Research and Innovation Positions at the Faculty of Arts

Aarhus University is currently intensifying its strategic efforts within innovation and entrepreneurship with the aim of bringing more research into play through concrete societal solutions and collaborations with established companies and public organisations. This initiative is closely aligned with AU Strategy 2030, in which research-based innovation and entrepreneurship constitute a central strategic focus area.

To strengthen AU’s capacity to connect research and innovation, the university management has decided to establish a number of new research and innovation positions across the university. These newly created positions are intended to integrate innovation thinking into the university culture while also creating concrete and visible societal impact and value.

You can read more about AU’s innovation initiatives and AU Strategy 2030 on the university’s website.

The Faculty of Arts is investing in the development of a strong research and innovation environment through four Distinguished Senior Innovator positions. These four positions may either be full-time positions or converted into twice as many part-time positions.

We are seeking candidates who can document experience in translating research into concrete solutions through, for example, innovation projects, collaborations with public authorities or companies, policy development, commercialization, entrepreneurship, implementation in practice, or other forms of research-based value creation.

A full DSI position entails spending 40% of working time on research and the remainder on one or more innovation projects. A part-time DSI position similarly entails spending 40% of working time on research, while the remaining time is divided between innovation activities and teaching according to the same norms that apply to ordinary professors and associate professors at Arts.

The final decision regarding the distribution between full and part-time positions will be made once an overall assessment of the applicant pool has been completed. Applicants are therefore asked to indicate in their application whether they are interested in a full or part-time position.

The special research and innovation obligations embedded in the position are initially time-limited. The obligation runs until the end of 2029 but may be extended by mutual agreement. If the innovation obligation ceases, the employee will transition to a regular position at the department to which they are affiliated.

Strategic focus areas

At Arts, emphasis will be placed on DSI positions contributing to innovative and developmental solutions within key cultural and societal areas. Until 2030, the faculty has a particular strategic focus on:

• Welfare and health innovation
• Security and societal resilience
• Digital transformation, AI and cybersecurity
• Sustainability, including sustainability in education
• Political education and democratic citizenship
• Digital learning and education
• Creative industries and cultural heritage

Applications within these areas will be of particular relevance to the faculty, but applications within other themes will also be considered with interest. It will also be an advantage if the innovation project has a digital dimension.

Each position will be anchored in a department within one of the faculty’s three schools, but must maintain a close connection to Kitchen and the faculty-based innovation hubs and contribute to the development of the innovation environment there.

Position content and expectations

As a Distinguished Senior Innovator at Arts, your primary tasks will be to:

• Develop and manage research-based innovation projects with clear societal relevance
• Strengthen the faculty’s innovation capacity through the development of new collaborations between external partners and students, researchers and academic environments
• Support the development of an innovation culture in selected academic environments in close collaboration with local communities and departmental and school management
• Supervise PhD students and students in research and innovation projects
• Participate in interdisciplinary collaborations across AU’s strategic research initiatives
• Participate regularly in activities in The Kitchen and the faculty innovation hubs, including weekly meetings and other innovation-related activities
• Employees in part-time positions have a particular obligation to connect innovation projects with teaching activities at the relevant school

Qualification requirements

Associate Professor level

• Strong research profile and documented experience with innovation and external collaboration
• A significant number of peer-reviewed publications in recognised journals or other publications
• Experience in research leadership and supervision
• Experience with interdisciplinary collaboration and participation in cross-disciplinary networks
• Extensive teaching and supervision experience at BA and MA level, documented in a teaching portfolio including a teaching statement
• Completion of university pedagogical training or equivalent
• Experience with career development of junior researchers and development of PhD courses

Applicants must be assessed as qualified at associate professor level for the overall content of the position, including the innovation dimension, in order to be considered.

Professor level

• Well-developed research profile and documented experience with innovation and external collaboration
• Strong publication record including original peer-reviewed publications in recognised international journals
• Substantial experience in research leadership and supervision
• Strong experience with external research funding
• Extensive teaching and supervision experience at BA, MA and PhD level, documented in a teaching portfolio including a teaching statement
• Completion of university pedagogical training or equivalent
• Extensive experience with career development of junior researchers and development of PhD courses
• Significant experience with knowledge exchange

Applicants must be assessed as qualified at professor level for the overall content of the position, including the innovation dimension, in order to be considered.

Application requirements

The application must include:

• A well-described innovation project anchored in a clear research field/question with the potential to address societal challenges
• A description of how the project contributes to solving one or more challenges
• A clear account of how the project will contribute to spreading an innovation and entrepreneurship culture at Arts, and the role the applicant sees themselves playing
• A description of how the project can support the development or consolidation of the department’s/academic environment’s external collaborations
• An account of how the applicant will support the innovation culture within their own academic environment, school, and across all three schools
• An indication of whether the applicant seeks a full or part-time DSI position. Applications for part-time positions must include a description of how the applicant will connect the innovation project to teaching activities at the relevant school

The application, including the project section, may not exceed three pages. The application must be submitted in English.

Mandatory attachments

• CV
• Publication list and at least five articles
• Teaching portfolio
• Research and innovation plan outlining the project trajectory and contribution to the academic environment’s development, expected societal value and impact, plans for funding applications, and collaboration with external partners

The research and innovation plan may not exceed four pages.

Please note that although the application process can be completed in Aarhus University’s system without uploading publications, a research plan or a teaching portfolio, applications that do not include a research plan, uploaded publications and a teaching portfolio (or equivalent documentation of teaching experience and qualifications) will not be considered.

Application process

External applicants must indicate the academic environment in which they wish to be employed and specify whether they seek a full or part-time DSI appointment.

Internal applicants must likewise indicate whether they are interested in a full or part-time appointment.

Salary and terms of employment

Salary and employment conditions follow the applicable collective agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.

Questions

For further information about the positions, please contact:

Søren Sindbæk, Vice-Dean for Research, Faculty of Arts Phone: +45 40 87 83 34 Email: sindbaek@au.dk

For assistance with uploads or questions regarding the recruitment process: Arts HR Support Email: arts.hr@au.dk

Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.

Formalities

• Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).
• 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.
• Further information on the application and supplementary materials may be found in Application Guidelines.
• The application must outline the applicant's motivation for applying for the position, attaching a curriculum vitae, a teaching portfolio, a complete list of published works, research plan, copies of degree certificates and no more than five examples of academic production (mandatory). Please upload this material electronically along with your application.

If nothing else is noted, applications must be submitted in English. Application deadline is at 11.59 pm Danish time (same as Central European Time) on the deadline day.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Shortlists may be prepared with the candidates that have been selected for a detailed academic assessment. A committee set up by the head of school is responsible for selecting the most qualified candidates. See this link for further information about shortlisting at the Faculty of Arts: shortlisting

The Faculty of Arts is one of Northern Europe’s most significant faculties for research and higher education in the humanities, theology and education. Within this broad academic scope, the faculty comprises approximately 700 researchers, 200 PhD students, 9,000 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students, and 1,500 further and continuing education students. We believe that the best ideas arise when different perspectives meet – and that research, teaching and innovation are best developed in dialogue with the surrounding society.

You can find more information here: Faculty of Arts | Aarhus University

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website (via the 'Apply' button above).