About the opportunity
The Department of Economics at the University of Southern Denmark invites applications for fully funded PhD scholarships in Odense. The successful candidate will join an international research environment and work closely with Associate Professor Anthony Wray on ‘Private Foundations,’ a Carlsberg Foundation-funded project exploring the roles of private investment and medical education in shaping innovation and inequality in the early twentieth United States. Researchers will investigate applied microeconomic questions in health, labour, education, and demographic economics using historical data, with opportunities to contribute to GPU-backed digital workflows and large language model extraction. Depending on academic qualifications, successful applicants may enroll in either the 4+4 or 5+3 PhD programme.
Salary and benefits
- Competitive full-time salary and employment terms in accordance with the collective agreement for academics in the state
- Affiliation with the Historical Economics and Development Group (HEDG)
- Funding for a research stay abroad, typically of six months' duration
- Access to a dedicated GPU environment and local open-weight models for historical data extraction and research
Who can apply?
- Completed relevant master's degree in Economics, Mathematics and Economics, or related disciplines (or currently enrolled in a relevant master's programme)
- Solid knowledge of econometrics and applied quantitative methods
- Experience using Python, R, Stata, or similar tools, and eagerness to learn new methods
- Dedicated, capable of working independently and in cooperation with a PhD supervisor
- Strong English skills, both spoken and written
- Good interpersonal skills and interest in engaging with national and international researchers
Required documents
- Detailed CV with education and work history formatted by month and year
- Certified copy of master's degree certificate, including transcripts of all examination results (with translations into Danish or English if not in Norwegian, Swedish, or English)
- Motivational letter describing why you are a good match, maximum 5 pages including reference list
- Project description, maximum 5 pages of 2,400 characters each including spaces, notes, appendices, and bibliography
When to apply
- Application deadline: November 1, 2026, 23:59 CET/CEST
- Target start date: January 15, 2027 (flexible)
How to apply
- Fill in the application form available on the web page of the PhD school
- Prepare all required application documents in Adobe PDF format
- Ensure documents do not contain a CPR number and that total application and CV files do not exceed 10 MB
- Submit the application electronically via the online application link before the deadline
Additional information
- Employment takes place in accordance with the collective agreement for academics in the state, appendix 5, protocol on PhD fellowships
- Shortlisting and tests may be used in the assessment process, and interviews may be conducted
- Incomplete applications will not be assessed by the committee
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Strong background in applied microeconomics, quantitative methods, and empirical data analysis using tools like Python, R, or Stata
- Interest in economic history, demographic economics, or leveraging machine learning and large language models for historical text extraction
- Desire to work within a well-funded project team while retaining the scope to develop independent research questions
What should you think carefully about?
- Must be prepared to relocate to Odense, Denmark, and manage a fixed-term contract structure
- Requires balancing rigorous independent research with departmental teaching and supervision duties at both undergraduate and graduate levels
- Must meet stringent formatting and documentation rules, including strict page and file size limits
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This opportunity provides an exceptional stepping stone for early-career researchers aiming for an academic career or data-intensive roles by combining a fully funded PhD salary, international research mobility, and cutting-edge computational training.
Our take
Aspiring economic researchers with strong quantitative credentials and an interest in applied microeconomics or digital history should apply before the November 2026 deadline.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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