Postdoc in Social Network Emergence and Methodology (Interdisciplinary)

Starting date

The starting date for the position is February 1, 2025, but an earlier or later starting date is also possible.

Content of the position

Social networks (the patterns of social interactions between individuals) show high structural diversity across humans and non-human animal species, and these structures affect important processes such as the spread of disease and information. An important question for understanding social networks is how the complex structures emerge from the behaviour of individuals.

This postdoc is part of a larger project called ‘New computational approaches for understanding the emergence of social network structures’, funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The project will be led by Josefine Bohr Brask and will also involve collaborators Sune Lehmann (Technical University of Denmark, Denmark) and Lauren Brent (University of Exeter, UK), and a PhD student.

The postdoc will likely work on exploring a new idea for how information about underlying processes can be extracted from network data, in collaboration with the project team. The postdoc may also be involved in other network-related research. There will be opportunity for the postdoc to influence the project and develop new research ideas within the project frame.

The work will include modelling of networks and/or analysis of social network data from various species, including a long-term dataset from a free-ranging population of Rhesus macaques in Puerto Rico. Field work is not a requirement for the project, but a stay at the macaque field site can potentially be integrated if it is of interest for the postdoc.

The position involves conducting research, presenting findings at scientific conferences, writing research articles, and potentially a limited amount of teaching/student supervision.

Who are we looking for?

• We are looking for a motivated candidate interested in conducting fundamental research on networks and social systems.
• Relevant backgrounds could for example be Biology, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Social Data Science, or other related areas.
• Knowledge about Network Modelling and/or Network Analysis, and Programming experience (for example in R or Python), is an advantage. Knowledge about social behaviour can also be relevant.
• The candidate should be interested in working with researchers from different fields and with data from non-human animals.
• The main language of the research environment is English, and proficiency in English is therefore necessary for the position.
• The candidate must have obtained a PhD degree by the time of employment.

What do we offer?

The position is a full-time position for three years.

The postdoc will be based at the Copenhagen Center for Social Data Science (SODAS), an interdisciplinary research centre situated at the Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen. The centre includes about 40 researchers across different levels and with different scientific backgrounds, and offers a supportive and international research environment.

The SODAS community has strong collaborative relationships with all departments at the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Department of Computer Science at the University of Copenhagen, as well as internationally renowned research groups and centers at other institutions in the Copenhagen area and beyond, including the Networks, Data, and Society (NERDS) group at the IT University of Copenhagen and the Social Complexity Lab at the Technical University of Denmark.

The postdoc will also have the opportunity to be affiliated with the Behavioural Ecology Group at the Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen.

Copenhagen is rated as one of the world’s most liveable cities with a high quality of life. There is a strong focus on good work/life balance, and employment at the University of Copenhagen involves good support structures, including generous paid holiday and parental leave. See https://ism.ku.dk/faq/ and https://ism.ku.dk/.

How to apply

Submit a complete application at the online portal. Click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of the page to apply. The documents must be in Adobe PDF or Word. The application should contain the following:

• Cover letter (max. 1 page) that describes your motivation for applying for this specific position, and experience that could be particularly relevant.
• Curriculum vitae (including education, experience and skills relevant for the position)
• Diplomas for master and PhD or equivalent. If the PhD is not finished by the time of applying then a written statement from the supervisor or institution stating that the candidate have submitted or will submit a PhD thesis can be attached instead of the PhD diploma.
• Publication list (if applicable)
• Up to 3 publications (if applicable)

Please note that it is only possible to upload one document per attachment category. If more than one document has to be uploaded in the same category, please make sure that they are scanned and collected into one file. 

Terms of Employment

• Further information on qualification requirements as Postdoc can be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities 2019 here: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/criteria-for-recognising-merit/dokumenter/Ministerial_Order_no._1443_of_11_December_2019_on_Job_Structure_for_Academic_Staff_at_Universities.pdf.
• Terms of appointment and salary is in accordance with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikerne).
• The salary range starts at DKK 38,500 per month + a 17.1% contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.

The Recruitment Process

Shortlisted applicants are notified of the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant themselves. Further information on these recruitment process at University of Copenhagen can be found here: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

An Equal Opportunity Workplace

The University of Copenhagen is committed in its pursuit of academic excellence to equality of opportunity and to creating an inclusive working environment and therefore encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity etc. For more on the diverse working place environment at the University and the University’s participation in the HRS4R HR Excellence in Research, see https://employment.ku.dk/working-at-ucph/eu-charter-for-researchers/.

International Applicants

The University of Copenhagen offers information and services for international researchers and accompanying families. Please find more information about these services as well as information on entering and working in Denmark here: https://ism.ku.dk/.

Contact Information

Information about the recruitment process is available from HR, e-mail: hrsc@hrsc.ku.dk. Please refer to ID number: 211-1918/24-2I #1.

For questions about the specific position and project, please contact from Josefine Bohr Brask, e-mail: jbb@sodas.ku.dk.

The deadline for applications is 23:59 CETS on October 6, 2024.

Any applications or additional material submitted after the deadline will not be considered.