Postdoc Positions in 19th Century Political History: Public Opinion and the Crimean War

Job title: Postdoc Positions in 19th Century Political History: Public Opinion and the Crimean War

Company: Syddansk Universitet


Job description: Job Category: VIPJob Description:The Department of Culture and Language at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) invites applications for two postdoctoral positions (2 years, full-time), with the possibility of extension within the research project CRIMESCAN – The Crimean War and Scandinavia, funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark. The positions are available from 1 February 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.About the Project
CRIMESCAN explores the political, cultural, and international ramifications of the Crimean War (1853-1856) for Scandinavia. Bridging international history, nationalism studies, and international relations, the project investigates the interplay between war, nationalism, diplomacy, and the public sphere in mid-19th century Europe. The research team consists of senior and junior scholars in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The two postdoc positions will be part of Work Package 3 (WP3), which investigates the formation and manipulation of public opinion in relation to war policy and nationalist projects, both in Scandinavia and in the Western powers.Job Description
Each postdoc will independently pursue a subproject within the overall framework of WP3:

• Postdoc 1 will focus on how political actors in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway sought to mobilize public opinion in support of Scandinavian unification and possible intervention in the Crimean War. This includes investigating the use of press subsidies, propaganda, and informal diplomatic channels.
• Postdoc 2 will study similar strategies in Britain, France, and the German Confederation, with emphasis on how Western powers influenced public debate concerning Scandinavian involvement in the war and regional realignments.

Both projects will require extensive archival research and analysis of newspapers and pamphlets from the period. Candidates will participate in joint weekly meetings, contribute to co-authored publications, and be expected to produce three single- or co-authored articles.Requirements
Applicants must hold a PhD in history or a closely related field. The following qualifications will be emphasized in the assessment:Common to both positions:

• A strong research profile in 19th-century political history.
• Proven skills in historical analysis.
• Proficiency in English at academic level is essential.
• Experience with archival research, public sphere studies, political communication or nationalism studies will be considered a strong asset.
• Familiarity with quantitative text analysis procedures is considered an advantage.
• Familiarity with digital tools, including computational methods for textual analysis, will be an advantage.

For Postdoc 1:

• Specialization in Scandinavian history of the 19th century.
• Reading proficiency in Scandinavian languages is required.
• Additional language competencies will be regarded favourably.

For Postdoc 2:

• Specialization in European history, especially Britain, France, and/or the German states.
• Reading proficiency in French is required; German reading skills are highly desirable.
• Additional language competencies will be regarded favourably.

Please indicate clearly in your application whether you are applying for Postdoc 1, Postdoc 2, or both positions. If applying for both, please state your motivation and qualifications for each position separately within the application letter.Contact information
For information about the project, please contact Professor Rasmus Glenthøj at . For further information about the position and employment at the University of Southern Denmark, Vice Head of Department Anne Klara Bom at .For questions related to CV, diplomas etc., please contactWe 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 asWorking 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.The Department of Culture and Language is located on the island of Funen at the university’s campus in Odense – the third-largest city in Denmark with 180.000 inhabitants. 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.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 2025 (the document only exists in Danish).Application
Applications should be sent electronically via the link “apply online” and the Faculty expects applicants to read the information before applying.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 Danish, English or one of the Scandinavian languages. 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. you can read more about shortlisting at SDU.Application deadline
August 14, 2025 at 11.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST)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.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.

Expected salary:

Location: Odense, Syddanmark

Job date: Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:52:39 GMT

To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate in your email/cover letter where (jobsnear.pro) you saw this job posting.Thanks&Good Luck