Tenure-track Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Full Professor of Forestry

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Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management
Faculty of Science
University of Copenhagen

The Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management at University of Copenhagen is expanding its research capacity in forest science and is seeking to fill one or more senior positions ranging from tenure track associate professor to full professor in Forestry. Successful candidates will contribute to strengthening our department’s research potential to support forests as providers of key societal services and to maintain them as resilient and adaptive ecosystems in a changing climate. Key tasks will be to conduct excellent research and teaching within areas such as forest management, silviculture, forest modelling, forest monitoring, and forest climate adaptation.

The research environment at IGN conducts experimental research in forests and non-forested ecosystems and in a variety of fields ranging from ecosystem ecology via management and ecological restoration to forest products. IGN conducts research and monitoring in support of policy and management decisions and is seeking applicants with potential to take a strong lead in maintaining and further developing a strong research environment at the university, national and international level. The research is supported by a range of infrastructures and unique resources of long-term field trials, Common Gardens, microcosms and laboratories as well as models and long-term national data sets. The position will be embedded within the forest research environment at IGN and will be expected to interact with other relevant researchers and research groups across the department, faculty and university.

We expect the applicants to conduct and lead cutting-edge research in one or more of the following areas: silviculture, forest monitoring, forest carbon dynamics.

Assessment of applicants will primarily consider their level of documented, original scientific production at an international level, including contributions to developments in their field, as well as their documented teaching qualifications. Managerial and outreach qualifications of applicants including ability to attract external funding will also be considered. Specific qualifications include:

• PhD or similar in Forestry, Environmental Science, Ecology, or a related field.
• Experience in using modern technology and analytic approaches in forest research.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to engage in public outreach and policy advisory roles.

Tenure-track Assistant Professor
The tenure-track assistant professor’s duties will primarily include research, including obligations with regard to publication/scientific communication and research-based teaching with associated examination obligations within forestry. To a limited extent the position may also include other duties.

The tenure-track assistant professor must have an academic standing showing internationally competitive research, and/or have internationally recognized high potential to make a future impact.

Assessment of applicants for the tenure-track assistant professorship will primarily consider their level of documented, internationally competitive research. The ability to attract external funding will be considered together with outreach qualifications. Teaching qualifications are not mandatory but documented teaching qualifications and teaching experience will be considered.

Associate Professor and Full Professor

Applicants are required to have university-level teaching experience, documented teaching competencies and must be able to explain and reflect upon own teaching practice and portfolio. Formal pedagogical training or supervision equivalent to the University of Copenhagen teacher training programme for assistant professors is required.

Duties include the applicant’s own research, development of the field, assessment tasks, grant applications, and research management such as supervision and training of research fellows and other staff. The successful applicant must also teach, supervise, prepare and participate in examinations, and fulfill other tasks requested by the Department.

Assessment of applicants for the associate professorship and full professorship will primarily consider their level of documented, original scientific production at an international level, including contributions to developments in their field, as well as their documented teaching qualifications. Managerial and outreach qualifications of applicants including ability to attract external funding will also be considered.

University of Copenhagen’s Criteria for Recognising Merit
Six overall criteria apply for assistant professor / associate professor / professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The six criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organizational contribution, external funding and leadership) are considered a framework for an overall assessment of the candidates. Furthermore, each candidate must be assessed according to the specific requirements stated in the job advertisement.

The Tenure-track Assistant Programme
The tenure-track programme is a career programme and an assigned mentor will provide the tenure-track assistant professors with guidance related to career development, other academic topics and administrative procedures.

Performance of the tenure-track assistant professor will be followed via internal yearly evaluations and a mid-term and final international evaluation by an assessment committee. If the ‘final appraisal’ is positive you will be promoted as associate professor. Performance and progression towards the criteria below will be evaluated with due consideration of differences between research fields.

Terms of Employment
The position is open from 1 March 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.
Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Your workplace will be the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (IGN), which conducts research and education on the past, present and future physical, chemical and biological environments of the Earth and their interactions with societal and human systems to provide candidates and research in support of sustainable future solutions for society. We value scientific interactions among colleagues, cross-disciplinary interactions and care for the early career scientists.

Inquiries about the position can be made to Head of Department Vivian Kvist Johannsen at

Filing of Application
The position may be applied for at the tenure-track assistant professor level, associate professor level or full professor level. Please note that it is possible to apply at more than one level. If applied at more than one level, separate applications must be submitted (see below).

The application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Applying for the Tenure-track Assistant Professorship Please Include

• Please describe and document international network and relations
• Please describe and document internationally based activities
• Positions held at universities/research institutions outside Denmark
• Outreach activities, i.e. popular lectures or other activities in the media
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)
• Research plan - description of current and future research plans
• If available, description and documentation of teaching and supervision experience and qualifications- please describe and document:
  • Experience with supervision of BSc and MSc students
  • Teaching experience
  • Formal pedagogical training
• Separate reprints of up to 5 particularly relevant papers

Applying for the Associate Professorship or Full Professorship Please Include

• Curriculum vitae including information about external funding
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)
• Research plan – description of current and future research plans
• Separate reprints of 5 particularly relevant papers

The deadline for applications is 9 October 2024, 23:59 GMT +2.

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee.

Interviews will be held on 3 February 2025.

Please refer to the following no. in future communication in this case:

211-0222/24-2N Tenure-track Assistant Professor of Forestry.
211-0632/24-2E Associate Professor of Forestry.
211-0287/24-2K Full Professor of Forestry.

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.

Employment start: 01-03-2025

Working hours: Full time

Department/Location: Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management

Contact: University of Copenhagen