Professor in Medical Biology or Molecular Physiology

The Department of Science and Environment (DSE), Roskilde University, invites applications for one to two positions as Professor of Medical Biology or Molecular Physiology from 1 August 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The Department of Science and Environment (DSE) is one of four departments at Roskilde University. The department conducts basic and applied research within medical biology, molecular biology, chemistry, physics, environmental sciences, and mathematics. Bachelor programs are offered within these areas, as are interdisciplinary Master programs, such as Molecular Health Science starting in September 2022.

The department is organized into four sections: Environmental Dynamics, Medicinal & Molecular Biology, Mathematics & Physics and Chemistry. We strive to work interdisciplinary within the department, within the main areas at Roskilde University and in close and open-minded collaboration with private companies, public institutions, universities and NGOs.
Read more at https://ruc.dk/en/department-science-and-environment

The professor will be part of the Section for Molecular and Medical Biology. This Section comprises at the moment sixteen professors, associate professors and assistant professors as well as a varying number of PhD-students, postdoc’s., technicians etc with a total staff number around 40.
The Section of Molecular and Medical Biology conducts research and teaches in basic molecular biology topics often combined with a biomedical or application-oriented angle. The research group works in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms with research within host-pathogen interactions, antimicrobial peptides, bacterial physiology, cell biology, cancer development, structural characterizations of proteins, and metabolic disorders using a variety of molecular and biochemical techniques. DSE has a well-established shared infrastructure with state-of-the-art equipment facilities such as fluorescence confocal microscopy, NGS platform, Mass-spectrometry, HPLC, NMR, cell culturing, GMO2 and Biosafety level 2 laboratories, and acquired a new laboratory building in 2014 and a fully renovated lab building in 2020.
Read more about the section at https://ruc.dk/en/forskningsgruppe/molecular-and-medical-biology

Responsibilities and tasks
The Professor’s main task is to further develop the field of research and to undertake research and research-based teaching within the field.
The professor is expected to maintain a high record of publication in high-quality journals, to encourage research achievement and to take a leading role in developing and promoting an active research culture. You will also be expected to take a leading role in large-scale national and international fundraising to help securing funds for the development of the group and department, and to participate actively in research networks in Denmark as well as internationally. The Professor will teach in an interdisciplinary environment and engage in problem-oriented project work with extensive student involvement and responsibility. You will be required to teach, supervise and assess students at BSc and MSc levels as well as PhD students within relevant study programs. Educational tasks also implies taking a leading role in the development of the molecular and medical biology curriculum. As professor you will be required to participate in post-doctoral training and be responsible for the supervision of assistant professors as well as take part in academic assessments. The position also includes a duty to actively share knowledge with the rest of society – including participation in the public debate within your field. The Professor’s tasks will also include activities within student recruitment and popular dissemination of science.

Finally, you will be expected to lead a research group in medical biology and human physiology with a focus on metabolism and hormonal regulation at an international level and take a strategic responsibility for management and leadership through engagement in the group and the Department. This includes collaboration across the department, especially with chemists and environmental biologists, the Center for Frustrated Molecular Interactions, and relevant areas of mathematical modelling.

Applicants are referred to the university’s Faculty expectations for specifications on the required level of qualifications within research, teaching, networking, fundraising, impact and outreach etc

Qualifications
Applicants must hold a PhD degree or equivalent within human biology. Qualifications within Medical Biology and/or Molecular Physiology are required at a level equivalent to an associate professor. In addition, the applicant should:

• Have a documented strong background in detection of disease-relevant biological molecules and data analysis to identify potential biomarkers.
• Have documented teaching qualifications corresponding to those achieved through satisfactory appointment as an Associate Professor or equivalent in molecular medical biology/physiology,
• Have documented pedagogical qualifications, good teaching evaluations, and the ability to innovate within the educational field.
• Demonstrate ability to establish collaboration with industry/private companies, governmental institutions and/or NGO’s.
• Show a strong commitment to research-based teaching and be able to teach subjects central to the molecular and medical biology curriculum, especially within metabolism and human physiology, together with experimental courses and projects.
• Have a keen interest in contributing to the pedagogical development of the team of teachers in the section.
• Have a keen interest in and preferably experience with project-based teaching and teaching in an interdisciplinary environment within the field.Have the ability to play an active role in the doctoral school, including the teaching supervision and assessment of PhDs.

You are also required to be enterprising, to possess good interpersonal skills, and to be a visible, active participant in the daily activities in the group and the department, in addition to being willing to engage in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration within and outside the department. You are also expected to be able to take a leading responsibility for the continuation of a creative and pleasant working environment together with the Head of Department and the Head of Section.

Candidates who are not native Danish speakers are expected to achieve a working knowledge of Danish within three years allowing them to read official documents in Danish and to participate in the mentioned administrative tasks, collaboration and networking. Roskilde University will fund appropriate Danish classes.

Assessmen
In the assessment of the candidates, consideration will be given to:

• original scientific production at an international level in relation to the above-mentioned field(s)
• research topic and potential for development of the field
• experience with providing dynamic leadership in the development of research and teaching
• ability to and a track record in securing external research funding and leading a research team of young scientists (phd’s and postdocs),
• the ability to promote and utilize research results
• experience in teaching and education, including own pedagogical development, contributions to the pedagogical development of a team of teachers as well as participation in doctoral school activities
• experience with administrative tasks related to teaching and development of new study programs (study boards, heads of study etc)
• scientific network and ability to contribute to development of the department’s internal and external cooperation
• willingness and capability of teaching in a truly interdisciplinary environment. The university builds on problem-oriented project work, student involvement and student responsibilities. Thus, experience in project guidance is an advantage
• fluency in English

Questions
For further information about the position, please contact Dean of Natural and Mathematical Sciences Susanne Sørensen on tel. (+45) 4674 2111 or email: susa@ruc.dk and/or Head of the Molecular and Medical Biology Section Jesper Troelsen on tel. (+45) 4674 2728 or e-mail: troelsen@ruc.dk.

Terms of employment
The employment is full time and you will refer to Dean of Natural and Mathematical Sciences Susanne Sørensen.
The position will be filled according to the Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.
Commencing salary will be minimum DKK 637.950,67 per year (1st October 2021 level) plus pension contribution (17,1 %).

Application procedure
After the deadline for applications the Dean will shortlist applicants for assessment with assistance from the recruitment committee including the chairperson of the assessment committee.
Shortly after the application deadline all applicants will be notified whether or not their application has been selected for assessment.
The shortlisted applicants will be informed about the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant will be given the opportunity to comment on the composition of the committee and - later on - their assessment.
Once the recruitment process is completed, all applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application.

Application
To apply for the position go to www.ruc.dk/en/job/
Only applications in English are accepted.

Applications must include:

1. Cover letter
   1. A brief description (max 3 pages) of your plans for development of the academic field in regard to both research and education
   2. A short description stating your most important scientific work relevant to the position and your contribution to such work (max 2 A4 pages)
2. CV
3. Documentation of education
4. Teaching portfolio (read more about teaching portfolio at Roskilde University here)
5. A complete list of publications
6. A maximum of 7 relevant scientific works that you want included in the assessment
   If any of the publications that you want included in the assessment are the result of a joint effort, the extent and the nature of your contribution to each individual work must then be clarified in a co-author statement (find template here)
7. Documentation of additional research qualifications, including
   1. experience in research management or other managerial functions
   2. track record in fundraising incl. project name, period, funding and funding body

Please submit your application no later than 16 February 2022.
Material received after this date will not be taken into consideration.

Roskilde University wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.