Professor in Innovation and Glycoengineering

DTU Bioengineering at the Technical University of Denmark invites applications for a position as Professor in Innovation and Glycoengineering.

As professor in innovation you will become Deputy Head of Department, responsible for science-based innovation and entrepreneurship with reference directly to Head of Department. The research activities within Glycoengineering will be placed in the Section for Protein Science and Biotherapeutics. Focusing on proteins as executioners of cellular functions, the Section performs interdisciplinary and collaborative biomedical research on host-environment interactions, aiming at understanding the molecular mechanisms of these interactions and their disturbance during infection and in life-style associated diseases, and at engineering of advanced protein-based biotherapeutics with the ultimate goal to modulate detrimental reactions to the benefit of human health and wellbeing. The Section has a total staff of approx. 50, of which 8 is faculty. https://www.bioengineering.dtu.dk/english/researchny/research-sections/section-for-protein-science-and-biotherapeutics

Responsibilities and tasks

The overall role of the professorship is threefold:

• Innovation and entrepreneurship for the department, and potentially beyond
• Research in glycoengineering, with focus on microbiome, glycoimmunology and glycooptimized biopharmaceuticals
• University education with focus on glycoengineering, innovation and entrepreneurship

As Deputy Head of Department, you will be responsible for science-based innovation and entrepreneurship, which involves developing new research initiatives and ideas together with expert colleagues at the department, by initiating, identifying, shaping, and developing new projects, ideas and approaches with a focus on applicability, commerciability and patentability. In that respect, it is important that the professor has a track record from previous work in driving new ideas from a broad range of research fields into business, preferably as entrepreneur in companies.

The research of the professorship will be in the area of Glycoengineering using glycosylation approaches and optimizing glycosylation of molecules and cells. The professor is expected to set up a laboratory spearheading research within glycoengineering leading to a series of applications for novel technologies, platform technologies as well as for development of novel biopharmaceuticals and microbiome-based approaches.

The successful candidate is expected to be involved in teaching activities related to BSc and MSc students. The education will cover both innovation and glycoengineering, but due to the tasks as deputy head, the teaching will mainly cover support to other teachers. This will include development of teaching material for integration of Innovation and Entrepreneurship activities in selected courses, as well as it will include design of course elements within Glycoengineering to be integrated into existing courses.

For international candidates, DTU can provide Danish language courses enabling the candidates to teach in Danish within 2-3 years.

Finally, the professor is expected to have good collaborative skills, being able to collaborate with research groups and start-ups both internally at the department, across departments at DTU, with national and international groups and with industry.

Qualifications Candidates must

• hold a PhD degree (or equivalent) as well as academic qualifications equivalent to those obtained by holding an Associate Professorship or Senior Scientist position
• be open minded and enjoy the interaction with scientist and students

In relation to Glycoengineering research, the candidate should document experience within several of the following areas:

• Protein and antibody engineering,
• Cellular Glycoengineering
• Glycooptimization and humanization of glycoproteins.
• Both upstream and downstream processing of protein-based biopharmaceuticals in engineered cell systems
• Microbiom-based research and development

In relation to innovation and entrepreneurship it is important the candidate can document experience within:

• Starting and successfully maturing a company
• Heading R&D and investor acquisition and/or Business development in a company
• Bringing scientific ideas to business
• Intellectual property rights
• The international environment of seed capital and following financing rounds in the biopharmaceutical area

AssessmentIn the assessment of the candidates, consideration will be given to:

• Experience and quality of teaching
• Research impact and experience, funding track record and research vision
• Societal impact
• Documented innovation activities, including commercialization and collaboration with industry
• International impact and experience
• Communication skills

Special consideration will also be given to:

• Strong R&D track record from industry
• Experience as CEO or CSO in a biotech company
• Ability to raise research funding as well as track record in raising investor-based capital
• The ability to promote, utilize, and commercialize research results
• A strong academic and industrial network within innovation and research
• A broad insight in the department research fields.

We offer DTU offers an interesting and challenging job in an international environment focusing on education, research, scientific advice and innovation, which contribute to enhancing the economy and improving social welfare. We strive for academic excellence, collegial respect and freedom tempered by responsibility. DTU is a leading technical university in northern Europe and benchmarks with the best universities in the world.

Salary and terms of employment

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed with the relevant union.

Further information

Further information may be obtained from head of department Bjarke Bak Christensen, +45 3066 4233

You can read more about the department on www.bioengineering.dtu.dk http://www.bioengineering.dtu.dk/

Application procedure

Please submit your online application no later than 25 June 2019.

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

• Application (cover letter) addressed to the President
• CV
• A vision for future research
• Teaching and research statement, with a focus on the 'Assessment' bullet points listed above
• Documentation of previous teaching and research, as related to the 'Assessment' bullet points listed above
• List of publications indicating scientific highlights
• H-index, and ORCID (see e.g. http://orcid.org/)
• Diploma (MSc/PhD)

Applications and enclosures received after the deadline will not be considered.

All qualified candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

The Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (DTU Bioengineering) conducts research, educates future bio-engineers, provides scientific advice and innovate within the areas of microbiology, biochemistry, biotechnology and biomedicine. The research at DTU Bioengineering is at the highest international level and focuses on the societal and scientific challenges within the field. Research is conducted within three main areas: Microbial ecology and physiology, Industrial biotechnology and cell factories, and Biomedicine and health. The department has extensive collaboration with national and international research units and industries. DTU Bioengineering has approx. 200 employees, of which 2/3 is scientific staff. The department is located at DTU Lyngby Campus.

DTU is a technical university providing internationally leading research, education, innovation and scientific advice. Our staff of 6,000 advance science and technology to create innovative solutions that meet the demands of society, and our 11,200 students are being educated to address the technological challenges of the future. DTU is an independent university collaborating globally with business, industry, government and public agencies.

Kilde: Jobnet.dk