PhD Scholarship in Individual Differences in Face Recognition at the University of Copenhagen

About the opportunity

The Department of Psychology at the University of Copenhagen invites applications for a PhD scholarship within the project ‘Exploring the bases of individual differences in face recognition,’ funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (IRFD). Headed by Professor Randi Starrfelt, the project investigates variability in face recognition across a large sample of the Danish population, linking it to cognitive measures, questionnaires, and Danish public registries. The successful candidate will be based at the Copenhagen Neuropsychology Lab, part of the Section for Cognition and Neuropsychology, and will work in close collaboration with researchers across psychological disciplines. The position is a three-year, full-time study undertaken within the 5+3 study programme, offering structured research training, thesis preparation, coursework, and teaching obligations.

Salary and benefits

• Salary in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC).
• Starting salary range of approximately DKK 31,844.98 per month plus an 18.07% pension contribution.
• Comprehensive research training, participation in research networks, and PhD courses.
• Support services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation support and career counseling for expat partners.

Who can apply?

• Must hold qualifications corresponding to a master’s level related to the project subject area, such as an MSc in experimental, cognitive, or developmental psychology, neuropsychology, cognitive (neuro)science, medicine (psychiatry), or public health.
• Candidates educated in Denmark must have a master’s degree covered by the collective agreement for academics in the state sector.
• Candidates educated outside Denmark must hold a master’s degree equivalent to a Danish two-year master’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree equivalent to a Danish three-year bachelor’s degree with professional qualifications assessed at the master's level.
• Strong skills in data handling, analysis, and an interest in cognitive variability are advantageous.

Required documents

• Cover letter (maximum 1 page) detailing motivation and background for applying to the specific PhD project.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Project description (maximum 3 pages / 6,000 characters excluding references) presenting and discussing challenges and advantages of using selected variables from Danish Public registries as indexes for cognitive ability and disorders, along with analytical ideas.
• Diploma and transcripts of records (BSc and MSc). Latest transcript of grades if the degree diploma is not available by the deadline.
• Other information for consideration, such as a list of publications or documentation of English language qualifications.

When to apply

• Application deadline: November 10th, 2026, at 23:59 CET.
• Project starting date: March 1st, 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter.

How to apply

• Request the original project proposal from Professor Randi Starrfelt at randi.starrfelt@psy.ku.dk prior to submitting the application.
• Prepare all required application documents in English in either PDF or Word format with descriptive titles.
• Submit the application online by clicking the 'Apply now' icon on the official job portal page before the deadline.

Additional information

• The PhD student has a work obligation of up to 840 hours over the 3-year period without additional pay, which can include teaching duties.
• Successful applicants must enroll at the PhD School of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen.
• For inquiries regarding academic content, contact Thomas Habekost at thomas.habekost@psy.ku.dk, and for administrative questions, contact HR South at hr-soendre@adm.ku.dk mentioning ID number 211-2559/26-2H.