Associate Professor / Professor in Innovation

ATTENTION: Contact persons are listed in the background document, which can be accessed here. 

Aarhus University is currently expanding its strategic efforts within innovation and entrepreneurship, with the aim of bringing more research into play as concrete societal solutions, spin-outs, and collaborations with established companies. This initiative is closely aligned with Aarhus University’s Strategy 2030, where research-based innovation and entrepreneurship constitute a central strategic focus area.

With the aim of expanding Aarhus University’s capacity to bridge research and innovation, the university leadership has decided to establish a number of strategic new research and innovation positions across the university. These positions are intended to contribute to integrating innovation thinking into the university’s culture while at the same time ensuring tangible impact and societal value.

Expected date of accession: April 1st 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The positions

The Faculty of Technical Sciences (Tech) invites applications for a number of positions at Associate Professor or Professor level within innovation-focused research and impact across its departments and in the areas of food systems, environment and engineering. Positions may be offered as full-time academic appointments or as joint appointments with industry or public sector partners, depending on the candidates profile.

Candidates are expected to contribute to building the link between research, innovation, and society, and to engage and strengthen the collaboration across departments and across Aarhus University with respect to interdisciplinary innovation efforts.

Due to the breadth of the call, applicants will be evaluated by an assessment committee with knowledge tailored to the thematic areas of relevance.

Thematic areas

The specific themes are presented below and elaborated in a memo which can be found here. 

Applicants must clearly state in their application i) which of the  the following thematic areas they are applying to, and ii) which level the candidate is applying for (Associate Professor / Professor):

• Theme 1: Innovation Hub for Feed and Food Processing hosted by the Department of Animal  and Veterinary Science
• Theme 2: Resilient crops with new genomic techniques (NGT) hosted by the Department of Agroecology
• Theme 3: Integrating nature-based/technical solutions to address multiple water challenges at catchment scales
• Theme 4: Bioaerosol surveillance and integrated early warning systems hosted by The Department of Environmental Science
• Theme 5: Food biosolutions and hybrid food systems hosted by The Department of Food Science
• Theme 6: Digital phenotyping across plants, insects and farmed animals hosted by the Centre for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics.
• Theme 7: Water technology hosted by the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering
• Theme 8: Advanced production technologies for biogenic building materials hosted by the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering
• Theme 9: Building the resilient, flexible, multi-energy microgrids of tomorrow hosted by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Theme 10: Advanced Materials, Biomechanical Systems, Human-centric and Intelligent Manufacturing for a Sustainable and Resilient society hosted by the Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering

Responsibilities

Selected candidates are expected to:

• Conduct high-quality research with a clear innovation and impact orientation
• Contribute to the translation of research into practical and societally relevant applications
• Establish and expand collaborations with industry and other innovation hubs, public sector organisations, including external partners outside AU
• Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration across departments and faculties
• Contribute to teaching, supervision, and mentorship of students and early-career researchers
• Strengthen innovation capacity within the department and the broader faculty

Qualifications and evaluation criteria

Applicants will be assessed based on both traditional academic criteria (academic excellence, research portfolio, and teaching / dissemination experience) and additional innovation-related criteria. In particular, emphasis will be placed on:

• The innovation potential of the applicant’s field of expertise
• A clear vision and plan for innovation activities (to be described in the application or as a separate document)
• Demonstrated or potential societal impact within a relatively short time horizon
• Documented experience and skills within innovation, including concrete examples
• Relevant academic qualifications relevant to the selected thematic area
• Experience with collaboration with external partners

All candidates will also be assessed in relation to departmental priorities within the thematic area.

What we offer

• A well-established and supportive, interdisciplinary and internationally recognised research environment
• Close interaction with industry and public sector partners
• Access to advanced research infrastructure and innovation ecosystems
• Opportunities to shape and develop innovation capacity across Tech and AU

Organisation and place of work

The place of employment is Aarhus University, Faculty of Technical Sciences. The positions will be anchored in the departments mentioned under each theme.

Tech have activities in Aarhus, Roskilde, Flakkebjerg, Viborg and Herning. The place of work will be determined on the candidate’s qualifications, the relevant department’s geographical presence, its priorities and opportunities, and personal preferences.

Candidates are expected to engage broadly across the faculty and contribute to cross-cutting innovation initiatives.

Contact information

If you have any questions about the position, then please contact the relevant person responsible for the area you are interested in.

The relevant contact person can be found here. 

Application deadline

Applications must be received no later than 10 September 2026. 

Application procedure

Applications must be submitted in English and include:

• Curriculum vitae
• List of publications
• Description of research and innovation activities
• A statement outlining the candidate’s vision for innovation
• Teaching and supervision portfolio (e.g.  including dissemination, communicaiton, mentorship)

Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the assessment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. The selection is made on the basis of an assessment of who of the candidates are most relevant considering the requirements of the advertisement. All applicants will be notified within 6 weeks whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee and will receive his/her assessment. 

Formalities and salary range 

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation 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.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

You will be appointed as professor or associate professor.

Appointment as associate professor follows the basic salary steps 4-8 according to the collective agreement for academics employed by the state. The employment includes a pensionable pay supplement of DKK 91,282.00 per year at 31.03.2012 level in connection with full-time employment.

Professors are paid a salary corresponding to salary step 37 according to Circular on the Protocol on Certain Terms and Conditions of Employment for Academic Staff at Universities. The employment includes a pensionable pay supplement of DKK 51,400.00 per year at 31.03.2012 level in connection with full-time employment.

Your salary consists of a basic salary and a pensionable pay supplement and possibly an individually negotiated qualifications supplement. 

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.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

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