Two-year Post.doc. position - ‘Bag Sejlet’ (‘Behind the sail’)

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled and motivated post.doc to join the National Museum’s emerging centre for Viking Age Research funded by A.P. Møller.

About the position

In connection with a planned Viking-Age exhibition ‘Bag Sejlet’, the selected candidate will take lead in designing and executing a research project which will have synergies with the developing exhibition. The exact research themes and questions are to be designed by the selected candidate, but the proposed postdoctoral project is expected to relate to one of the following themes:

• The organization and dynamics of textile-production (e.g. explore intersections between textile work and gender, links to coerced labour, or technical expertise)
• The multispecies and entangled worlds of the Viking Age (e.g. wool economy and sheep-human relationships, and/or plant fibre technologies; wood-human intra-actions);
• Other social groups and phenomena that existed ‘behind the sail’ and in the shadow of conventional Viking narratives, e.g. everyday life, childhood and life-course, social inequality in households and beyond.

You will be collaborating closely with Research Professor Marianne Hem Eriksen and a wider research network of leading Viking-Age scholars. Depending on scope and focus, the project can be executed in collaboration with the Centre for Textile Research at the University of Copenhagen. Additional tasks and opportunities for professional development may include planning and organising workshops and events, conference and outreach presentations, and administrative tasks.

Qualifications and skills

• A PhD (or equivalent) in Iron Age/Viking-Age archaeology or a related subject
• The ability to design and deliver a successful research agenda (demonstrated by e.g. a PhD or previous postdoctoral project)
• Strong written and verbal skills for publication, conference presentations, and research dissemination
• Publication record demonstrating experience with publishing excellent research in international channels, appropriate to career stage
• The ability to collaborate constructively as part of a team
• Strong time management skills

It is an advantage to have:

• Research interest in Viking-Age social dynamics
• Experience with collaborative research work
• Experience with public outreach

Terms of salary and employment
The working hours are 37 hours per week. Salary, pension, and terms of employment will be in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and The Academics Central Organization in Denmark and Circular concerning the job structure for academic staff with research responsibilities in archives, libraries, museums etc. under the Danish Ministry of Culture.

The appointment is fixed-term for 30 months, starting on 1 October 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The place of work is at the National Museum of Denmark’s Section for Archaeology and Heritage Science at Frederiksholms Kanal 12 in Copenhagen.

Application process

The National Museum’s strives to create a working environment, where differences are not just tolerated, but actively promoted and valued. The National Museum therefore encourages all qualified, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position.

We actively work on reducing bias in our recruiting process to ensure diversity in our work force and to ensure that we, based on professional and personal qualifications, hire the best qualified for the position. We therefore ask you to not enclose a photo in your CV.

The application is to be submitted in English and must include the following:

• A maximum two-page personal statement outlining motivation, previous research experience, and demonstrating fit with essential and desired criteria
• A two-to-three-page outline of a research design for a feasible research project seeking to understand the social dynamics, organization and motivations ‘behind the sail’ in the Viking Age
• Curriculum vitae, including education, previous employment, language skills, professional certificates, and other relevant qualifications (max. two pages)
• List of publications (mark publications submitted for evaluation)
• Up to three 3 publications to be considered in your assessment. Full copies must be sent by post or uploaded in .pdf-format via the electronic recruitment system. Hyperlinks to publications are not accepted.
• Full copies of undergraduate, MA, and PhD diplomas and transcripts
• Transcripts of diplomas into English, if not written in English, Danish, Swedish, or Norwegian.

If a publication to be considered in the assessment has more than one author, or is the result of a collective effort, it must be clearly specified which part(s) the applicant is responsible for. In the absence of a specification, the assessment committee will disregard said publication(s).

Applications must be submitted via the electronic recruitment system on the website of the National Museum of Denmark, namely www.natmus.dk/job and uploaded by September 9, 2026.

For submission of publication copies by post, please send to the following address: Nationalmuseet, Frederiksholms Kanal 12, 1220 København K, att. HR & Jura. Copies sent by post must be received by September 9, 2026.

The National Museum will set up an expert Assessment Committee to evaluate the applications.
For further information regarding the position, please contact Research Professor Marianne Hem Eriksen, mail: mher@natmus.dk