PhD fellowship in Research Integrity Full-time

PhD Project On Non-Financial Conflicts Of Interests In Research

The Department of Food and Resource Economics (IFRO) invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in research integrity. The starting date is 1 December 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. The project concerns non-financial conflicts of interest in research and whether these should be declared (and if so how). Strongly held theoretical, ethical, political, or religious views can bias researchers in ways similar to financial ties to external organizations. Since the latter must be declared in research publications as potential financial conflicts of interest, it is common to apply the same logic to the former and expect researchers to also declare potential non-financial conflicts of interest in research publications. The Danish Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, for instance, states that: “Responsible conduct of research includes disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. This allows financial or other interests to be assessed on an informed basis to evaluate potential bias of the researcher's professional judgement” (p. 21) However, there are still many open questions regarding declarations of potential non-financial conflicts of interest. This call invites a PhD fellow to dive into some of these questions using social science methods. Relevant questions include, but are not limited to, how such declarations are used by readers of scientific papers and popular communication of scientific results, how use depends on the status of the sender (e.g., the scientist, the scientific discipline, the university, and the journal), and whether there are specific formats for disclosing nonfinancial conflicts of interest that are particularly useful. Applicants are encouraged to submit a brief (maximum 3 pages) non-binding research proposal to illustrate their general interest in the topic and ability to formulate a research idea. The final research topic and methods will be determined in dialogue with the supervisors.

We are looking for candidates within master's degree in sociology, anthropology, philosophy or similar. The candidate should have documented training and experience using social science methods (qualitative and/or quantitative). Knowledge of theory of research integrity and philosophy of science is preferable.

IFRO offers creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic, interdisciplinary, and international research environment. The candidate will be part of the Section for Consumption, Bioethics and Governance. The section includes research groups within both research integrity and applied ethics, as well as aspects of sociology and economics. The group on research integrity is small, but the section, and the wider department hosts a large and vibrant community of young researchers, some of whom work on related topics and/or use similar methods. We are located on Frederiksberg in Copenhagen. Principal supervisor is associate professor of research integrity Mads P. Goddiksen, mpg@ifro.ku.dk.

To be eligible for the PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master's degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. sociology, anthropology, or philosophy.

Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years. Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Physical presence at IFRO is considered as a natural part of being an employee to contribute to a welcoming, socially pleasant, creative and innovative work environment. IFRO offers possibility for flexibility and working from home, but an employee is expected to regularly be present physically at IFRO.

Carry through an independent research project under supervision

Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE

Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad

Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities

Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals

Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

Good competences in social science methods, e.g. interviews, focus groups and/or surveys

Knowledge of research integrity and/or philosophy of science

Relevant publications

Relevant work experience

Other relevant professional activities

Curious mind-set with a strong interest in research integrity

Good language and communication skills

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically.

Motivated letter of application (max. one page)

Project proposal (max. three pages)

Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position

Original diplomas for Bachelor or Master and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.

Publication list (if relevant)

Reference letters (if available)

The deadline for applications is the 16th of August 2026, 23:59 GMT +2. We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements. After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified whether you will be passed for assessment. The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above-mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 42/43. Applicants must be prepared for further security screening related to international research collaborations as part of the recruitment process when UCPH considers it appropriate from a holistic consideration.