Professor in Industrial Biotechnology - DTU Biosustain

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, (DTU Biosustain) is seeking a professor to develop and manage its Biofoundry. The Biofoundry is a research infrastructure which is instrumental for the execution of the mission of DTU Biosustain and ensures effective development and implementation of strain design procedures in our design-build-test-learn workflow using big data and data science. We are now looking for an experienced leader who is willing to put an effort into leading a team of 50 highly skilled people and preparing large research projects for tech transfer into spin-off companies, industrial collaboration and/or commercialization.

Responsibilities and qualifications
You will have the responsibility for CFB’s data driven Biofoundry consisting of ten technology teams working within the design-built-test-learn cycle. In addition to the role as Director of the Biofoundry you will also operate as the Center’s Chief Technology Officer and be a member of the Executive Management Team. You will be reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and your immediate responsibilities will be:

• Ensuring the Center goals for the Biofoundry are met.
• Leading the Biofoundry with focus on big data driven cell factory design for protein and chemical production.
• Transforming the Biofoundry to become a technology platform with high output rate.
• Securing further technology development and funding for the Biofoundry.
• Contribute to the execution of the Center’s educational mission and in particular activities derived from its translational effort.
• Developing the Biofoundry into a world leading technology platform for cell factory design. 
• Setting up, operating, and documenting efficient workflows.
• Ensuring strong relationships with the Research Groups and PrePilotPlant to assure promising projects progress successfully.
• Establishing productive interactions with internal as well as external stakeholders at DTU and outside DTU, both in academia and industry.
• Fostering an entrepreneurial mindset at DTU Biosustain.

We are looking for a candidate that has:

• Exceptional skills in building and leading cross-disciplinary and multicultural research teams
• Strong work experience from academia and industry, including from universities, large and small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Scientific leadership in cell factory design.
• Extensive experience in research covering data science, synthetic biology, fermentation and bioprocess development.
• Strong entrepreneurial mindset with experience in start-ups from founding and running SMEs, and taking innovations to the market. 
• Strong international network in the field.
• Strong motivation for developing and contributing to the educational mission.

You are expected to take a lead role in curricula development and in educational activities derived from DTU Biosustain’s translational mission. This may include talent development on different levels, Life-Long-Learning activities and supervision of students at BSc, MSc and PhD level.

DTU employs two working languages: Danish and English. You are expected to be fluent in at least one of these languages, and in time are expected to master both.

You will be assessed against the responsibilities and qualifications stated above and the following general criteria:

• Research impact and experience, funding track record and research vision
• International impact and experience 
• Societal impact
• Innovativeness, including commercialization and collaboration with industry
• Leadership, collaboration, and interdisciplinary skills
• Motivation for education and talent development 
• Communication skills

Salary and terms of employment 
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. 

Further information 
Further information may be obtained from Bo Skjold Larsen, CEO, tel.: +45 2365 3022.

You can read more about the Center at https://www.biosustain.dtu.dk 

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 8 April 2024 (23:59 Danish time). 

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• Application (cover letter) addressed to the President
• Vision for establishing and operating a data driven Biofoundry with societal, economic and biosustainable impact.
• Vision for teaching and education. 
• CV including employment history, list of publications indicating scientific highlights, H-index and ORCID (see http://orcid.org/)
• Documentation of teaching experience
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD)

You can learn more about the recruitment process here.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability (DTU Biosustain) at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) aims at developing new knowledge and technologies to help facilitate the transformation from the existing oil-based chemical industry to a more sustainable bio-based society in which chemicals are produced biologically.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

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