Associate Professor of Biophysical Chemistry

Department of Science and Environment is one of four departments at Roskilde University. The department conducts basic and applied research within chemistry, physics, medical biology, molecular biology, environmental sciences and mathematics. Bachelor programs are offered within these areas, as are interdisciplinary Master programs, such as Chemical Biology starting in 2022.

The Associate Professor’s duties will comprise research at a high international level and a strong commitment and contribution to teaching in chemistry and interdisciplinary programs across the department. The position is open to applicants with research expertise in biophysical chemistry and the new Associate Professor will establish a research group working in areas related to the chemistry of biological systems or biological catalysis. The department is particularly interested in research themes that will complement ongoing activities in the chemistry group and foster new collaborative research at the department, especially with the disciplines of molecular, medical and environmental biology, mathematical modelling, the Center for Frustrated Molecular Interactions, Glass and Time, and education programs such as the Master program in Chemical Biology. Details about these areas and programs may be found on the University homepage.

The Chemistry group conducts basic and applied research and teaches a range of topics, from the fundamental to the specialized, based around these activities. Some prioritized research themes of the group include the construction and characterization of natural and medicinal compounds (natural products, peptides, bioactive compounds and biomacromolecules), enzymatic and chemical catalysis, metabolomics and proteomics, sustainable organic synthesis reaction pathways, and drug stability and delivery systems. The department’s chemistry and biology laboratories are situated in a new building, acquired in 2016, equipped with modern infra-structure and state-of-the art instrumentation. This includes recently acquired NMR, mass spectrometry (LC- and GC-MS, including high resolution measurements and proteomics), and microscopy (AFM and confocal) instruments, together with calorimetry (ITC and DSC), chromatography (HPLC), and scattering (DLS, SAXS) instruments.

Roskilde University has a strategic focus on student recruitment, industrial collaboration and interdisciplinary science, and the Associate Professor must be willing to support this strategy and be motivated to develop new collaboration platforms. The Associate Professor will teach in an interdisciplinary environment and engage in problem-oriented project work with extensive student involvement and responsibility. The applicant must show a strong commitment to research-based teaching and be able to teach subjects central to the chemistry curriculum, especially molecular and macroscopic physical chemistry and general chemistry, together with experimental courses and projects.

The Department of Science and Environment has a strategic aim to increase external collaboration with private and public companies and we therefore invite candidates both with a university record of accomplishment and/or an industrial research background to apply for the position.

Read more at https://ruc.dk/en/department-science-and-environment .

Responsibilities and tasks
The Associate Professor’s work will primarily include research, including publication/academic dissemination and scientific communication, and research-based teaching with associated examination obligations. In addition, the position also requires sharing knowledge with the rest of society, including participation in public debate and outreach activities. Furthermore, the Associate Professor is expected to manage research, provide guidance and supervision of assistant professors and researchers as well as take part in academic assessments.

The ideal candidate is expected to

• lead a research group in biophysical chemistry at an international level,
• attract external funding,
• participate in and supervise problem oriented student projects, at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral level, as well as conduct lecture and laboratory based teaching,
• develop the chemistry curriculum,
• strengthen and/or establish a strong research network in Denmark, as well as internationally,
• collaborate across the department especially with molecular, medical and environmental biologists, the Center for Frustrated Molecular Interactions, and relevant areas of mathematical modelling, and
• be able to teach in English immediately, and within three years acquire proficency in Danish sufficient for particpation in departmental and university committees and meetings.

Qualifications
Applicants must hold a PhD degree or equivalent within chemistry. Qualifications within biophysical chemistry are required. In addition, applicants should have:

• experience with supervision of research students,
• experience with education in relation to projects and multidisciplinary work,
• experience with education in relation to course, lecture and practical laboratory experiment development and delivery,
• documented research and teaching qualifications corresponding to those achieved through satisfactory appointment as an Assistant Professor or equivalent in biophysical chemistry,
• The successful applicant must be qualified to teach at B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. levels, as well as supervising student-initiated project work in a multidisciplinary setting.

The ideal candidate shall be enterprising and possess good communication skills and is expected to be a visible, 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 topics in biophysical chemistry,
• scientific production beyond the contribution from the PhD and research prospective at an international level,
• the ability to promote and utilize research results, together with the ability to attract external funding
• experience in teaching physical chemistry and education development and management,
• academic experience, preferably including international academic experience, e.g. from reviewing or editing academic papers and/or from organizing research conferences or seminars,
• ability to contribute to the development of the department’s internal and external cooperation and collaborations,
• experience in the management and supervision of research students.

Please note that to be assessed for the position as Associate Professor, the candidate will have completed and passed an educational teaching program and have an academic production at an international level.

Questions
For further information about the position, please contact Dean of Natural and Mathematical Sciences Susanne Sørensen on tel. (+45) 4674 2111 or email: susa@ruc.dk and/or Head of the Chemistry Group William Goldring on tel. (+45) 4674 2308 or e-mail: goldring@ruc.dk.

Terms of employment
The employment is full time and you will refer to 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 Dean 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/ via the "Ansøg" link.

Only applications in English are accepted. 

Applications must include: 

1. Cover letter including motivation for how the applicant's profile matches the expectations and the position within research and education
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  
   1. 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. Research plan (maximum 3 pages)

Please submit your application no later than 1 July 2021 
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. 

Please write in your application that you've seen the job at Jobfinder.