Tenure-track Assistant Professor or Associate Professor of Novel Cereal Foods
Department of Food Science (FOOD)
Faculty of Science (SCIENCE)
University of Copenhagen (UCPH)

The Department of Food Science (FOOD), Faculty of Science (SCIENCE), University of Copenhagen (UCPH) invites applications for a position as Tenure-track Assistant Professor / Associate Professor in the area of ”Novel Cereal Foods”. The research areas of the Department have a shared mission to contribute with new solutions for society and industry to support sustainable food production, food security and safety as well as production of high-quality food promoting human health and wellbeing.

Department of Food Science is recognized for excellence in food research, education, and industrial collaboration and have approx. 200 employees. It is an international workplace with English as the primary working language. We want to reinforce our teaching and research in plant foods and therefore create this new position in Novel Cereal Foods.

Cereals are amongst the most grown food crops worldwide and have been the companion of human development since the agricultural revolution. Cereals are generally known as healthy basic foods containing proteins, carbohydrates, dietary fibres, and other bioactive components. We wish to understand the effects of food processing on these parameters and to understand and develop novel cereal foods as part of a sustainable diet.

You will become part of the Section of Food Analytics and Biotechnology that consists of the two research groups “Foodomics” and “Plant based foods and Biochemistry”. You will have optimal possibility also to collaborate with the other sections within UCPH FOOD: Design and Consumer Behavior, Ingredient and Dairy Technology, and Microbiology and Fermentation. You will have access to e.g. a brewery pilot plant, a millinery, and an extruder, and as we collaborate widely at UCPH, you will have great opportunities to include the full plant food value chain from plant growth to nutritional value and health effects in your research.

The candidate must be able to carry out research and teaching in the field of cereal foods and beverages together with plant food diet and technology with a strong emphasis on contributing to developing the area of sustainable plant food production. The primary research interest should be in the interface between sustainable plant food diet, production and technology, cereal food processing and molecular functionality. The research should preferably cover some of the following sub-areas:

• Cereal Food Processing and Technology
• Cereal Foodomics and Analytics (NMR, LC-MS, GC-MS, etc)
• Cereal Enzyme Technology
• Malting and Brewing
• Cereal Proteins, Starch, Fibres, and Bioactives
• Digestion and Functionality of Cereal Foods
• Sustainable Plant Food Diet and Production

With respect to the applicant applying as tenure-track assistant professor or associate professor (see below), the successful candidate has an independent research profile and an international research record with a relevant background in plant based food technology research. The candidate is also an inspiring teacher with visions for teaching development. It is crucial that the candidate is able to foster strong collaborations with the food industry and has proven the ability to attract funding. Qualifications are expected within the following areas:

• A collaborative and innovative mindset
• Documented scientific impact and outreach on his/her research work
• A proven track record in attracting external funding at both national and international level
• Extensive lab experience
• Experience with international collaborations
• Successful track record in industry collaboration
• Excellent interpersonal and communicative skills
• Teaching

In addition to the above-mentioned research qualifications, applicants are required to have a relevant PhD degree.

Tenure-track assistant professor
The tenure-track assistant professor’s duties will primarily include research, including obligations with regard to publication/scientific communication and research-based teaching with associated examination obligations within cereal foods and beverages. To a limited extent, the position may also include other duties.

The tenure-track assistant professor must have an academic standing showing internationally competitive research, and/or have internationally recognized high potential to make a future impact.

Assessment of applicants for the tenure-track assistant professorship will primarily consider their level of documented, internationally competitive research. The ability to attract external funding will be considered together with outreach qualifications. Teaching qualifications are not mandatory, but documented teaching qualifications and teaching experience will be considered.

Associate professor
Applicants are required to have university-level teaching experience and documented teaching competencies and must be able to explain and reflect upon their own teaching practice and portfolio. Formal pedagogical training or supervision equivalent to the University of Copenhagen teacher training programme for assistant professors is required.

FOOD is an international workplace with English as primary working language. However, University of Copenhagen has a language policy with respect to international employees' Danish-language skills: it is expected that associate professors are able to contribute to teaching in Danish after 3-6 years. The candidate must actively contribute with teaching in cereal foods and beverages to the BSc in Food Science and Nutrition and the MSc in Food Science and Technology programs.

Duties include the applicant’s own research, development of the field, assessment tasks, grant applications, and research management such as supervision and training of research fellows and other staff. The successful applicant must also teach, supervise, prepare and participate in examinations, and fulfil other tasks requested by the Department.

Assessment of applicants for the associate professorship 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 the ability to attract external funding will also be considered.

University of Copenhagen’s criteria for recognising merit
Six overall criteria apply for assistant professor/associate 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. Please read more here:

For tenure-track assistant professors: https://jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabelige-stillinger/kriterier-for-videnskabelige-stillinger/dokumenter-til-meritering/5a_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-Assistant_professors.pdf.

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

The tenure-track assistant programme
The tenure-track programme is a career programme, and an assigned mentor will provide the tenure-track assistant professors with guidance related to career development, other academic topics and administrative procedures.

Performance of the tenure-track assistant professor will be followed via internal yearly evaluations and a mid-term and final international evaluation by an assessment committee. If the ‘final appraisal’ is positive, you will be promoted as associate professor. Performance and progression towards the criteria below will be evaluated with due consideration of differences between research fields.

After a 6-year tenure-track period, tenure-track assistant professors are expected to meet the criteria for appointment of associate professors at the University of Copenhagen.

Terms of employment
The position is open from 1 June 2024,or as soon as possible thereafter.

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.

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

The successful candidate will be part of an internationally oriented and enthusiastic section currently consisting of 2 full professors, 9 associate professors, 3 assistant professors and post-docs and 6 PhD candidates as well as 2 highly skilled laboratory technicians. The section has at its disposal various pilot plant facilities and state-of-the-art analytical infrastructure.

Further information on the Department is linked at http://www.science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/departments/.http://www.science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/departments/. Inquiries about the position can be made to Head of Department Anna Haldrup (mail [email protected] or phone +45 93565698).

Filing of application
The position may be applied for at the tenure-track assistant professor level or associate 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 (see below).

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

Applying for the tenure-track assistant professorship please include

• Curriculum vitae including:
  • Please describe and document international network and relations
  • Please describe and document internationally based activities
  • Positions held at universities/research institutions outside Denmark
  • Outreach activities, i.e. popular lectures or other activities in the media
  • Grants held, personal or in part. Career development grants.
  
  
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)

• Research plan - description of current and future research plans

• If available, description and documentation of teaching and supervision experience and qualifications – please describe and document:
  • Experience with supervision of BSc and MSc students
  • Teaching experience
  • Formal pedagogical training
  
  

• Complete publication list
• Separate reprints of up to 5 particularly relevant papers

Applying for the associate professorship 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 3 December 2023, 23:59 GMT+1

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 5 April 2024.

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

211-0186/23-2N Tenure-track assistant professorship of Novel Cereal Foods.

211-0546/23-2E Associate professorship of Novel Cereal Foods.

Kilde: Jobnet.dk