Professor in Environmental Sensor Technology

Poul Due Jensen Professor in Environmental Sensor Technology at Aarhus University

Centre for Water Technology (WATEC) and Department of Engineering at Aarhus University is looking for a professor within the area of Environmental Sensor Technology as described below. The position is funded by the Poul Due Jensen Foundation and Aarhus University. The Foundation also makes available funding for a postdoc associated with the chair, as well as for travel, consumables, etc.
 
The position is available from December 1, 2019 or as soon as possible thereafter.

WATEC is a centre encompassing research fields within the areas of:

• Mapping and modelling of groundwater resources
• High-tech drinking, process and wastewater treatment, including removal of trace contaminants
• Constructed wetland treatment technologies
• Restoration of lakes and streams
• Modelling of the whole water cycle and its biological components
• Environmental sensors development

The staff at the sensor laboratory at AU has for four decades developed sensors, primarily microsensors, for elucidation of primarily biologically mediated chemical transformations in aquatic environments. The appointed professor should expand this research by introducing new methodologies enabling detection of more chemical species or improved detection/monitoring of important analytes, trace contaminants, microbes or virus, or other relevant water quality measures. The new professor is supposed to collaborate with researchers at WATEC on environmental analyses and water treatment. The professor will be affiliated with Department of Engineering, but with close ties to Department of Bioscience and the iNANO centre. Department of Bioscience, iNANO, and Department of Engineering are all extremely well equipped so that almost all kinds of analytical equipment will be available. The professor will initially work in the WATEC sensor laboratory (currently located at Department of Bioscience) with staff from both Department of Engineering and Department of Bioscience. We envision that the expertise of the new professor could include ion-selective electrodes or biosensors.

The selected person will work in dynamic international environment with frequent seminars and many interdisciplinary projects. The sensor laboratory is projected to have two full professors, one assistant professor, one postdoc, and two technicians by the end of 2019, and with expectations of an additional postdoc starting in 2020.  

For further information about WATEC here. For information about the departments here, and for information about AU in general visit  here.

Successful candidate
You are expected to:

• Present plans for relevant high-impact research on environmental water quality sensors (not including sensors for medical use) and interaction with other WATEC researchers
• Conduct research at the highest international level
• Successfully attract external research grants from industry, national and international sources
• Develop and contribute to relevant educational courses at the PhD, Master’s and Bachelor’s level
• Participate in supervision of Bachelor, Master’s, and PhD students and postdocs
• Establish synergies between your own research and other related research activities to secure the needed interdisciplinary approaches
• Maintain a strong national and international network of contacts with leading research groups, as well as pursuing industrial contacts
• Be responsible for effective knowledge exchange with society, utility companies, and industry
• Mentor post docs and young researchers in attracting competitive funding.

Qualifications 
The following professional and personal qualifications are required:

• PhD degree or equivalent qualifications
• Documented research qualifications at professorship level
• Experience in communication of research in a wide context
• Ability to strengthen national and international cooperation within the research area
• Documented ability to attract research funding
• Documented experience with supervision of postdocs, PhD and MSc students
• Documented teaching experience
• Documented skills in relation to international collaboration and development of interdisciplinary research teams.

Qualifications for the full professor level at Aarhus University include a strong academic background, documented successful grant writing and experience with project management, industrial/public sector collaboration, as well as teaching and supervision experience. Criteria for evaluating candidates can be found here.

Place of Work and area of Employment / Conditions of Appointment
Place of employment is Aarhus University, and place of work is Science and Technology, Hangøvej 2, DK-8200 Aarhus N.

Application
Applications should be in English and include an application letter, CV with publication list, and a description of planned research including a description of how the candidate’s expertise could be beneficial for the activities in WATEC (max. 2 pages). A teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching activities must be included. Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Further information
The position is open for appointment from December 1, 2019. Individual negotiations will take place, and it is evident that senior research leaders may have existing commitments and need time and resources to relocate to Denmark. Aarhus University offers competitive start-up packages.

For further information contact Head of WATEC, Niels Peter Revsbech (phone: +45 2338 2187, e-mail: revsbech@bios.au.dk) or Head of the Biological and Chemical Engineering section, Lars DM Ottosen (phone +45 5137 1671, e-mail: ldmo@eng.au.dk)

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, including the main considerations emphasized during the selection process.

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

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

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

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.

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

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