DTU Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Machine Learning for the Quantitative Assessment of Safe and Sustainable Chemicals - DTU Sustain

The Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering (DTU Sustain) at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) offers a full-time Assistant Professor (tenure track) position in Machine learning for the quantitative assessment of safe and sustainable chemicals. Expected start date is early 2025
The Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering (DTU Sustain) at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) offers a full-time Assistant Professor (tenure track) position in Machine learning for safe and sustainable chemicals. Expected start date is early 2025. It will be nested within the Section for Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, which also hosts the DTU USEtox Centre, focused on comparative assessments of chemicals, in which the selected candidate will have a coordination and/or leadership role.

The position aims at developing science-based solutions and machine learning methods for quantifying society’s environmental sustainability challenges related to chemical modelling and life-cycle-based chemicals alternatives in a team of international front-runners in quantitative sustainability assessment. We have over a 16-year period been the most publishing and cited university worldwide in the research field of life cycle assessment and are internationally leading research group in chemical impact and comparative risk assessment.

The position will allow you to collaborate with the USEtox research team as well as with researchers and stakeholders across sectors, including international top-academic institutions and experts from the public and private sectors.

The position is full-time and based at DTU Lyngby campus, just north of Copenhagen. Copenhagen is renowned around the world for its relaxed atmosphere and high quality of life.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Sustainability is a central element in DTU’s Strategy 2020-2025, where a strategic aim is “to develop technologies for sustainable change”. Quantitative sustainability assessment methods should be applicable inside and outside DTU, and the position targets current methodological challenges to achieve this aim in the domain of safe and sustainable chemicals.

We hence seek strong candidates with experience on one or more of the following research areas:

• Quantified approaches combining machine learning with mechanistic and mass-balanced based model applied to the assessment of chemicals impacts on human health and ecosystems
• In depth knowledge of the USEtox consensus model and the use of machine learning to predicts its inputs and/or outputs
• Applications of machine learning approaches to quantify risks and impacts for several types of applications, for example life cycle impact assessment, chemical alternatives assessment, comparative risk assessment and/or the development of new safe and sustainable chemicals by design
• Demonstrated experience in quantifying uncertainties associated with machine learning models and their predictions
• Experience of collaboration with industries and public decision makers

The candidate will also take part in the management of the DTU USEtox Centre and related projects and will work towards the development of the Centre activities, incl. development of the USEtox model, in collaboration with the USEtox research team.
We seek candidates with a high potential for creative and independent research, willingness to collaborate and interact with other researchers, the ability to teach sustainability assessment related courses and to disseminate research in seminars, conferences and in the classroom.

As part of your activities, you are expected to:

• Conduct excellent research and develop the field within the above-mentioned research areas
• Attract external excellence and strategic funding in your research field
• Build collaborations on developing technologies for transition towards sustainability with academics within and outside DTU, with the USEtox team and with private and public sector experts
• Engage actively in international network activities (e.g. UN Environment, Life Cycle Initiative)
• Teach in university courses and supervise students in their bachelor and master thesis projects
• The position requires a unique set of interdisciplinary academic expertise along with technical and training skills to establish new research areas within machine learning applied to chemicals including quantitative assessment of uncertainties

As a perfect candidate for our position, you are expected to:

• Enjoy teaching and be eager to develop your skills towards effective teaching in sustainability and impact or comparative risk assessment for engineers
• Bring strong expertise and an adequate track record in machine learning applied to chemicals and one or more of the research topics listed above
• Motivate colleagues, peers, and students to give the very best and create an interdisciplinary atmosphere to achieve ambitious goals
• Be a team player in the research group and contribute to its further development as well as to the development of the DTU USEtox Centre

Successful candidates are also expected to develop academic visibility, and over time establish national and international research leadership within their field.

You must be responsible for the teaching of courses. DTU employs two working languages: Danish and English. You are expected to be fluent in at least one of these languages, and in time are expected to master both.

As formal qualification you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent).

You will be assessed against the responsibilities and qualifications stated above and the following general criteria:

• Experience and quality of teaching
• Research experience in the position field
• Research vision and potential
• International impact and experience
• Societal impact
• Innovativeness, including commercialization and collaboration with industry
• Leadership, collaboration, and interdisciplinary skills
• Communication skills

What we offer
We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international and highly motivated research environment with multiple projects centered on the assessment and modeling of chemicals impacts on human health and the environment. We strive for academic excellence in a team characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by taking initiative and responsibility.

We offer an international and team-oriented research environment in an elite university based in the Greater Copenhagen area. We have excellent opportunities for collaboration within the department and across DTU departments, including teaching and supervision/co-supervision of graduate students.
Denmark is among the countries with the highest degree of digitalization, giving researchers access to unique longitudinal datasets on households, companies, etc. The department has various lab and test facilities, giving researchers access to experimental data.

Salary and terms of employment
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.

The position is part of DTU’s Tenure Track program. Read more about the program and the recruitment process here.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Professor Alexis Laurent, email: [email protected]

You can read more about the DTU Sustain department at https://sustain.dtu.dk/en

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 17 December 2024 (23:59 Danish time).

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• Application (cover letter)
• Vision for teaching and research for the tenure track period
• CV including employment history, list of publications, H-index and ORCID (see http://orcid.org/)
• Teaching portfolio including documentation of teaching experience
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD)
• Research statement, incl. research vision, 2-3 key scientific achievements, and research strategy
• 2 support letters from professional referees (e.g. former supervisors, senior collaborators)

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

The Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering (DTU Sustain) is one of the largest university departments specializing in environmental and resource engineering in Europe. The department conducts research, development & scientific advice and provides educational programs and service to society. We are working to develop new environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies, methods and solutions, and to disseminate this knowledge to society and future generations of engineers. The department has approximately 300 employees from more than 30 nationalities.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

Adresse:

Bygningstorvet
2800 Kgs. Lyngby