Graduate School, Arts

The Graduate School at Arts, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University, in collaboration with the European Research Council, invites applications for a PhD fellowship (5+3) for a period of up to three years in the domain of the Anthropology of Wetlands in Denmark provided the necessary funding is available.

 The PhD fellowship (5+3) is available for appointment as of 1 February 2026.

 It is expected that the candidate awarded the fellowship will be able to commence the PhD programme on the above-mentioned date.

This PhD fellowship is part of an ERC Advanced Grant – FILTERSCAPE – Filtering Futures: Contaminant Flows, Landscape Governance and the Making of New Anthropological Knowledge for Planetary Health, led by P.I. Professor Ciara Kierans. FILTERSCAPE will focus on different forms of filtration: ecological, infrastructural and embodied in Denmark and Mexico. The project seeks to understand how studies of interconnecting filtering processes can create novel insight into the anthropogenic forces of contamination and their health and environmental effects.

The PhD project will contribute ethnographic work on ecological filters in Denmark. It will focus on the interactions between the human and more-than-human work that characterizes restored and constructed wetland projects. Wetlands are conceptualized, in the project, as ethnographic ‘filter-sites’. They mitigate contaminant flows and reduce sediment load, run-off and flooding in the case of restored wetlands - and treat wastewater in the case of constructed wetlands.

The PhD project will:

• develop the idea of wetlands as ecological filters and collaborative worksites, documenting the key biophysical processes involved in wetland filtrations and the types of contaminants filtered and absorbed, attending to their source points, trajectories and consequences for environmental and public health.
• be expected to contribute to selected projects along the Vejle River Valley, but can include other wetland sites in Denmark;
• review policy, scholarly and practice literatures.
• ethnographically follow the work practices of relevant scientific teams and stakeholders, e.g. field sampling and monitoring; sediment analysis; vegetation surveys; biogeochemical studies; microbial activity.
• conduct interviews and focus groups with local communities, municipal and governmental bodies, and public health actors;
• closely work with the wider project team to synthesize findings across a range of filter-sites.
• engage with and contribute to relevant research environments and communities at AU, including the AU Centre for Environmental Humanities

We are seeking a candidate with:

• a strong interest in environmental anthropology with a focus on landscape contaminations and their socio-ecological consequences for landscape governance/politics.
• a relevant master’s degree in anthropology or closely related field, such as geography or political ecology.
• excellent Danish and English language skills.
• Geographic Information Skills (GIS) are an advantage, but not a requirement - curiosity and willingness to engage with GIS and other forms of digital mapping are desirable.
• an ability to design and conduct ethnographic studies.
• strong analytical skills.
• interest in interdisciplinary collaboration.

Enrolment and place of work
The PhD student must complete the studies in accordance with the valid regulations for the PhD degree programme, currently the Ministerial Order of 27 August 2013 on the PhD degree programme at the universities: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/thephddegreeprogramme/

Description of the graduate school’s PhD degree programme: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/phdstudystructure/

Rules and regulations for the PhD degree programme at the Graduate School at Arts: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/thephddegreeprogramme/  

The PhD fellow will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Graduate School at Arts, Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University, with the aim of completing a PhD degree at the School of Culture and Society, Aarhus University.

The PhD student will be affiliated with the PhD programme Anthropology, Global Studies and the Study of Religion.

The PhD student’s place of work will be the School of Culture and Society, Aarhus University. In general, the student is expected to be present at the school on an everyday basis.

The PhD degree programme is expected to include a lengthy research stay at a foreign institution, cf. Description of the graduate school’s PhD degree programme.

School of Culture and Society’s research programme: http://cas.au.dk/en/research/research-programmes/

5+3 programme
When you apply for a 3-year PhD fellowship (5+3), you must have completed your two year Master’s degree (120 ECTS) no later than 31 January 2026.

The PhD fellow will be employed as a PhD student at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University. The terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (see section 6.1.4), as well as with the protocol to the agreement covering staff with university degrees in the state sector (see enclosure 5). The agreement and the protocol including amendments are available online: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/thephddegreeprogramme/

Salary: https://phd.arts.au.dk/4-4-part-b-and-5-3/salary-and-employment

How to apply
The application must include:

• Motivation/cover letter (statement of motivation and research interests, max one A4 page of 2,400 characters including spaces)
• CV (including a complete list of education, positions, publications and other qualifying activities)
• Project description outlining how the candidate envisages completing the work to be undertaken during the course of the term of appointment.
  The overall project description (excl. list of project literature/bibliography/reference list and timetable) must not exceed 12,000 characters including spaces, tables, diagrams, footnotes, endnotes and illustrations (5 A4 pages of 2,400 characters each)
• Project literature/reference list
• Timetable (mandatory form)
• Cover sheet (form stating your degrees)
• Copies of educational certificates (Bachelor and Master’s degrees). The diplomas or diploma supplement/transcript of records must state: name of university, education (Bachelor or Master), duration (number of years, full-time), courses, marks and (if given) ECTS credits.

Please see a detailed description of the requirements for the application in the guide for the application facility: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/how-to-apply/  

Application
If you require professional guidance regarding your application for the PhD fellowship please contact the PhD programme director at Anthropology, Global Studies and the Study of Religion:  http://phd.arts.au.dk/about-us/contact/

For further information, please contact Ciara Kierans, School of Culture and Society, ciarakierans@cas.au.dk.

The application must be submitted in English.

All applicants must provide documentation of excellent communication skills in English which are considered essential, and you must therefore be able to read, write, and speak academic English fluently. English language requirement is comparable to a minimum of TOEFL 83 or IELTS 6.5. Please see this page for further information: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/english-test/

Child protection certificate
In accordance with Ministerial Order no. 554 of 23 May 2023, Aarhus University is obliged to obtain a statement of no previous convictions in respect of children in connection with the appointment and employment of staff whose work will involve direct contact with children under the age of 15. If you, in connection with your PhD project, will be in direct contact with children under the age of 15 who are not accompanied by a parent or guardian, childcare professional or teacher, you will be covered by the requirements of the ministerial order.
    If you are covered by these requirements and read Danish, please complete the section “Samtykkeerklæring” (declaration of consent) in the police form and upload the file under “Other information to consider” in the application form. You can download the form here: https://politi.dk/-/media/mediefiler/landsdaekkende-dokumenter/straffeattest/brneattest-p274.pdf
    If you are covered by these requirements and do not read Danish, please upload a brief statement with the headline “Child protection certificate needed” under the field “Other information to consider” in the application form.

Applications for the PhD fellowship and enrolment in the PhD degree programme can only be submitted via the application form in Aarhus University’s web-based facility.

Deadline for applications: 1 October 2025 at 23.59 Danish time (CET/CEST).
Reference number: 2025-14

During the assessments, Aarhus University can conduct interviews with selected applicants.