The Department of Social Sciences and Business (ISE), Roskilde University, invites applications for a position as PhD fellow as part of the Danish Research Council 4-year interdisciplinary project “A Just Transition: Indigenous Free, Prior and Informed Consent and the Green Transition in the Arctic (AJUST)” led by Associate Professor of law Miriam Bak McKenna (principal investigator).
The position as PhD is limited to a period of 3 years, starting from September 1st, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.
About the project
Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), guaranteeing indigenous peoples full and effective participation in decisions affecting their lands and futures, is now recognised as a core component of indigenous climate justice and a just green transition. However, Nordic states, despite being signatories to relevant FPIC instruments and leaders in human rights, are failing to meet their FPIC commitments. Significant improvements are needed to strengthen FPIC and meaningful indigenous decision-making in the Arctic, ensuring the global urgency to decarbonize does not reinforce colonial injustices at a time when colonial reckonings are assuming a central role in geopolitical conflicts in the Arctic.
The overarching research aim of AJUST is to understand the legal and practical obstacles and opportunities for implementing FPIC in green energy and extraction projects in Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) and Norwegian Sápmi and investigate how FPIC practices can integrate indigenous-led decision making and indigenous environmental justice perspectives into the green transition.
By analysing renewable energy and extraction projects in Norwegian Sápmi and Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), AJUST critically examines how FPIC frameworks address the tension between decarbonization urgency and indigenous rights protection. The main research questions are:
- To what extent is FPIC applied in green extractive and energy projects in Greenland and Norway?
- How effectively do FPIC practices integrate indigenous-led decision-making and indigenous environmental justice perspectives?
- What legal and practical obstacles prevent meaningful FPIC implementation, and what opportunities exist for strengthening indigenous consent mechanisms in Arctic contexts?
The project relies on a comparative, socio-legal approach combining legal doctrinal analysis with qualitative field studies. The project also explores the potential for an Indigenous Environmental Justice (IEJ) framework to achieve FPIC in Arctic indigenous contexts.
Read more about the project here.
Description of the PhD project
Working within law, political science, international studies, sociology, or a related discipline, the PhD fellow to be employed in this project is expected to conduct doctoral research relevant to the project's objectives. The candidate is expected to conduct qualitative fieldwork (in-depth interviews and/or focus group discussions) in Norwegian Sápmi and Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland).
The Doctoral School
You will be enrolled as a PhD fellow at the Doctoral School of Social Sciences and Business with approximately 47 PhD fellows from all over the world.
The Doctoral School of Social Sciences & Business provides PhD training and research within an interdisciplinary, international, and professional environment. It is part of a dynamic community of researchers who share a commitment to understanding society in diverse contexts of change and global engagement. Researchers come from all over the world and engage in topics that are geographically, theoretically and methodologically diverse. The Doctoral School has one PhD program. The program offers work-in-progress seminars, thematic professional development seminars, feedback and social activities for enrolled PhD fellows. As a PhD fellow you will be associated with the research group Crossroads of Care and Social Reproduction (CARE).
Responsibilities and tasks
As a PhD fellow you are trained at an international level to undertake research. You are responsible for carrying out independent research under supervision and receiving constructive feedback in the PhD program to finish your PhD thesis. During your employment you are required to take 30 ECTS of coursework, and gain experience in teaching and supervision. You are also required to have a research environmental change during your PhD enrollment. The environment change can take place at foreign or local universities or research institutions.
For more information, see chapter 3, Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. Read more on what it entails to be a PhD Fellow at Roskilde University.
Qualifications
Applicants must have the following qualifications:
- Hold a MA or equivalent in law or a relevant social science field
- Documented training in qualitative research methods
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
We also emphasize the following qualifications:
- Knowledge of a Scandinavian, Kalaalisut or Saami language
- Experience with fieldwork and semi-structured interviews
- Advanced legal theoretical and methodological competences
- Knowledge of and/or interest in critical legal theory, comparative legal methods, and interdisciplinarity
You are required to be enterprising and to possess good communication skills and to be a visible, involved participant in the Department’s daily activities, in addition to being willing to engage in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Applications are invited from both inside and outside Denmark.
Assessment
In the assessment regarding employment consideration will be given to:
- Relevant master’s degree or equivalent (according to Danish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education)
- Any additional academic requirements stated in the job advertisement.
In the assessment regarding enrollment consideration will also be given to the following criteria:
- Educational skills and any further professional qualifications within law.
- Grades at a law master’s program or equivalent.
- Quality and relevance of the project description.
- Quality and relevance of the methodical and theoretical choices.
- Consistency and coherence between the problem and the choice of method and theory.
- If the PhD project seems realistic and feasible.
- Ability to complete the PhD project.
- Your project description shall be no more than 5 pages (excluding references).
Questions
For further information about the position, please contact Acting Head of the PhD school, Professor Peter Triantafillou (triant@ruc.dk). For technical or administrative questions, please contact the PhD Coordinator Hanne Vang Hansen (ise-phdadmin@ruc.dk).
Terms of employment
The employment is full-time, 37 hours per week and you will refer to the Dean of Social Sciences.
The position will be filled according to the Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.
Application procedure
After the deadline for applications the Dean will shortlist applicants for assessment with assistance from the recruitment committee including the chairperson of the assessment committee.
Shortly after the application deadline all applicants will be notified whether or not their application has been selected for assessment.
The shortlisted applicants will be informed about the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant will be given the opportunity to comment on the composition of the committee and - later on - their assessment.
Once the recruitment process is completed, all applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application.
Application
To apply for the position go to www.ruc.dk/en/job/
Only applications in English are accepted.
Applications must include:
- Cover letter
- CV
- Documentation of education including grades from Master’s programme or equivalent. If you master degree is not awarded within the ECTS frame, please provide us with:
- Your bachelor diploma and grades.
- An official English translation of diplomas
- A description of the master programme including the official duration (in years).
- Your description of the PhD project (no more than 5 pages)
- Your time schedule of the PhD project
- If applicable: Documentation for any research experience, work experience or publications.
Please submit your application no later than March 18, 2026.
Material received after this date will not be taken into consideration.
Roskilde University wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.
Roskilde Universitets fornemmeste opgave er eksperimenterende, nyskabende former for læring, forskning og problemløsning, som flytter samfundet fremad. Vi uddanner kompetente tværfaglige kandidater og skaber videnskabelige resultater af højeste kvalitet gennem åbenhed, involvering og videndeling.
Roskilde Universitet har ca. 6.900 studerende, 900 ansatte og 888 mio. kr. i årlig omsætning.
INFORMATIONER OM STILLINGEN:
- Arbejdspladsen ligger i:
Roskilde Kommune
-Virksomheden tilbyder:
-Arbejdsgiver:
Roskilde Universitet, Universitetsvej, 4000 Roskilde
-Ansøgning:
Ansøgningsfrist: 18-03-2026;
Se mere her: https://job.jobnet.dk/find-job/5304da07-004c-4461-b6b2-b4aba60c72d4
