Postdoctoral Fellow in Socioeconomic Assessment of Cumulative Offshore Wind Farm Impacts

Job Description

The Department of Environmental Science at Aarhus University invites applications for a 2-year postdoctoral position in socioeconomic dimensions of cumulative offshore wind farm impacts, starting on 1 November 2026. The position focuses on assessing the cumulative impacts of offshore wind farm development on marine socioeconomic systems, while contributing to interdisciplinary research integrating social and natural science perspectives. The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to an international research project addressing interactions between offshore wind farm expansion, marine sustainability, and sectors such as fisheries and aquaculture. The position is based at the Aarhus University Risø Campus, located near Roskilde, approximately 35 km west of Copenhagen.

Expected start date and duration of employment

This is a 2-year position from 1 November 2026 or as soon possible.

Job description

The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to an interdisciplinary project investigating the ecological and socioeconomic cumulative impacts of offshore wind farm (OWF) development in marine systems. The project aims to assess how expanding OWFs influence marine ecosystems and socioeconomic sectors by integrating ecological food-web effects with economic impact pathways. The overall ambition is to support adaptive management and policy development for sustainable offshore wind expansion and marine multi-use.

The position will focus on the socioeconomic dimensions of cumulative OWF development, including interactions with marine sectors such as fisheries and aquaculture, and their long-term implications under future development scenarios. The successful candidate will contribute to the assessment of cumulative impacts and trade-offs associated with offshore wind expansion, while contributing to the development of integrated ecological-economic perspectives in close collaboration with project partners across disciplines.

The work will involve analysing and evaluating key socioeconomic interactions and impacts linked to offshore wind development, considering both direct and indirect effects as well as broader links to ecosystem services and marine resource use. The project combines synthesis of existing knowledge, analytical assessment, and engagement with relevant stakeholders and policy contexts.

The project outcomes are expected to contribute to regional research and policy processes related to offshore wind farm development and marine sustainability and to support evidence-based approaches for balancing renewable energy development with marine ecosystem and socioeconomic sustainability.

Your profile

Applicants should hold a PhD in ecological economics, environmental economics, marine/environmental social science, environmental management, sustainability science, or a related discipline relevant to the position. Candidates should demonstrate a strong interest in interdisciplinary research integrating social and natural science perspectives, and in applying quantitative and qualitative approaches to sustainability-related challenges. Familiarity with marine systems and offshore renewable energy is desirable.

We are looking for a candidate with:

• Experience in socioeconomic or socioecological assessment, including cumulative impact assessment, related to marine or sustainability challenges
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills, including experience working with complex interdisciplinary evidence
• Experience with literature reviews, quantitative and qualitative methods relevant to ecological or environmental economics and the socioeconomic dimensions of sustainability, and experience with or willingness to engage in data collection through surveys, interviews, and stakeholder or focus-group discussions.
• Demonstrated ability to publish scientific work in peer-reviewed journals
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
• Ability to work independently while contributing actively to an interdisciplinary research environment

The following qualifications will be considered an advantage:

• Familiarity with offshore wind development and/or marine sectors such as fisheries and aquaculture
• Experience with ecosystem services, integrated assessment approaches, or marine spatial planning
• Familiarity with policy-related research and stakeholder-oriented processes
• Experience collaborating across disciplinary boundaries, particularly between natural and social sciences
• Interest in future scenarios, long-term sustainability assessment, or socioecological systems analysis
• Proficiency in Danish is considered an asset, particularly for data collection involving interviews or focus group meetings or discussions in Danish marine and policy contexts

We value motivated candidates with strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, who are able to engage constructively with researchers and stakeholders from different disciplinary and professional backgrounds.

What we offer

The department offers:

• an exciting interdisciplinary and international environment with many national, international and industrial collaborators
• a research climate encouraging lively, open and critical discussion within and across different fields of research
• a work environment with close working relationships, networking and social activities
• a workplace characterised by professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance.

Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is Department of Environmental Science, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments

Contact information

For further information, please contact Dr Doan Nainggolan ([email protected]) ( +45 87 15 86 29).

Application procedure

Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications - and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, - the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self.

Letter of reference

If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee's contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee's contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.

If you wish to add a referee after you have submitted your application, you must send this person's details (name, job title, place of work, and email address) as well as the name of the position you have applied for to: [email protected]

Formalities and salary range

Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University's ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here.

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