Researcher in human rights

Institute for Human Rights is seeking a researcher who can elevate our academic research and contribute research-based knowledge to our national human rights work. The position offers opportunities to develop an independent research profile and translate research into analyses, advice, and dissemination with societal significance.

About us

The Institute for Human Rights was established by law by the Danish Parliament as Denmark's national human rights institution to promote and protect human rights. The institute is also Denmark's national equal treatment body. We are a self-governing state-funded knowledge organization that, based on research and analyses, monitors and advises on the human rights situation in Denmark and Greenland.

The role and identity as a national human rights institution is also the starting point for the institute's international work, which through projects and partnerships contributes to realizing human rights in the countries we work in.

About the position

As a researcher you will

• conduct independent research within human rights and equal treatment and publish in recognized scientific journals
• develop and implement research projects, including contributing to applications for external funding
• communicate research to professional environments, decision-makers, media and the public
• contribute with research-based knowledge to the institute's analyses, advice, consultation responses and other national work
• participate in and take responsibility for interdisciplinary collaborations across the institute and with external research environments.

About you

We are seeking a researcher with solid legal knowledge and in-depth knowledge of human rights and equal treatment in international and Danish law. You are committed to developing new knowledge and bringing it into play in working with current human rights issues in Denmark and Greenland.

We especially welcome applications from researchers with interest in one or more of the following areas:

• parents' rights
• children's and young people's rights
• welfare law.

We emphasize that you

• have a PhD or equivalent qualifications
• have documented experience with high-level scholarly publishing
• can present and communicate research clearly to both professional and broader audiences
• wish to translate research into analyses, consultation responses, background notes and other contributions with societal significance
• have good written and oral communication skills in Danish and English
• work constructively and collaboratively and contribute positively to a common research environment.

It is an advantage if you have experience with research communication to the public and with developing applications for external research funding.

We offer

You will become part of an established and interdisciplinary research environment that conducts free research within the field of human rights and forms a research-based knowledge base for the institute's national and international work. Research and Data currently consists of a research director, ten researchers and senior researchers, postdocs and PhD students with legal, social science and humanities disciplines. Data and Analysis consists of four economists who develop and apply quantitative methods to examine the human rights situation. We frequently host visiting researchers, students and interns.

We offer permanent employment, good conditions to develop your own research profile and the opportunity to bring research close to human rights work in practice. You will have engaged colleagues, access to cross-disciplinary and international collaborations, and the possibility to participate in conferences and shorter research stays. We prioritize an open and curious environment where researchers share knowledge, develop new projects and contribute to current human rights agendas.

We therefore seek a researcher who is motivated to apply their expertise through applied research, research-based advice and close collaboration with colleagues across the institute.

Salary and terms of employment

You will be employed as a Special Consultant.

Salary and terms of employment are as agreed under the applicable collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professionals for academics in the state sector. There will be the opportunity to negotiate allowances.

Working hours are on average 37 hours per week. The workplace is Wilders Plads 8K, 1403 Copenhagen K.

We offer flexible working hours, and to some extent there will be the possibility to work from home.

Application process

The position is intended to be filled on 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The application deadline is 13 November 2026, and we expect to conduct interviews in week 50.

Your application must include

• motivated application
• CV
• relevant certificates
• complete publication list, where the attached publications are marked with *
• research plan
• at most three scientific publications on which you wish to be evaluated.

All documents are uploaded via the application form, which you will find on this page.

Contact and questions

If you have questions about the position, you can contact Research Director Katharina Ó Cathaoir at tel. 91 32 57 67 or email [email protected].

The Institute for Human Rights works for equal treatment and encourages all qualified to apply regardless of gender, age, ethnic background, religion, disability or sexual orientation.

We believe that diverse teams solve tasks better through different perspectives, and we are deliberately working for an inclusive工作 environment free of discrimination and Harassment.

Application deadline: 13 November 2026