PhD Fellowship in Economics
University of Copenhagen
Denmark

IFRO invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in Economics of Agri-Food System Transition, with a specific focus on assessing economic drivers, barriers and lock-ins for change towards a more plant-based agriculture and food system in Denmark at regional and local levels. The PhD fellowship is part of the multidisciplinary research project COTRANSITION (COllectively TRANSITIONing the agriculture and food system), which is financed by the Plant-Based Food Foundation (Fonden for Plantebaserede Fødevarer).

Start date of the PhD fellowship is (expected to be) May 1st 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project
By working with the Climate Alliance (Klimaalliancen) to support Danish regions and municipalities in reducing their GHG emissions and developing ambitious solutions for the future agriculture and food system, the overarching aim of the COTRANSITION project is to accelerate the transformation of the agri-food system in Denmark by overcoming barriers and lock-ins, and mobilizing agri-food stakeholders to collaborate on transitioning to more plant-based food production and consumption. The COTRANSITION project is a collaboration between IFRO and PLEN, the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at UCPH, represented by Assoc. Prof. Christian Bugge Henriksen, who is the project coordinator. At IFRO, the project is lead by Prof. Anders Blok and Prof. Jørgen Dejgård Jensen.

The PhD project is part of the subproject “Mapping of stakeholder interests and analysis of lock-ins, barriers and potential drivers of change to a more plant-based agriculture and food system”. The PhD project contributes to this subproject by investigating economic drivers, barriers and lock-ins for transition in the agricultural and agri-food sectors at national, regional and local level, as well as to the development of transition scenarios for the Danish Agri-Food System. This entails using qualitative methods to map the relevant economic incentives, mechanisms and barriers on farms and in food industry firms, and in particular quantitative methods to assess the strength of incentives and the nature and magnitudes of barriers and lock-ins regarding transition towards a more plant-based agrifood sector, at the level of selected regions and municipalities and across the agri-food value chain. An example of a barrier could be farms’ recent investment in facilities for animal production.

The PhD fellow will be part of the interdisciplinary COTRANSITION project team, which will comprise a total of three PhD fellows, which besides the PhD in economics will include a PhD in scenario development and a PhD in agri-food system transition, as well as the three project leaders. Alongside joining and working closely with the COTRANSITION project team, the PhD Fellow will also benefit from being part of IFRO’s broader group of economists working with economic issues related to agriculture, food and the environment.  

The PhD programme and terms of employment
The PhD fellowship is a three-year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme).

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.

Responsibilities and tasks in the PhD programme

• 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 for international, peer-reviewed academic journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

Principal supervisor is Professor Jørgen Dejgård Jensen, IFRO (jorgen@ifro.ku.dk; phone: 3533 6859)

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for candidates with a good master’s degree in agricultural economics, environmental economics, economics or similar with solid understanding of economic theory and a strong profile in econometrics and possibly other quantitative economic methods. It is an advantage if the candidate has previous experience in relation to agriculture and the food sector in Denmark.

To be eligible for the regular 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) in one of the above-mentioned academic fields. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Required qualifications:

• Solid understanding of economic theory
• Good competences in econometrics and other quantitative economic methodologies
• Knowledge about agriculture and food systems
• Relevant work experience
• Other relevant professional activities
• Comfortable in working independently
• Good cooperation skills
• Good communication skills  

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Application and Assessment Procedure
Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include: 

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page) for this specific position
2. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science and Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish.
4. Publication list (if possible)
5. Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline:
The deadline for applications is 16th of February 2025, 23:59 GMT +1.

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.

The further process
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. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in weeks 11+12, 2025.

Questions
For  information about scientific content of the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.  

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.