Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Copenhagen 

The University seeks to appoint an associate professor or professor as Head of the Department of Experimental Medicine (AEM) as soon as possible.

Information on the Department can be found at: https://www.sund.ku.dk/.

Department of Experimental Medicine (AEM) is responsible for the centralized Copenhagen Animal Care and Use Programme (the Programme) at the University and University Hospitals, which is accredited by AAALAC. We aim to provide the best possible conditions and services for advanced research using laboratory animals in the most lenient way.

Biomedical research is constantly evolving and developing new demands for expert assistance from AEM, which creates a stimulating and challenging work environment. The position asHead of Department includes being a Director of the operations of the Programme. It is associated with the responsibility to actively maintain and develop the high quality of the Programme: We expect that you can lead across the Programme and actively engage and contribute to the multifaceted tasks in the Programme.

Description of this position

For this associate professorship/professorship, the main emphasis with regard to qualifications will be on a track record in relevant research at an international level within the area of Comparative Medicine/Laboratory Animal Science. Moreover, emphasis will be on the candidate's relevant competence and experience from managing a successful academic centralized animal care and se programme.

The responsibilities in the position will primarily consist of:

• Responsibility for managing the University’s centralized Animal Care and Use Programme
• Overall responsibility for the Department’s professional, financial and personnel management
• Research, including publication/academic dissemination, and implementation of evidence-based improvements to the Programme
• Research-based teaching, including associated examination
• Research leadership and collaboration with the Department’s unit for Research, Development and Teaching, including guidance and supervision of the University’s researchers with respect to optimal use of animals in biomedical research
• Obligation to share knowledge with society, including participation in public debate when relevant
• Academic assessments
• Research-based public-sector consultancy may be required

More specific expectations and responsibilities for the associate professor/professor as the Director of the Operations of the Programme will include:

• The Head of Department is an active leader of the department’s management team, and together with three facility managers, the Head of the Department is responsible for ensuring efficient leadership of the Programme operations.
• Interact with users and stakeholders to ensure that the programme develop according to user needs.
• Ensure a focus on continued professional development and staff wellbeing for the Department’s animal care and use staff.
• Strategically work to ensure a good mental and physical work environment for all employees at the department. The leader must show leadership, be honest, listening, empathetic and engaging with employees.
• Responsible for creating professional management across the whole department.
• Responsible for developing and implementing the department’s strategy in line with the Faculty’s strategy as well as the department’s internal need for development.
• Participate in the Faculty Leadership Team meetings

The Director of the Operations of the Programme refers directly to the Dean. As the Director, you must work strategically to create well-being and a good working environment for employees in the Programme.

Required qualifications

Six overall criteria apply for professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The six criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organisational contribution, external funding and leadership) are considered a framework for the overall assessment of the candidate. Find information about each criterion here: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/criteria-for-recognising-merit

Furthermore, the candidate must be able to document:

• A high degree of original academic production at an international level, including considerable contributions to the development of the academic discipline
• Managerial competence and experience from management of research, and other management functions, e.g., engagement in the university’s external academic activities, and technology transfer.
• Experience from providing leadership to the operations of successful animal care and use services ensuring continued development of the Programme, which is international in outlook and of high quality.
• Experience with and interest in personnel management.
• Experience from research-based teaching in relevant subjects
• Experience from education and employment in multidisciplinary biomedical research environments
• Experience from board and steering group work.

The applicant must also be able to document:

• A PhD degree or similar research education in laboratory animal science or comparative medicine and post graduate training/education of relevance to the position. Substantial relevant original academic production of publications at an international level, including contributions to the development of Comparative Medicine/Laboratory Animal Science/Translational Medicine

The associate professor/professor is also required to possess good interpersonal and communicative skills. Furthermore, it is an advantage to be able to speak, write and understand Danish.

Terms of employment
You will be employed as an associate professor or professor depending on qualifications. The position is a permanent position. The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

Assessment material

• Curriculum vitae, including information about external funding and leadership experience
• Diplomas (Master’s, PhD and other relevant certificates)
• A complete list of publications
• Research plan (3‐5 pages)
• Uploads of maximum 10 publications to be considered in the assessment
• Teaching plan
• Teaching portfolio (Guidelines: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/job-application-portfolio)

Salary and other terms and conditions of appointment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant professional organisations.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions

For further information, please contact Vice Dean Mogens Holst Nissen, mhni@sund.ku.dk.

For information on the Faculty, please visit www.sund.ku.dk.
 
Foreign applicants may find this link useful: https://www.ism.ku.dk/ (International Staff Mobility).

Application

The application must be submitted in English and must include the following documents:

• Application, including motivation for applying for this position (Maximum 2 pages)
• Curriculum vitae, including information about external funding and leadership experience
• Diplomas (Master’s, PhD and other relevant certificates)
• A complete list of publications
• Research plan (3‐5 pages)
• Uploads of maximum 10 publications to be considered in the assessment
• Teaching plan
• Teaching portfolio (Guidelines: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/job-application-portfolio)

Application procedure

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointments Committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment. The Dean then appoints an expert assessment committee in order to make an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee and each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself. You can read about the recruitment process at https://jobportal.ku.dk/.

Please note that the applicant will be contacted if the assessment committee requires further documentation.

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

The University of Copenhagen encourages all interested applicants to apply for this position.

Please submit the application with the required attachments. Only online applications will be accepted. The closing date for applications is 23.59 p.m. CET, 16 January 2022.

Interviews for this position are likely to be held in week 10, 2022. The consultancy firm Genitor (www.genitor.dk) will assist the Faculty with the interview process.

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.