Professor or Associate Professorship in Outdoor Recreation and Green Space Planning
Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management
Faculty of Science
University of Copenhagen

The Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, invites applications at associate or professor level in the field Outdoor Recreation and Green Space Planning. The positions will primarily be based in the Section for Landscape Architecture and Planning – Society where social aspects of green space is a central research topic, but the positions have broader relevance for the department.

The relationship between people and nature is central to societal transformations and sustainability transitions putting relevance on research dedicated to socio-cultural landscape values and outdoor recreation in an increasingly urbanized world.

Furthermore, the development and management of nature areas for leisure activities is of strategic importance for society, and Outdoor Recreation is a key theme in the cooperation contract between the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management and the Danish Ministry of Environment. A main duty is to contribute to this contract by making research activities in the field useful for decision-makers and practise in a Danish context, as well as, to some extent, contribute to coordination of this work. This includes research on monitoring, mapping and documenting outdoor recreation at both local and national levels, and research on how outdoor recreation is integrated in planning and management of nature areas and urban green space.

Qualifications

Successful candidates should be internationally recognized within the field of Outdoor Recreation and Green Space Planning with special focus on some of the following issues:

• Recreation and cultural ecosystem services
• Recreational and other socio-cultural aspects of people’s nature relationships, such as perception, wellbeing, and sense of place research
• Recreation resource assessment, monitoring and geo-spatial mapping
• Green space and outdoor recreation planning, governance and management, urban forestry, green infrastructure and nature-based solutions
• Monitoring and documentation of outdoor recreation including both qualitative and quantitative approaches, and special user groups (e.g. children and ethnic minorities)
• Involvement of multiple stakeholder groups (e.g. associations, landowners, volunteers, citizens etc.) in planning and governing of natural areas and green spaces in relation to outdoor recreation

Preference will be given to candidates with a demonstrated record of accomplishment in teaching and research related to outdoor recreation, cultural ecosystem services, and green space planning. It is expected that the successful candidate will maintain a strong research program on planning and management in relation to recreational aspects in urban, suburban, rural, and natural settings. The candidates should be comfortable working with interdisciplinary perspectives, within an international research and teaching context, and applying the knowledge to urban forestry, green space planning, sustainability science, and related planning, policy and management domains.

The candidates must have a Ph.D. degree or similar within landscape planning, geography, forestry, landscape architecture, sociology or other related areas. The candidates should have demonstrated success in peer-reviewed publishing as well as popular science dissemination. The candidates should have demonstrated ability to attract national and international research funding as well as experiences with research leadership and supervision of early career researchers to the extent required by the criteria for merit set out by the University of Copenhagen with respect to the level to which the application is directed. Strong interpersonal skills, international networks and experiences from cooperation with private and public organization, and from interdisciplinary teaching and research e.g., integrating natural and social sciences are also highly appreciated. Applicants are required to have university level teaching experience, documented teaching competencies and must be able to explain and reflect upon own teaching practice and portfolio. Formal pedagogical training or supervision equivalent to the University of Copenhagen teacher training programme for assistant professors is required.

Duties

Besides the main task of undertaking research in a broad field of Outdoor Recreation and Green Space Planning, the candidates are expected to be involved in teaching and supervision tasks and contribute to the development of the Section for Landscape Architecture and Planning – Society as well as other sections at the department.

Duties include the applicants’ own research; strategic development of the research field including cross disciplinary research in the department; national and international networking; assessment tasks; grant applications to secure external research funding; research management such as supervision and training of research fellows and other staff; contribute to coordinate and give research-based advice to the Ministry of Environment according to the cooperation contract mentioned above. The successful applicant must also teach, supervise, prepare and participate in examinations and evaluations, and fulfill other tasks requested by the Department.

Assessment of applicants will primarily consider their level of documented, original scientific production at an international level, including contributions to developments in their field, as well as their documented teaching qualifications. Managerial and out-reach qualifications of applicants including ability to attract external funding will also be considered.

Six overall criteria apply for associate professor and professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The six criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organizational contribution, external funding and leadership) are considered a framework for an overall assessment of the candidates. Furthermore, each candidate must be assessed according to the specific requirements stated in the job advertisement.

For associate professors: https://jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabelige-stillinger/kriterier-for-videnskabelige-stillinger/dokumenter-til-meritering/5b_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-Associate_professors.pdf.

For professors: https://jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabelige-stillinger/kriterier-for-videnskabelige-stillinger/dokumenter-til-meritering/5c_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-professors.pdf.

Further information on the Department is linked at http://www.science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/organisation/ Inquiries about the position can be made to Head of Department Vivian Kvist Johannsen [email protected]..

The position is open from 1 January 2025or as soon as possible thereafter.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Terms of employment
The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

Filing of application
The position may be applied for at the associate professor level or full professor level. Please note that it is possible to apply at more than one level. If applied at more than one level, separate applications must be submitted.

The application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include

• Curriculum vitae including information about external funding
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)
• Research plan – description of current and future research plans
• Description and documentation of teaching experience and qualifications according to university guidelines
• Complete publication list
• Separate reprints of 5 particularly relevant papers

The deadline for applications is 7 August 2024, 23:59 GMT +2.

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee.

You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews will be held on 25 November 2024.

Please refer to the following no. in future communication in this case:

211-0606/24-2E, Associate Professorship in Outdoor Recreation and Green Space Planning

211-0279/24-2K, Professorship in Outdoor Recreation and Green Space Planning

Kilde: Jobnet.dk