About this role
Copenhagen Business School invites applications for a vacant PhD scholarship within the field of the intellectual history of coporate politics at the Department of Business Humanities and Law. Expected starting date is 1 May 2027. The PhD position is a non-tenured full-time position of 3 years, with teaching and course work obligations. The research will be conducted as part of the Independent Research Fund Denmark Sapere Aude Grant project Visions of corporate politics: Intellectual histories of the state-firm analogy . The project team will consist of the PI, one postdoc and one PhD. Read more about the project here: https://dff.dk/en/our-funded-projects/meet-the-researchers/research-leaders/eksterne-personer-en/research-leaders-2025/mathias-hein-jessen/ The central objective of the research project is to analyze contemporary contestations over the state-firm boundary as well as mobilizations of analogies between state and firm in projecting political and economic visions. The project analyzes the constitution of the state-firm distinction as well as what it terms contemporary ‘visions of corporate politics’ represented by ideologically distinct answers to the crisis of liberal democracy which both contest the state-firm boundary and mobilize the state-firm analogy to legitimize their vision: On the one hand attempts to democratize or politicize the firm and on the other hand attempts to build political communities on principles of corporate governance. The PhD project will focus on one of the two contemporary visions of corporate politics. Examples of potential research topics: the democratization of the firm; democratic or economic planning; employee ownership; platform cooperativism or socialism; network states; gov-corps; start-up governments; freedom cities. The research conducted will be team-based and oriented towards delivering on the project objectives. Taking the project framework into consideration, applicants are required to outline their reflections on how to approach the study. The position is mainly in-place. The candidate should be able to be regularly present and attend meetings in Copenhagen. For more information about the position , please contact PI of the project Associate Professor Mathias Hein Jessen ( [email protected] ). About Department of Business Humanities and Law (BHL) at CBS Department of Business Humanities and Law explores how people, organisations, institutions, and societies shape business. Its core research themes include entrepreneurship, business ethics, leadership, governance, culture, learning, business history, and business law from commercial and societal perspectives. The department comprises three academic units and nine reseach groups. Teaching responsibilities of the Department include undergraduate and graduate teaching as well as teaching in post-experience and doctoral education. Some programmes are taught in Danish, some in English. Within BHL the position will be located in the Governance, Culture and Learning Unit, an interdisciplinary research environment connecting governance studies at all levels of global society. PhD programme The three-year PhD programme at CBS gives you the opportunity to conduct research under the supervision of CBS’s associate professors and professors, supported by research related PhD courses. The programme is highly international, and you are expected to participate in international research conferences and to spend time at another research institution as a visiting PhD student. See the CBS homepage for more information about the PhD programme, https://www.cbs.dk/en/research/phd-programme . CBS PhD graduates are held in high esteem not only in academia and research institutions but also in government and business where their research qualifications are in high demand. CBS is committed to ensuring excellence, transformative and relevant teaching and research. Candidates who wish to join us must be interested in working in an organisation of this type and it is expected that the applicant shows an interest in joining the department's research environment. You can read more about the department's research here: www.cbs.dk/bhl . Qualifications The ideal candidate will have completed a master’s degree in intellectual history, history, political sociology, political theory or political philosophy. The assessment of the candidate will be based primarily on the following qualifications: Research within the history of political, economic or legal thought, political theory, or political philosophy. The ability and desire to work autonomously and as part of a team Excellent organizational and communication skills (both oral and written); proficiency in English is required Ability to engage with others in a way that reflects a collective commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion. Application and admission requirements The department will give priority to applicants with high grades from their universities. To be considered the applicant must have a basic education at master's level (corresponding to the 3 + 2 Bologna process) have received the grade of 10 (or equivalent) for the master's thesis according to the Danish 7-point grading scale( https://ufsn.dk/english/education/the-danish-education-system/grading-system/ ) have a weighted grade point average of at least 8.2 on the Danish 7-point grading scale for the bachelor's and master's degree combined or alternatively a weighted grade point average must be at least 9.5 for the master's degree alone. If the grade point average is not met, documentation for being in the top 40% of the class is also accepted. have completed the master's programme before starting the PhD programme at CBS master academic English at a high level in writing and speaking The application (see link below) must include a five-page PhD project description . The project description must include: a presentation of an original research question a description of the initial theoretical framework and method a presentation of the proposed empirical material a work plan for the three years More information can be found here: https://www.cbs.dk/en/research/phd-programmes/admission In addition to the project description, copies of the following must be included: motivation cover letter diploma for bachelor's and master's degree or other certificates at an equivalent level as well as the grade transcripts documentation for being in the top 40% of the class (if grade requirements are not met). In rare cases, the grade requirement can be waived. a concise curriculum vitae (CV) a list of articles and publications (if applicable) one example of a selected written work (e.g. master's thesis) documentation of English language skills is not required for the application but may be requested if the applicant is shortlisted for interviews. The PhD student is enrolled in the CBS PhD School. Further information about PhD scholarships and the PhD programme can be found at https://www.cbs.dk/en/research/phd-programme . For further information please contact Associate Professor Mathias Hein-Jessen, email [email protected] or Head of Department Pia Bramming, email [email protected] . Information about the department can be found at www.cbs.dk/bhl Employment and salary A PhD scholarship runs for a period of three years and includes teaching obligations corresponding to 416 work hours. The scholarships are fully salaried positions, according to the national Danish collective agreement. The monthly salary is currently approximately DKK 30,264 up to DKK 36,877 depending on seniority and a pension contribution totalling 18,07 %. The scholarship includes tuition fees, office space, course and travel costs (according to the current CBS agreement). Salary level and employment take place in accordance with the Ministry of Finance's agreement with the Academics' Central Organization. Recruitment procedure The Recruitment Committee comprised of tenured faculty shortlists at least two-five applicants to be assessed by the Assessment Committee. All applicants will be notified of their status in the recruitment process shortly after the application deadline. Applicants shortlisted for assessment will be notified about the composition of the Assessment Committee and will receive the result of their personal assessment later. When the assessment committee has finished their work selected applicants will be invited for an interview. Please note that a positive assessment does not automatically result in an interview. Once the recruitment process is completed each applicant will be notified of the outcome of their application. The application must be sent via the electronic recruitment system. Copenhagen Business School must receive all application material, including all appendices (see above), by the application deadline. Details about Copenhagen Business School are available at www.cbs.dk/en . Application due 12/15/2026