Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Food Microbiology and Packaging at Aarhus University, Denmark

The Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Denmark, invites applications at the Tenure Track Assistant Professor level within food microbiology and packaging. We are looking for a successful candidate with a strong research profile within food microbiology, food quality and food packaging and shelf life, who would like to work with a highly engaged and motivated staff in an innovative and dynamic working environment. The position is available from 1. October, 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter. The position
We are specifically interested in a candidate, who has expertise in the cross-field between food microbiology, biotechnology, shelf life and packaging. The area covers micororganisms of bacteria, molds and yeast and the impact of using microorganisms in biotechnology as producers and vehicles for delivery of specific compounds in food production and food preservation altogether with the impact of food packaging, microbial spoilage, and shelf-life of both fresh produce and processed food products. Analytical tools using fundamental microbial analysis, microscopy techniques, chemical analysis and DNA-based genome methods are included.

The position will focus on plant and animal-based food matrices, as well as sustainable packaging materials. A special focus point for the position is research related to development of methods for microbial quantification, metabolite production, and identification for better understanding the interactions of food properties and storage condition of importance for food quality and packaging functionality.

Development of this research area is a focal point, and the candidate’s scientific competences are expected to make a key contribution to further strengthening the research and teaching activities within the Department of Food Science. The position is aligned to the Science Team of Food Technology.

New research initiatives in food microbiology, food quality and shelf-life should complement existing Department activities within food technology, food chemistry, influence of processing and overall food quality.

You are expected to have research experience within three or more of the following areas:

• Hands on experience with basic and advanced analytical techniques of microbial growth, identification and experimentation of bacteria, molds and yeast, including spore preparation and detection of metabolites
• Hands on experience with the evaluation of food quality and shelf-life
• Documented experience in method development related to food microbiology
• Knowledge of food composition and chemistry in complex food matrices
• Modelling and analysis of microbial growth and prediction in food relevant environments interacting with packaging and storage

Collaboration and exchange of knowledge with industry and advisory services, and the Danish Government are seen as a natural part of the position. The successful candidate must also take part in teaching and supervision of students at BSc and MSc level. Qualifications

• PhD degree in food science or food biotechnology and minimum of 2-3 years of relevant postdoc experience
• A proven publication record in international peer-reviewed journals (minimum 15 publications)
• Teaching experience at BSc and MSc level
• Experience in international research collaboration and networking
• Documented ability to attract or contribute to attracting research funding
• Write and speak English fluently

The Department of Food Science
The Department of Food Science is part of the Faculty of Technology, Aarhus University and includes research across the food value chain within the areas of Plant Production Systems, Biofunctional Food, Systems Biology, Food Chemistry, Food Technology, Food Quality, Food Metabolomics and Sensory Science. The Department currently employs approx. 60 full time scientific staff and 50 PhD students and Postdocs, with approx. 30 visiting staff and students contributing to an international research environment where English is the preferred language in the laboratory, at meetings and at seminars.

The Department works in teams and therefore self-leadership, clear and open communication, success in mentoring, supervising and teaching are important qualities needed to be successful in the Department. In addition, the Department has a strong culture that is based on openness, equality, consultation and inclusion, and contributing to the Department strategy and working environment is viewed as important.

The Department is responsible for a Master’s programme in Molecular Nutrition and Food Technology, taught at AU, Denmark, and a Master’s programme in Food and Health at the Sino-Danish Center in Beijing, China. In addition, Department staff contribute to several other key interdisciplinary educations, including Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in Plant and Food, and a Bachelor of Engineering in Food Technology, Aarhus University. Staff also teach on a number of other educations offered at other Universities in Denmark and China.

The Department also conducts research-based advice of the Danish Government in the area of food quality.

Please refer to http://food.au.dk/en/ for further information about The Department of Food Science and to http://scitech.au.dk/en/ and http://www.au.dk/en/ for information on Technology and Aarhus University, respectively. Place of Work and area of Employment
The place of work is Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.

For further information contact Professor and Science Team Leader Marianne Hammershøj, phone: +45 22169259, e-mail: [email protected] or Professor and Science Tam Leader Jette Feveile Young, phone +45 22307518, e-mail: [email protected] Living in Aarhus / Denmark
Please visit the International Centre website (http://www.au.dk/en/internationalcentre/)for information about arriving, working and living in Denmark.
Technical Sciences Tenure Track
Aarhus University offers talented scientists from around the world attractive career perspectives via the Technical Sciences Tenure Track Programme. Highly qualified candidates are appointed as Assistant Professors for a period of six years with the prospect of performance- based advancement to a tenured Associate Professorship.

The aim of the Technical Sciences Tenure Track Programme is to:

• attract outstanding talented individuals that are competitive at an international level
• to promote the early development of independent research success early in the career of scientists
• to create transparency in the academic career path

As part of the tenure track position, the candidate is offered:

• access to research infrastructure
• capability development, including postgraduate teacher training
• a mentoring programme
• support to develop scientific networks and to secure interdisciplinary research at the highest level

As part of the Aarhus University Tenure Track Programme, the University carries out a mid-way evaluation to review the progress of the tenure track candidate after three years, according to the same criteria used in the final tenure review. The final tenure review is conducted after five and a half years. If the review is positive, the candidate will be offered a tenured position as Associate Professor at Aarhus University.

Please refer to the tenure track guidelines for the tenure review criteria and for the tenure review process. 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: Fødevareteknologi/Food Technology

Deadline: 15 August 2024

Location: Aarhus N Agro Food Park 48