Professor in Surface Spectroscopy of Biological Systems at the Department of Chemistry, Aarhus

Applications are invited for a position as full Professor in the field of surface spectroscopy at the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences at Aarhus University. The intended start is April 1, 2025 or as soon as possible. The place of work is Department of Chemistry, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus C, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.

The Department of Chemistry at Aarhus University is one of the leading chemistry departments in Europe with a broad research program. It has a permanent staff of about 30 full, associate and assistant professors, a support-staff of around 30 technicians and other personnel, ~100 PhD-students, 50 postdocs and 300 students. In addition to excellence in research, teaching and supervision, the Department of Chemistry values equal opportunities, a collegial atmosphere, and a student-friendly mindset.

The Department of Chemistry seeks outstanding applicants who are expected to lead and develop research and teaching activities within the field of spectroscopy at surfaces and interfaces of biological systems. In particular, the applicant must have demonstrated extensive research involving femtosecond time-resolved laser spectroscopy for studying structure and dynamics of molecules at surfaces and interfaces in biological- and other natural systems.

Applicants must have a PhD degree in chemistry or a closely related area. A qualified candidate will have a track record of excellent high-impact research, documented through articles in peer-reviewed international journals. The candidate is expected to build and lead an independent research group in Aarhus and conduct an active internationally recognized research program.

To qualify for the position, it is essential to document experience in managing an active research group. In particular, the qualified candidate must demonstrate the ability to (a) publish at an internationally high level, (b) attract substantial research funding from a broad pool of sources, and (c) supervise and advise people ranging from bachelor students to postdoctoral associates and faculty colleagues. Collaboration with other groups at the Department of Chemistry is expected. Interdisciplinary research is encouraged, and collaboration with research groups in other Departments at Aarhus University, at other Universities, and with private industry is anticipated. Strategic plans for future research should be outlined in the application.

Interest and competencies in teaching chemistry at all levels of university education are essential. Applicants must document a record of significant teaching and supervision experience at undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels. A qualified candidate must be able to teach all introductory chemistry courses as well as undergraduate and graduate level courses in chemistry, including courses in surface chemistry, biophysical chemistry and advanced, laser-based spectroscopic techniques for characterization of materials and biological systems. Teaching can be in Danish and English, depending on the course. For non-Danish speaking employees, we offer Danish courses, expecting non-Danish speaking colleagues to learn Danish in a 3–5-year time span.

We expect our new colleague to value and participate in the general academic work at the Department of Chemistry. This includes serving on committees, collaborating with colleagues on the many tasks of a department, helping and giving feedback to colleagues, mentoring junior colleagues, etc. Experience with administrative tasks is desirable.

At Aarhus University, we aim to improve gender balance. In particular, we encourage female researchers to apply for the position. Both women and men are welcome to apply for the position. No one will be given priority, and all applicants will be assessed in accordance with the requirement profile for the position.

For further information on the position, please contact the head of the search committee Prof. Henrik Stapelfeldt ( ), or the Acting Head of the Department of Chemistry, Prof. Jørgen Skibsted ( ).

Application and Deadline
The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website and must be received by: November 1, 2024. Interviews are expected to be held early 2025.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a description of previous funding, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and information on previous teaching experience. Guidelines for applicants can be found on Guidelines & rules - Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University (au.dk).

Please provide your ResearcherID, ORCID, Google Scholar profile link, and/or a unique search query in Google Scholar, Scopus and/or Web of Science to retrieve your publication and citation track record.

Application procedure
Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the assessment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. The selection is made on the basis of an assessment of who of the candidates are most relevant considering the requirements of the advertisement. All applicants will be notified within 6 weeks whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee and will receive his/her assessment. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Formalities and salary range
Natural Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

At the Faculty of Natural Science at Aarhus University, we strive to support our scientific staff in their career development. We focus on competency development and career clarification and want to make your opportunities transparent. On our website, you can find information on all types of scientific positions, as well as the entry criteria we use when assessing candidates. You can also read more about how we can assist you in your career planning and development.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners.

Department: Kemi, Institut for/Chemistry, Dept. of

Deadline: 01 November 2024

Location: Aarhus C Langelandsgade 140