162157 Associate Professor or Assistant Professor of Veterinary Biochemistry

Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

University of Copenhagen

 

The University seeks to appoint an associate professor or assistant professor in Veterinary Biochemistry to the Section of Pathobiological Sciences, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences to commence January 1st, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Information on the Department can be found at: https://ivh.ku.dk/

Job description
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with relevant competencies within veterinary biochemistry, organic chemistry and cell biology.

You will be associated with the research group of Disease Stem Cell Models and Embryology. The activities in the research group focus on disease modelling using state of the art stem cell approaches for neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson’s disease), epilepsy and glaucoma in animals and in humans. We are also interested in iPSC models from animals, and we are running projects making canine, porcine and bovine iPSC. Canine iPSC models are relevant to understand and make in vitro models of canine cognitive dysfunction. Porcine iPSCs are implemented in transplantation studies to make immune-evasive porcine iPSC. Bovine iPSCs are used to assess safety and efficacy of genome editing in livestock and to produce renewable sources of stellate cells as progenitors for muscle cells and meat production.

The position is linked to the Veterinary education and includes teaching in courses related to veterinary biochemistry, organic chemistry and cell biology, including supervision of bachelor, master and PhD students. The candidate should be able to contribute to teaching and further develop teaching competences.

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
• Acquisition of independent research funding

The assistant professor’s responsibilities will primarily consist of:

• Research, including publication/academic dissemination
• Research-based teaching, including associated examination
• Sharing knowledge with society
• Participation in formal pedagogical training program for assistant professors

Required qualifications
Six overall criteria apply for associate professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The six criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organisational contribution, external funding and leadership) are considered a framework for the overall assessment of candidates. Find information about each criterion here: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/criteria-for-recognising-merit.

Furthermore, each applicant must be able to document:

The successful applicant for the position as associate professor should be able to document:

• Research qualifications within veterinary biochemistry, organic chemistry and cell biology 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.
• Experience in securing external funding for research.
• Teaching qualifications and pedagogical competencies. If the candidate has not passed the “Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Program (Universitets pædagogikum), University of Copenhagen” or equivalent, it should be achieved within the first two year of employment.
• Research-based teaching

The successful applicant for the position as assistant professor should be able to document:

• A PhD degree or similar qualifications within Biology, Biomedicine, Biochemistry, Veterinary Science or similar.
• Research experience within the field of the position: The assistant professor must have an academic standing showing internationally competitive research, and/or have internationally recognized high potential to make a future impact.

 

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

Assessment of applicants

Six overall criteria apply for appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The six criteria—research, teaching, societal impact, organizational contribution, external funding, and leadership—are considered a framework for an overall assessment of the candidates. Each candidate is also assessed according to the specific requirements stated in the job advertisement.

Please read more here:

• For assistant professors: https://jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabelige-stillinger/kriterier-for-videnskabelige-stillinger/dokumenter-til-meritering/5a_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-Assistant_professors.pdf.
• For associate professors: https://jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabelige-stillinger/kriterier-for-videnskabelige-stillinger/dokumenter-til-meritering/5b_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-Associate_professors.pdf.

 

Terms of employment

The position of the associate professor is permanent. The position of the assistant professor is time limited to four years.

 

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 Finance 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 Birgit Nørrung, e-mail: birn@sund.ku.dk or Research Group Leader, Professor Kristine Freude, e-mail: kkf@sund.ku.dk

 
Foreign applicants may find this link useful: https://www.ism.ku.dk/ (International Staff Mobility).

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

• Application, including information about external funding (Maximum 2 pages)
• Curriculum vitae, including 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: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/job-application-portfolio)

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 https://jobportal.ku.dk/.

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, 15 September 2024.

 

Interviews for this position are likely to be held in week 47.