Postdoctoral Researcher - SENSE: Sensory Education in Children with Multiple Impairments

The Danish School of Education (DPU) at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University, invites applications for a fixed-term, two-year postdoctoral position associated with the AUFF-funded research project SENSE: Sensory Education in Children with Multiple Impairments. The position is full-time (37 hours per week) and begins on 1 March 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is based within the Department of Educational Psychology at DPU's Emdrup campus in Copenhagen. DPU is committed to diversity and encourages all qualified applicants to apply, regardless of their personal background. **Research Context** We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join a project investigating how children with special needs engage with gamified sensory activities, and how these activities influence enjoyment, perception and cognition. The project aims to advance inclusive education by developing a theoretical and empirical basis for multisensory enrichment in learning environments. The successful applicant will contribute to both the theoretical development and the empirical implementation of the project, working closely with schools, teachers, children and interdisciplinary collaborators. **Key Responsibilities** - Investigate children's interactions with gamified tactile and multisensory activities, assessing their impact on enjoyment, perceptual performance and cognitive processes - Review and synthesise relevant literature to develop a robust theoretical framework linking sensory technologies to multisensory learning and inclusion - Recruit participants and schools, coordinate data collection and manage ethics procedures - Conduct school visits to engage directly with children, observe their behaviour and preferences, and collaborate with teachers - Design and run online studies investigating the digital experiences and learning environments of children with special needs - Analyse behavioural data and contribute to theory development - Prepare manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals and contribute to conference presentations As AUFF-funded research projects may not include any teaching activities, this position is entirely dedicated to research throughout the project period. **Essential Qualifications** Applicants must hold a PhD degree or document equivalent qualifications in Education, Educational Psychology, or a related field. Required qualifications include: - A research profile within special needs education or a related field in education, documented by a PhD dissertation and/or research publications - Experience in independently managing research projects - Experience with qualitative data analysis, documented in relevant publications - Experience working with children in educational or developmental contexts; experience with children with special needs is an advantage - Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for productive engagement within the research team and with external organisations - Experience in planning and conducting educational fieldwork - Excellent proficiency in the Danish language **Desirable Qualifications** It will be considered an advantage if applicants can document: - A track record of high-quality research publications at an international level, commensurate with career stage Please note that applications must include uploaded publications (maximum two examples) to be considered. **Application Requirements** The application must include: - A motivation letter outlining your interest in the position - Curriculum vitae - Complete list of published works - Copies of degree certificates - Examples of academic production (mandatory, maximum two examples) All applications must be submitted in English via Aarhus University's recruitment system. **Application Deadline** Applications must be received no later than 15 January 2026 at 11:59 PM Danish time (Central European Time). **About the Danish School of Education** The Danish School of Education at Aarhus University is Denmark's largest centre for research and teaching in the fields of education, didactics and learning, with approximately 240 full-time researchers, including 80 PhD students, and 4,500 Bachelor's and Master's degree students. The school's activities are characterised by a high degree of interdisciplinarity and close interaction with society, including businesses, organisations, government agencies and institutions, both in Denmark and abroad. **International Applicants** International applicants are encouraged to explore the attractive working conditions and benefits of working at Aarhus University and in Denmark, including healthcare, paid holidays and, if relevant, maternity/paternity leave, childcare and schooling. Aarhus University offers comprehensive services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation services and career counselling for expat partners. Appointees who do not speak Danish will be required to acquire proficiency equivalent to level B2 (CEFR) within approximately three years of commencing the appointment to fully participate in the activities of the Danish School of Education.