PhD Scholarship in Financial Influence Research - UCPH
Applications are invited for a PhD scholarship in the FINFLUENCE project, funded by Independent Research Fund Denmark (Sapere Aude Research Leader program), headed by Associate Professor Jacob Ørmen.
The project examines how young adults navigate the range of new actors in the financial space – from influencers and digital platforms to online communities – that has emerged over the past few years. In just a few years, trading with financial assets – such as stocks, cryptocurrencies and derivatives – has become much more available to ordinary people through the spread of digital trading apps. Especially young adults have taken these opportunities to heart and have started investing money on their own on an unprecedented scale. Building on this trend, popular influencers and online communities sell investing as a way to achieve the dream of economic independence or a shortcut to riches. FINFLUENCE seeks to understand in which ways these new financial actors appeal to the young investors compared to more traditional opinion leaders such as family, friends, celebrities and experts.
The PhD scholarship is expected to contribute to the overall goal of FINFLUENCE by conducting an in-depth qualitative study of individuals with the aim of understanding the context of their economic and financial practices. Context here involves among other things, social relations and media use. The candidate is expected to conduct independent research supervised by Jacob Ørmen and with the support of the FINFLUENCE research group.
The chosen candidate will be employed and enroll at the Faculty of Humanities under the PhD School at the Faculty of Humanities.
The scholarship is for 3 years starting on 1 February 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.
Introduction
PhD studies consist of research programmes at the highest international level that qualify students for independent research, knowledge dissemination and teaching. The main emphasis is on PhD students organising and conducting their own research project (under supervision). The programme culminates in the submission of a PhD thesis, which the student must defend in public. The programme is prescribed to 180 ECTS credits, corresponding to three years of full-time study.
A PhD degree opens a range of career opportunities in academia and elsewhere. As well as writing a thesis, PhD students work in active research environments in Denmark and abroad. They contribute to the academic environment, take research training courses, and convey the results of their research in teaching, at academic conferences and to the public.
Qualification requirements
Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to master’s level related to the subject area of the project. If you have completed your education in Denmark, you must have a master’s degree covered by the collective agreement for academics in the state sector. If you have completed your education outside of Denmark, you must either have a master’s degree equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years) or as minimum a bachelor’s degree equivalent to a Danish bachelor’s degree (three years) and be assessed as having professional qualifications at master's level.
If you have completed your education abroad, we will obtain an assessment of your education from the Danish Research Agency.
The PhD scholarship involves extensive qualitative fieldwork with young adults in Denmark and documented experience with fieldwork, interviewing, or qualitative analyses is a requirement.
Applicants must possess skills in written and spoken academic English at a high level. Fluency in Danish language is required for conducting fieldwork and analysis of data. If deemed necessary, the department may request that applicants document their language skills.
For further information about the guidelines for PhD studies at UCPH, please refer to: https://phd.ku.dk/english/.
For further information about the structure of the PhD programme, please refer to: https://phd.humanities.ku.dk/phd-programme/structure/.
Application
All applications must be submitted online via the link “Apply now” at the bottom of this page. The application must be written in English, and include the following enclosures in Adobe PDF or Word format:
- Cover letter (max one page detailing your motivation and background for applying with the specific PhD project)
- CV (max 2 pages)
- Project description (outlining how you plan to conduct the empirical study including reflections on scope of the study, theoretical framework, sample, method(s) of data collection and method(s) of analysis. The project description can be a maximum of 12,000 characters, not including bibliography). Project outline of FINFLUENCE is available on request from its PI, Associate Professor Jacob Ørmen, email: jacob.oermenbwilsonnoahthomas@hayes.dkevans.dkhum.ku.dkpratt.dk
- Project abstract (please fill in the “Project abstract” box in the application form. Must not exceed 1,200 characters).
- Diploma and transcripts of records (bachelor’s and master’s degree)
- Time schedule (an overview of the project milestones across a three year period)
- Other information for consideration, e.g. list of publications, documentation of English language qualifications (if relevant).
On the website of the PhD School you can find information about the enclosures to include with your electronic application: https://phd.humanities.ku.dk/how-to-obtain-a-phd-scholarship/admission-requirements/.
Applicants with a degree from a university where documents are not issued in English, or a Scandinavian language must provide a translation of their diploma and transcript of records verified by the issuing university. The documents must be translated into English, Danish, Norwegian or Swedish. In addition, you must enclose an official description of the grading scale in question (for instance diploma supplement).
Assessment criteria
The following criteria are applied when assessing PhD applications:
- Research qualifications as reflected in the project description.
- Quality and feasibility of the project.
- Qualifications and knowledge in fieldwork, interviewing, or qualitative analyses
- Performance (grades obtained) in graduate and post-graduate studies.
The recruitment process
After the deadline for applications, the Head of Department considers advice from the appointment committee and then selects applicants for assessment. All applicants will be notified whether they have been shortlisted. After this, the Head of Department sets up an expert assessment committee to assess the shortlisted applications. The selected applicants will be informed who is serving on the committee. Each shortlisted applicant will be offered the opportunity to comment on the committee’s assessment of their application before the appointment is announced.
For further information about the recruitment process, please refer to the University of Copenhagen website: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.
As an applicant to the University of Copenhagen, you should be prepared to undergo a security screening related to international research collaboration as part of the recruitment process. The security screening will be conducted in cases where the University deems it appropriate based on an overall assessment.
Enrolment
It is a prerequisite for employment that successful applicants enrol at the PhD School of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Copenhagen.
For further information about the structure of the PhD programme, please refer to: https://phd.humanities.ku.dk/phd-programme/structure/.
For further information about the guidelines for PhD studies at UCPH, please refer to: https://phd.ku.dk/english/.
Salary and terms of employment
Terms of appointment and salary will be in accordance with an agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The salary range starts at DKK 30,800 (EUR 4,100) + a 17.1 % contribution to the pension scheme.
According to the agreement, the PhD Fellow is required to carry out tasks at the relevant department to an extent corresponding to 840 working hours (6 months) without additional pay. The work obligation can include teaching, for instance.
An equal opportunity workplace
University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society, and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their personal backgrounds. For more information on the diverse working place environment at the university and the university’s participation in the HRS4R, please see: https://employment.ku.dk/working-at-ucph/eu-charter-for-researchers/.
International applicant?
The University of Copenhagen offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including support before and during your relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about these services as well as information on entering and working in Denmark here: https://ism.ku.dk/.
Contact information
For further information about the structure and rules of the PhD programme, please contact the PhD Administration, email: phdsamantha62aaron87@crawford-mendoza.dkhrsc.ku.dksilva-rice.dk.
Information about the recruitment process is available from HR Centre South, email: xbonillaHR-Soendrethomas94@white.dkwilliams-gay.dkhrsc.ku.dk. Please refer to case number: 211-2255/25-2H #2.
The deadline for applications is 19 October 2025 at 23:59 [CEST].
Any applications or additional material submitted after the deadline will not be considered. However, changes may be made to the submitted application right up until the deadline.