Associate Professor in Educational Psychology and Developmental Psychology – Childhood and early years

The Danish School of Education (DPU) at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University, invites applications for a position as an associate professor in educational psychology and developmental psychology. The position is full-time and will commence on 1 August 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The position is based at DPU, at either the Aarhus campus or the Emdrup campus in Copenhagen. The selected applicant is expected to take an active part in the daily activities of the school, including teaching and supervision. As the school has campuses in both Aarhus and Copenhagen, some travel between campuses should be expected.

The position

The position involves research and university teaching in the fields of educational psychology and developmental psychology. The selected applicant will contribute to the further development of the existing research and teaching environment within the Department of Educational Psychology and Educational Anthropology, with a particular focus on developmental psychology in early childhood.

The selected applicant will contribute to teaching at master’s level and conduct research in general developmental psychology, with a strong profile in psychodynamic-relational and individual psychological approaches to learning, development and well-being in infancy/early childhood as well as in family, day-care and school contexts.

The selected applicant should preferably be able to teach and supervise in assessment and psychometrics.

The selected applicant is expected to have a central research interest in one or more of the following areas: upbringing practices, cognitive and/or socio-emotional development, mental health, high-quality learning environments, family dynamics and transitions between institutions and families, with a particular focus on daycare and reception class (indsoling) and/or family life and on children’s psychological and relational development in the early years.

Applicants are expected to conduct independent and collaborative empirical research, including studies within developmental psychology in early childhood, using qualitative, quantitative and/or mixed methods.

Research

The selected applicant is expected to:

• develop new research projects relevant to the field of educational psychology, applying theories of individual development (e.g. psychodynamic-relational, narrative or personality-based approaches), ideally with expertise in psychometrics and assessment
• contribute to collaborative research initiatives at DPU, both nationally and internationally
• pursue external research funding
• contribute to theoretical, methodological and empirical developments in the fields of early childhood and/or childhood studies and/or family studies.

Applicants must outline their vision and plans for contributing to the suggested research fields.

Teaching

The selected applicant must teach and supervise across all levels of degree programmes at DPU, notably the master’s degree programme in educational psychology, including the specialisation in educational psychological counselling (PPR) and related electives, as well as in the field of early childhood. Teaching on the professional master’s degree programme in well-being may also be expected.

Talent development

The associate professor is expected to continuously develop supervision competences at master’s and PhD levels, including the development and teaching of PhD courses focusing on theory, methodology and/or specific methods, in collaboration with colleagues. Applicants are invited to describe their experience of, and plans or ideas for, talent development.

Knowledge exchange

The selected applicant is expected to engage in knowledge exchange as described in the strategy of the Faculty of Arts, for instance through research collaboration with external partners, public dissemination, consultancy work or collaboration with relevant stakeholders. Applicants should document any prior experience of knowledge exchange and outline their plans for the impact of their research within developmental psychology and its implications for practice.

Qualifications for the associate professorship

Applicants must hold a PhD degree or equivalent qualifications in a relevant field and be able to document:

• a research profile within developmental psychology in the fields of daycare/reception class and/or family life as well as children’s psychological and relational development in early childhood
• an international publication profile, including experience of participation in international networks
• experience of obtaining external research funding
• knowledge and experience of psychodynamic-relational theories of personality, identity and selfhood from a developmental perspective
• experience of empirical research, preferably using a range of methodologies relevant to the field of developmental psychology
• knowledge of psychological tests and assessment tools relevant to early childhood and developmental psychology.

Further information

For further information about the position, please contact the head of the Department of Educational Anthropology and Educational Psychology, Charlotte Mathiassen, by email: cham@edu.au.dk or tel.: +45 6186 3645.

The application must be submitted in English.

About the Danish School of Education

The Danish School of Education (DPU) is one of the three departments at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University.

Across its two locations at Campus Emdrup in Copenhagen and Nobel Park in Aarhus, DPU is home to approximately 200 academic and administrative staff, as well as roughly 80 PhD students.