Professorship in Educational Psychology

The Department of Culture and Communication at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities is seeking an outstanding scholar for a professorship in Educational Psychology. We are looking for a visionary researcher with a strong record of original scientific contributions at the highest level. The professor position is open for appointments as of the 1st of August 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

A full professorship at Aalborg University is a permanent, full-time academic position with research, teaching, supervision, academic leadership, and dissemination obligations.
The professorship invites candidates with expertise in educational psychology and educational psychology practice (in Danish, Pædagogisk Psykologisk Rådgivning), including work in municipal services and other applied contexts, and their role in supporting schools and welfare institutions. The ideal candidate conducts original research with both national and international impact and brings a clear vision for advancing the field in innovative and societally meaningful directions.

The professorship is aimed at a leading researcher within educational psychology, with a strong profile in one or more, and preferably several of the following areas:

• Psychological practice and professional judgement in educational and welfare institutions, including municipal educational psychology services and related contexts, with a focus on their role in interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Inclusion, wellbeing, and participation among children and young people, emphasizing how professional communities support schools, day-care centres, and youth education in creating conditions for engagement, learning, and mental health.
• The role of psychology in policy and governance, including how psychological knowledge and practice inform and are shaped by institutional frameworks, legislation, and welfare state structures.
• Relational and dialogical approaches to working with children, families, and professionals, focusing on communication, co-creation, and the development of inclusive practices in educational and welfare contexts.
• Practice-oriented and collaborative research methodologies, that support innovation and intervention in educational psychology practice.

The professor is expected to contribute significantly to the department’s strategic ambitions by:

• Advancing high-level research within educational psychology and contributing to the department’s strategic research agenda.
• Developing and leading ambitious research programmes and fostering strong national and international collaborations.
• Delivering high-quality, research-based teaching and supervision across the Department’s psychology programme, including course development, examination, and educational leadership.
• Demonstrating the ability to translate research into broader societal or practice-oriented relevance.
• Securing competitive external research funding and contributing to the department’s long-term research strategy.
• Contributing to the recruitment, supervision, and mentoring of early-career researchers and fostering an inclusive and thriving academic community.

The successful candidate will develop and lead an internationally recognized research programme and will play a key role in shaping the department’s academic environment, teaching portfolio, and societal engagement.

Job Responsibilities
The professor is expected to provide academic, professional, and organizational, academic leadership through research, teaching, supervision, and societal impact. This includes actively contributing to the development of the department’s academic environment, research quality, and educational programmes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Advancing high-level research within educational psychology and contributing to the department’s strategic research agenda.
• Publishing original research in leading international journals and disseminating knowledge broadly.
• Translating research into practice and policy, including strengthening practice and innovation in educational psychology services through collaborative research and knowledge exchange.
• Developing and leading research projects and research groups.
• Enhancing the department’s international networks and collaborative initiatives.
• Contributing to public engagement, knowledge exchange, and dialogue with relevant societal stakeholders.

Teaching and Supervision
The professorship includes teaching, supervision, and examination duties at the bachelor, master’s, and PhD levels within educational psychology and related areas. Responsibilities include:
Delivering high-quality, research-based teaching using a variety of pedagogical methods, including problem-based learning (PBL), project supervision, group work, interactive seminars, and lectures.
Peparing students for professional roles in educational psychology practice, including work in municipal services and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Contributing to the development and quality assurance of courses and study programmes.
Designing and implementing innovative teaching and assessment methods.
Supervising students at all levels, including bachelor’s projects, master’s theses, and PhD dissertations.
Participating in curriculum development and educational leadership.

PBL Competencies
Aalborg University applies a problem-based learning (PBL) approach. Documented experience with PBL (such as project supervision, facilitation of group processes, and development of PBL-based learning activities) will be considered an advantage. Candidates without documented PBL experience are expected to complete a PBL training course within the first year of employment.

Language Requirements
Since the position involves supervision, teaching, and examination in Danish, applicants who do not speak Danish are expected to acquire the necessary language skills within one to three years of appointment.
Research and Research Leadership
The professor is expected to:

• Conduct research at the highest level.
• Publish significant and original scientific work.
• Provide research leadership, including supervision and assessment of PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and junior academics.
• Develop and manage research groups and major research projects.
• Secure and administer external research funding.

Societal Impact
The professor is expected to contribute to the dissemination and application of research in ways that benefit society. This may include:

• Public engagement and participation in societal debates.
• Collaboration with public institutions, industry, organisations, or other stakeholders.
• Contributions to evidence-based policy or practices.

Organizational and Academic Leadership
The professor will be expected to contribute to the department’s development through:

• Participation in committees, academic councils, assessment work, and internal governance.
• Strengthening research and teaching environments.
• Contributing to an inclusive, collaborative, and professional work culture.

Qualification requirementsApplicants must be able to document a high degree of original academic production at an international level and experience from teaching at different levels. Including tests/exams, course/study programme management as well as contributions to the development of teaching activities and teaching material.

Emphasis is placed on the extent, to which the applicant, has developed the academic discipline from a research and teaching perspective.

Emphasis may moreover be placed on the applicant’s ability to carry out and develop research-based public-sector consultancy. Also, emphasis will be placed on an assessment of the applicant’s ability to perform research and teaching management tasks and possibly fulfil other functions, for example in relation to the university’s external cooperation.

Emphasis will also be placed on the applicant's ability to undertake pedagogical supervision, supervision and academic assessment work.

Who we areThe Department of Culture and Communication deals with human life in its complexity. We ask fundamental questions about life and contribute knowledge about how human beings create meaning, interact, flourish and participate in society. The Department has activities at both Campus Aalborg and Campus Copenhagen. Read more about The Department here.

The position is primarily affiliated with the Section of Psyche (Ψche) is an interdisciplinary section that addresses current social problems and phenomena from a human science, cultural, and educational perspective. Our overarching goal is to provide empirical and theoretical knowledge to better understand challenges facing people today and make a contribution towards solving them. Psyche (Ψche) gathers the research groups Cultural Psychology, Situated Psychology and Qualitative Studies. Read more abou the section here.

How to apply  
Your application must include the following:

• Application, stating reasons for applying, qualifications in relation to the position, and intentions and visions for the position
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Diplomas (master's degree diploma and PhD diploma)
• List of publications, with an indication of the attached publications that you wish to be taken into account in the assessment. You may attach a maximum of ten publications. See template for co-author statement
• Documentation of teaching qualifications.Please seeguidelines for teaching portfolio at The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. If this is not enclosed, the applicant must enclose the reasons for this .
• Dissemination qualifications, including participation on committees or boards, participation in organisations etc.
• Additional qualifications in relation to the position
• References/recommendations

You can read more about the requirements for your application here.

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website.

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.

Do you have any questions?If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

Further information
Read more about our recruitment process here

The appointment process at Aalborg University involves a shortlisting process. You can read more about the shortlisting and appointment process here.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.

Salary and terms of employmentThe employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish).

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (only in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (only in Danish).

There is a mutual probationary period of 3 months for the position.

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.