Assistant Professor in Biogeochemistry, Terrestrial Ecology or Physical Geography

Department of Science and Environment (DSE), Roskilde University, invites applications for a three-year position as assistant professor in biogeochemistry, terrestrial ecology or physical geography from 1 January 2021 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is limited to 3 years.

In announcing the position, DSE looks to strengthen its research in environmental sciences within the following fields: Climate change effects on ecosystems and nutrient cycles, terrestrial ecology, biogeochemistry or environmental chemistry. The Department is interested in applicants, whose research and teaching profile includes one or more of the above subject areas in combination with an interest in building interdisciplinary research and collaboration on education. We expect you to be willing and able to teach broadly within these subjects at bachelor and master level. 

DSE is one of four departments at Roskilde University. The Department conducts basic and applied research within medical biology, molecular biology, environmental sciences, chemistry, physics and mathematics. Bachelor and Master programs are offered within these areas. Research and education within the fields takes place in a collaborative and interdisciplinary university environment also spanning collaboration with the other departments, covering social sciences and humanities, where relevant. The department is organised in four Sections comprising the research and education activities.

The assistant professor will be part of the Section for Environmental Dynamics. This Section comprises at the moment ten professors, associate professors and assistant professors as well as a varying number of PhD-students, postdoc’s., technicians etc. The current members of the group primarily have a background within one or more of the fields aquatic ecology, ecotoxicology, biological production, including aquatic biotechnology, and geochemistry. DSE has a well-established shared infrastructure with state-of-the-art equipment facilities, including field spectroradiometer, Mass-spectrometry (LCMS, GCMS, ICP-MS), CHNS, various microscopy facilities and access to work shops.

Read more about the section at  https://ruc.dk/en/research-group/environmental-dynamics

Responsibilities and tasks
The assistant professor’s work will include research, including obligations with regard to publication/scientific communication, and research-based teaching with associated examination obligations within one or more of the fields; climate change effects on ecosystems and nutrient cycles, terrestrial ecology, biogeochemistry or environmental chemistry.  

In addition to research and research-based teaching, the position also requires sharing knowledge with the rest of the society – including participation in public debate. To a limited extent, this may also include performance of other activities.

The ideal candidate is expected to:

• Develop the field of interdisciplinary research by actively collaborating with other scientific fields within the department or at other departments
• Contribute to the development of the research profile of the department
• Maintain a significant record of publications
• Collaborate with colleagues in establishing a vibrant research community
• Participate actively in research networks and external research funding activities.
• Teach, supervise, and assess students at BSc and MSc levels. This also implies developing the field in relation to teaching

As assistant professor, you are also expected to complete the educational training program for assistant professors at RUC (up to 220 hours). The training programme will give you pedagogical and didactic tools as well as familiarize you with the Roskilde University educational model called Problem oriented project learning (PPL).

Qualifications:
Required qualifications
You must hold a PhD-degree in physical geography, ecology or environmental chemistry or in the interface between these fields. In addition, a documented quantitative approach, based in the natural sciences, is required.

Documented research qualifications within one or more of the following scientific areas are required:

• Climate change effects on ecosystem structure and function.
• Ecohydrology and the integration between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
• Terrestrial ecology / agro-ecology.
• Mitigation of increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration through long-term C-sequestration in ecosystems (mainly terrestrial, but preferentially also aquatic systems).
• Biogeochemistry - cycling of carbon and major nutrients in terrestrial and/or aquatic ecosystems.
• Soil – plant – atmosphere interactions and gas exchange.
• The relations between soil hydrology, biogeochemistry and microbial (soil) communities.
• The transport and exchange of organic matter and inorganic compounds (e.g. carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, iron etc.) across terrestrial and aquatic environments.

At the time of appointment, successful candidates must master English for academic purposes.

Additional qualifications
Documented teaching experience within one or more of the above fields will be seen as a strong advantage as will a keen interest and experience in project-based problem-oriented teaching as well as teaching in an interdisciplinary environment.

Documented experience with interdisciplinary research and interdisciplinary collaborations will also be seen as an advantage.

In addition, it will also be seen as an advantage if you can contribute to research and teaching within one or more of these areas:

• Environmental management and – monitoring.
• Biodiversity.
• Human / environment interactions.

The ideal candidate must be enterprising, possess good communication skills, and be a visible and involved participant in the department’s daily activities, in addition to being willing to engage in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration across the department.

Assessment
In the assessment of the candidates, consideration will be given to

• research topic,
• scientific production at an international level,
• research prospective and the ability to promote and utilize research results,
• experience in teaching and education,
• other academic experience e.g.  from organizing research conferences or seminars,
• ability to contribute to development of the department’s internal and external cooperation 

Questions
Potential applicants from outside Denmark will find information about life in Denmark (taxation, healthcare etc.) at www.lifeindenmark.borger.dk

For further information about the position, please contact Head of Section Søren Laurentius Nielsen on tel. (+45) 4674 2722 /nielsen@ruc.dk or Dean of Natural and Mathematical Sciences Susanne Sørensen on tel. (+45) 4674 2111 /susa@ruc.dk

Terms of employment
The employment is on full time, 37 hours per week and you will refer to the Dean of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Susanne Sørensen.

The position will be filled according to the Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.  

Application procedure 
After the deadline for applications the Head of Department will shortlist applicants for assessment with assistance from the recruitment committee including the chairperson of the assessment committee.

Shortly after the application deadline all applicants will be notified whether or not their application has been selected for assessment.

The shortlisted applicants will be informed about the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant will be given the opportunity to comment on the composition of the committee and - later on - their assessment.

Once the recruitment process is completed, all applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application.

Application 
To apply for the position go to www.ruc.dk/en/job/ 

Only applications in English are accepted. 

Applications must include: 
1. Cover letter 
2. CV 
3. Documentation of education 
4. Teaching portfolio (read more about teaching portfolio at Roskilde University here) 
5. A complete list of publications 
6. A maximum of 5 relevant scientific works that you want included in the assessment  
If any of the publications that you want included in the assessment are the result of a joint effort, the extent and the nature of your contribution to each individual work must then be clarified in a co-author statement (find template here) 
7. A maximum of 2 pages motivating how the applicant's profile mathces the position within research and education

Please submit your application no later than 20 November 2020 

Material received after this date will not be taken into consideration. 

Roskilde University wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

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