The Department of Agroecology at Aarhus University, Denmark, invites applications for a position as Senior Advisor focusing on molecular genetics and biotechnology in crops. The position will be available from 01-01-2023 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a permanent full-time position.

You will be part of an advisory and research environment focusing on improving crops for a challenging future. The main focus of your position will be on crop biotechnology and biochemistry. You will work experimentally with already established laboratory experiments including expression of plant genes in Pichia pastoris, expression vector design, gene editing technology, CRISPR/Cas and proteomics.

We expect that you will be an active part of the research environment and that you will contribute positively to the social working environment. We also expect that you will take part in our teaching activities and that you will report research results in high-impact scientific journals.

Your profile
In order to be assessed as qualified for a Senior Advisor position, you must

  • Hold a PhD in molecular biology, biotechnology, biochemistry or have another relevant academic education from a university or academic institution
  • Be experienced in public outreach and public sector/industrial collaboration
  • Have a proven publication record in international peer-reviewed journals
  • Possess experience in international collaboration and networking
  • Have the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary research team
  • Document your ability to attract external funding
  • Be dedicated and possess the ability to communicate in a competent, inspiring, supportive way

Further, we will prefer candidates with some of the following qualifications:

  • Insight into biotechnology in carrots
  • Experience with genetically transformed crops

Who we are
At the Department of Agroecology, our main goal is to contribute to sustainable solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems within the areas of soil, plants, animals, humans, and the environment. We want to make a difference by contributing to both fundamental knowledge generation and the attainment of sustainable production systems via state-of-the-art research, contracted policy advice, and education. We offer state-of-the-art laboratories, greenhouses, semi-field, and field-scale research facilities, advanced computing capacities as well as an extensive national and international researcher network. The department consists of eight research sections with around 270 highly dedicated employees, of which approximately 50% are scientific staff.

What we offer

  • An informal and multicultural research environment with high professionalism, where accountability, commitment, helpfulness, flexibility, and close collaboration is a prerequisite solving the core tasks
  • A good social environment with activities and routines that make it possible to talk across and strengthen the collegial relationship, and where mutual trust, respect, kindness, and professional sparring are emphasized
  • A flexible workplace with a good work-life balance
  • An exciting and varied working environment, where two days rarely resemble each other. We are often busy, and we work creatively for solutions to societal challenges
  • Subsidized preschool child care and a free education system from primary school up to university level
  • Universal health insurance as a resident of Denmark, including family members officially residing in Denmark
  • Five weeks paid holiday per year
  • In connection with childbirth: the right to have a total of 52 weeks shared maternal/paternal leave with full or partial salary pay

Place of Work
The place of work is Aarhus University, Campus Flakkebjerg. The affiliation will be with the Department of Agroecology. More information can be obtained from Head of Section, Professor Henrik Brinch-Pedersen hbp@agro.au.dk

Application procedure

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. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Letter of reference

If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration

Formalities and salary range

Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any).

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.

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

Apply now

Deadline 30 September 2022

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,000 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 885 million.

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