern Denmark was founded to create value for and together with society. Whether our contribution comes in the form of excellent research, innovative solutions, education, or learning, we must make a positive difference to society and contribute to a sustainable future. We do this by nurturing talent and creating the best environments for research and learning. It is therefore crucial that SDU retains, develops, and recruits talented individuals. At the same time, we must ensure consistently high quality in all our activities, which can only be achieved with the right people.  
The university’s researchers, teachers, students, managers, and technical-administrative staff constitute the foundation of our success.