The Department of Politics and Society, Aalborg University invites application a PhD stipend in digital mental health in China. The PhD stipend is part of the Sino-Danish Centre’s Social Science Program, which is a collaboration between Danish Universities and the University of Chinese Academy Sciences (UCAS). The PhD student gets a unique opportunity to obtain a double PhD degree from both Aalborg University and UCAS while working in an inter-disciplinary and international environment. The PhD candidate will be required to stay a minimum of 12 months at UCAS in Beijing. There is no tuition fee, and the candidate will receive a monthly salary.
The position is open for appointment from October 1, 2025 or soon thereafter – no later than December 31, 2025.
The PhD Project and Your Work Tasks
China’s increased interest in mental health has coincided with a boom in digitization in China, which makes China a potential extreme case of applying online apps for improving mental wellbeing. In the public health system, AI-support for diagnosing and registering mental diagnoses has also become common. Online, people discuss and seek solutions for improving their mental health. As part of your application, you should write a project description on how you would like to study one or more specific aspects of how mental health issues are experienced in everyday digital encounters. The proposal should include:
1) A preliminary research question.
2) A brief literature review and discussion of the specific problem you want to focus on.
3) A discussion on data, access to data, and your methods.
4) A timeline with milestones.
You must spend a minimum of 12 months in Beijing where you will be teaching and supervising in the Public Management and Social Development Program (alternatively the Management Innovation Program, depending on your qualifications). Some teaching at Aalborg University should also be anticipated. The stay in Beijing may be longer than 12 months depending on your fieldwork plans.
Your competencies
The candidate should hold a master’s degree in Anthropology, Sociology, Science and Technology Studies, China Studies, Psychology, or related fields.
Chinese language competences and experience with qualitative fieldwork will be considered an advantage.
Chinese citizens (includes Mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) cannot apply for PhD scholarships funded by the Danish SDC office but must apply for positions made available through University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in accordance with Chinese national regulations.
Qualification requirements
PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master's degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Social Sciences and Humanities in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1039 of August 27, 2013 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time. Please visit the website of the doctoral school for further information on admission requirements. PhD candidates must have achieved the grade 10 or above in the Danish grading system (or the equivalent in a different grading system) for their Master’s Thesis/final exam. The PhD candidate may be exempted from the grade requirement, if he/she is able to provide other forms of documentation of his/her qualifications.
Who we are
You will be based in the research cluster Global Politics and Diversity, Department of Politics and Society, Aalborg University where your main supervisor will be Jesper Willaing Zeuthen who is experienced in planning and conducting fieldwork in China related to various aspects of Chinese society. Through the project’s co-supervisor, Rasmus Birk, you will also have access to a group of psychologists focusing on mental health and AI. At the Sino-Danish Centre in Beijing you will be embedded in the School of Public Management, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In Beijing, you will be co-supervised by Tara Qian Sun who among others works on AI and health care.
How to apply
Your application must include the following:
o Application, stating reasons for applying and qualifications in relation to the position,
o Curriculum Vitae (CV)
o Diplomas (bachelor and master's degree diploma)
o Project description (maximum 4 pages – 12,000 characters, excluding references)
o Applicants who are planning to complete a doctoral thesis in English and who do not have English as a first language or who have not completed an English language-based Master's programme (or an equivalent educational achievement in English) shall provide documentation that they have passed one of the following official tests with the respective minimum score: IELTS (band score): 7, TOEFL (paper-based): 600, TOEFL (internet-based): 100. The language test must be no more than five years old at the time of the application.
o Other relevant documents
The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website.
Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.
Do you have any questions?
Applicants are encouraged to contact Associate professor, Jesper Willaing Zeuthen, +4599409202, zeuthen@dps.aau.dk, for any further questions. Interviews will be held online at times coordinates with the selected candidates after assessment of the applications.
Further information
The assessment of candidates for the position will be carried out by qualified experts.
Shortlisting will be applied. This means that after the application deadline, the head of the department, with the assistance of the hiring committee, will select the applicants to be assessed. All applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted for assessment or not.
The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.
Read more about The Doctoral School of Social Sciences and Humanities
Salary and terms of employment
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (only in Danish).
Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (only in Danish).
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (only in Danish)
Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (only in Danish).
Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.
INFORMATIONER OM STILLINGEN:
- Arbejdspladsen ligger i:
Aalborg Kommune
-Virksomheden tilbyder:
-Arbejdsgiver:
Aalborg Universitet, Fibigerstræde, 9220 Aalborg Øst
-Ansøgning:
Ansøgningsfrist: 29-06-2025;
Se mere her: https://job.jobnet.dk/CV/FindWork/Details/c2df8fb8-5f57-4064-b027-38f9cc3553e1
