PhD Fellowship – Qualitative exploration of Counseling for Children and Young People

The Department of Social Sciences and Business (ISE), Roskilde University, invites applications for a position as PhD fellow in Sociology from September 1st, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. The position as PhD is limited to a period of 3 years.

The PhD Fellowship is linked to the DFF-funded research project “Improving Wellbeing through Counseling for Children and Young People.

Emproving Wellbeing through Counseling for Children and Young People
The project, in which the PhD project is embedded in, addresses the increasingly pressing societal challenge of poor wellbeing among children and young people by exploring the following overall research question: How can low-threshold civil society counseling services support the wellbeing of vulnerable children and young people? The research team explore this through an embedded convergent mixed methods design to ensure width and depth in the results generated and allow for insights into the current impact of the counseling, as well as its yet un-utilized potential and how these potentials may be realized. The research is organized in three work packages (WPs); a quantitative, a qualitative and a synergy WP.

Description of the PhD project
The PhD fellow will carry out WP 2, addressing the research question: How does counseling and its impact unfold in the everyday lives of children and young people? Methodologically, this WP involve: (1) document analysis – examining chat and SMS counseling practices through printouts, and (2) narrative interview with 20 children and young people, who have received counseling. The full project description can be requested by mailing the project leader, Prof. Hanne Warming. In this description the project is outlined in more details, however there will be openness for the PhD fellow to form the project within the overall goal and methodological approach. As working with a WP within a broader project, the PhD fellow will be part of a research team with another PhD fellow, and two professors (A. Ejrnæs & H. Warming). Moreover, the PhD fellow will be part of the research group Social Dynamic and Change (SODYC) and the Social Science section at the department.

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 programme. The programme offers work-in-progress seminars, thematic professional development seminars, feedback and social activities for enrolled PhD fellows.

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
You must hold a master’s degree or equivalent from relevant social science programs (e.g., sociology, anthropology, psychology or social science).

Qualifications within the following areas are required:

• Reading and communication skills in Danish at native level
• Strong analytical skills and research potential
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Strong qualitative methodological skills

We also emphasize the following qualifications:

• Knowledge of civil society counselling for children and young people
• Knowledge of childhood studies, as well as sociological and social-psychological theories
• Scientific originality
• Collaborative skills

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 the social sciences.
• Grades at a social science 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 seem realistic and feasible.
• Ability to complete the PhD project.
• Relevance of the project to the profile of the Doctoral School.
• Your project description shall be no more than 5 pages (excluding references).

Questions
For further information about the position, please contact the project leader, Prof. Hanne Warming, (sandrasmallhannewbcooper@rucphillipswilliamsjones-shepard.dk or phone: +45 61309559), or acting Head of the Doctoral school, Peter Triantafillou ( triantcarolyngoodmanlindsey72@leehardin-austinruc.dk). For technical or administrative questions, please contact the PhD Coordinator Hanne Vang Hansen (barnesallisonbrangelise-phdadminlogansmith@barnesrucgarcia.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:

1. Cover letter

2. CV

3. 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).

4. Your description of the PhD project (Max 5 pages)

5. Your time schedule of the PhD project

6. If applicable: Documentation for any research experience, work experience or publications.

Please submit your application no later than April 6, 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.