About the Position
The Saxo Institute at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen invites applications for a 30-month Postdoctoral Fellowship starting 1 January 2026, within the prestigious ERC Consolidator Project INNER_LEAGUE. Led by Dr Haakon A. Ikonomou, INNER_LEAGUE is a major 5-year research initiative exploring the social and bureaucratic history of the League of Nations Secretariat (1919–1947). This interdisciplinary project bridges social, cultural, institutional, and digital history, focusing on emotional communities, hierarchies, and infrastructures within early multilateral governance.
This is a unique opportunity for a historian specialising in international organisations, diplomatic history, and public administration to engage with pioneering digital research tools and contribute to prosopographical scholarship. The position includes archival work in Geneva and collaboration with European research partners.
Position/Job Details
- Position: Postdoctoral Fellow
- Institution: University of Copenhagen
- Department: The Saxo Institute, Faculty of Humanities
- Research Field: History of International Organisations
- Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
- Number of Posts: 1
- Job Type: Full-time, Postdoctoral, Fixed-term
- Start Date (Anticipated): 1 January 2026
- Working Hours: Full-time
- Salary Range: Approx. DKK 38,700/month + 17.1% pension (EUR ~5,185/month)
- Required Degree/Diploma: PhD
Research Area
- History of International Organisations
- Diplomatic and Bureaucratic History
- Prosopography and Biographical Methods
- Institutional and Emotional Communities
- Digital Humanities and Archival Research
Eligibility & Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
- PhD in History or a closely related field
- Experience working with archives of international organisations
- Proficiency in English and French (reading and writing)
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in prosopography, social/cultural history
- Publications on multilateral diplomacy or bureaucratic institutions
- Familiarity with digital methods and historical database projects
- Ability to conduct archival missions abroad
- Collaborative mindset and independent research capability
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct original research on emotional and educational communities in the League Secretariat
- Investigate career trajectories of League officials post-1947
- Publish at least three single-authored, peer-reviewed journal articles
- Contribute to collective prosopographical outputs, including a revised VisuaLeague tool
- Collaborate with research partners and participate in archival missions (e.g., Geneva)
Application Process
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted via the University of Copenhagen’s online system. Click “Apply now” at the official link provided below.
Required Documents:
- Letter of Motivation
- CV
- Copies of Academic Certificates (Master’s and PhD)
- Complete Publication List (clearly marked peer-reviewed works and selected three publications)
- Research Proposal (3–5 pages tailored to the project)
All materials must be submitted in English and in PDF or Word format.
Important Dates
- Application Opens: June 2025
- Deadline: 3 August 2025 (23:59 CEST)
- Interview Date: To be announced
Useful Links
- Institution Website: University of Copenhagen
- Official Notification Link: Postdoctoral position in the ERC Consolidator Project INNER_LEAGUE at the Saxo Institute at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen
- Apply Now: Apply Online
