Associate Professor of Health Data Science

Department of Public Health
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Copenhagen

The University seeks to appoint an associate professor to the Department of Public Health to commence 1 May 2025 or as soon as possible hereafter. Information on the Department can be found at: www.ifsv.ku.dk.The position belongs to a future Section working on health data science. The role of the section is three-fold: to develop novel methodology within health data science, to support and collaborate with the rest of the faculty on uptake of health data science.

Job description
We are seeking an associate professor with extensive experience in genomic analysis and pursuing the development of novel AI-based tools for improving pandemic preparedness. The ideal candidate will have close connection with data-generating initiatives of both pathogens and hosts, and experience in inferring the processes driving the emergence and evolution of new strains. They will be involved in methods development that goes beyond the use of genetic data, combining a broad range of data types and methodological approaches for tackling central gaps in the existing public health infrastructures. To fit the emerging theme of health data science, the candidate will have experience in software tool development and have the ambition to produce the next generation of computational instruments for nowcasting and forecasting epidemic outbreaks. As the university seeks to place itself as a leader in the development of novel tools for public health, the candidate should be familiar with the local and international funding environments, and have experience in obtaining competitive funding for the research objectives mentioned above.

The associate professor’s responsibilities will primarily consist of:

• Research, including publication/academic dissemination
• Research-based teaching, including associated examination
• Research leadership, including guidance and supervision of researchers
• Obligation to share knowledge with the rest of society, including participation in public debate
• Academic assessments

Required qualifications
To be qualified for an associate professor position, you will be assessed according to these six overall criteria for recognising merit at the University of Copenhagen: Research, teaching, societal impact, organisational contribution, external funding, and leadership. Find information about each criterion.

Furthermore, each applicant must be able to document:

• Research qualifications at the level that can be achieved by satisfactorily completing a period of employment as an assistant professor/postdoc, but may also be obtained in other ways
• Teaching qualifications and pedagogical competencies
• Research-based teaching

The associate professor is also required to possess good interpersonal and communicative skills.

Terms of employment
The position is a permanent position. The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

Salary and other terms and conditions of appointment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant professional organisations.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions
For further information, please contact Head of Department Theis Lange, thlan@sund.ku.dk

Foreign applicants may find the university’s International Staff Mobility useful.

Application
The application must be submitted in English and must include the following documents:

• Application (Including motivations for applying for the position (Maximum 2 pages))
• Curriculum vitae (Inc luding information about external funding
• Diplomas (Master’s, PhD, and other relevant certificates)
• A complete list of publications
• Research plan (3‐5 pages)
• Uploads of maximum 5 publications to be considered in the assessment
• Teaching plan
• Teaching portfolio (Guidelines)

Application procedure
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointments Committee.  All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment. The Dean then appoints an expert assessment committee in order to make an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee and each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself. You can read about the recruitment process at the university's Job Portal.

Please note that the applicant will be contacted if the assessment committee requires further documentation.

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

The University of Copenhagen encourages all interested applicants to apply for this position.

Please submit the application with the required attachments. The closing date for applications is 23.59 p.m. CET, 5 January 2025.

Interviews for this position are likely to be held from week 12.