Assistant Professor in Landscape Biogeochemistry

The Department of Agroecology at Aarhus University, Denmark, is looking for an experienced assistant professor in the field of remote sensing, modelling of landscape biogeochemistry and landscape exchange of greenhouse gases. The research will focus on using remote sensing data to inform biogeochemical models and to guide experiments at landscapes. Your work will aim at a better understanding and representation of coupled C, N and water cycles and associated exchange of greenhouse gases (GHGs) between the land surface and the atmosphere. Specific focus should be given to spatio-temporal patterns of GHG fluxes as affected by land use, management, and changes in environmental conditions. The position is offered for three years and is a full-time position, starting on 1 November 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Food security, climate change and loss of biodiversity represent three of today’s major societal challenges. Finding solutions for all these challenges requires studies that extend across multiple spatial and temporal scales. The Pioneer Center Land-CRAFT (https://land-craft.dk/) brings together experts on climate impact research and landscape analyses with backgrounds in biogeochemistry, agronomy, biology, geography, and social sciences from Aarhus University and University of Copenhagen, as well as our international partners: Colorado State University/NREL and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology/IMK-IFU. The Center was established in June 2022 to undertake fundamental and applied research that will address these societal challenges. Digital technologies, including biogeochemical modelling and remote sensing, as well as interactions with stakeholders are key components of Land-CRAFT.

The experienced candidate (3-5 years past PhD) for Landscape Biogeochemistry will focus on integrating nutrient cycles and GHG fluxes of agricultural landscapes, thereby explicitly considering interactions between different ecosystems (e.g., forests, wetlands, lakes). The candidate will explore opportunities to reconfigure land use and land management to reduce the impact of agricultural systems on the environment, specifically with respect to GHG balance and nutrient losses along gaseous and hydrological pathways. At the same time, such optimization of landscape management should consider trade-offs in productivity and biodiversity, as well as considering the resilience of key landscape functionalities under climate change.

The position is closely linked to activities within the starting SmartField project (https://www.dti.dk/projects/smartfield/an-innovation-platform-for-n2o-mitigation-in-danish-agriculture/45988), and it is envisioned that these activities will be expanded beyond Denmark to Europe or even globally.

We expect that you will be an important part of the international climate change impact research community 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 your research will be reported in high-impact scientific journals.
Your profile
We are searching for a highly motivated candidate who has

• A PhD in biogeochemistry, agronomy, environmental sciences, remote sensing, data science, mathematics or similar,
• 3-5 years following PhD is preferable,
• Comprehensive programming skills, preferably with a background in using remote sensing information for ecosystem modeling,
• Documented research qualifications at a high international level,
• Ability to carry out independent, systematic, well-organized research work, as well as work as part of an interdisciplinary team,
• Documentation of own project acquisition and implementation activities,
• Willingness to contribute to developing and follow strategies for the team and within the perspective of the larger research environment,
• Advanced communication skills in English.

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 innovative research, contracted policy advice, and education. We offer professional 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 320 highly dedicated employees, of which approximately 50% are scientific staff. More information can be found here.
We believe in encouraging inclusion, acceptance, and understanding by employing staff who bring unique perspectives to our department.
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 inclusive relationship, and where mutual trust, respect, kindness, and professional sparring are emphasized
• A flexible workplace with a good work-life balance
• A workplace where we work actively with diversity, equity and inclusion
• 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

Special benefits when working in Denmark

• Subsidized preschool childcare 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 Ole Worms Alle 3, 8000, Aarhus C. The affiliation will be with the Department of Agroecology.
Further information
Applicants seeking further information are invited to contact Professor Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, phone: +45 93508238, e-mail: [email protected].

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). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

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.

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.

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 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/

Department: Center for Landscape Research in S/Center for Landscape Research in Sustainable Agricultural Futures - Land-CRAFT

Deadline: 30 August 2024

Location: Aarhus C Ole Worms Allé 3