Professor in Composite Structures (2024-224-05746)

Department of Materials and Production(MP) is a wide-ranging research and educational environment at Aalborg University. The Department's mission is to meet the future's demands for new materials and production systems by directing the whole value chain from basic material understanding, materials' applications in mechanical constructions, industrial production, and management. The department has several strong, international, and innovative research groups which comprise everything from basic science to strategic and applicable research. The activities encompass research as well as education within materials, mechanics, physics, production technique, and industrial management and innovation.

Benefitting the industry and additional collaborators several innovative and unconventional collaborations have been and are developed through interdisciplinary co-operations.

Thereby, as an employee at the department, you will become a part of an international research environment, where the focus is on innovation, knowledge sharing/building, and interdisciplinary collaborations.  

The position requires research qualifications at Doctor level within Composite Structures. The professor will be in charge of developing this emerging research area within the department.

The research will include a multi-disciplinary interplay between design, manufacturing, and recycling of composite structures with the aim to enable future composite and lightweight structures to become more efficient, reliable, and sustainable. This will include applying core fundamental research to achieve the needed understanding of underlying problems enabling the suggestion of novel solutions and the demonstration hereof. Priority will be given to candidates that can demonstrate experience and proven track record in one or more of the following discipline areas: creation of multi-scale computational models and fatigue damage models accounting for complex operational loads, experimental methods and studies allowing to observe fundamental aspects and precisely provide input for predictive damage models, finite element techniques allowing accurate simulation, study and demonstration cases allowing to evaluate new composite material, design, manufacturing, and recycling concepts with the ultimate goal of improving the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of composite structures. 

The professor is expected to promote mission-based and multi-disciplinary collaboration across the university, other universities, and the industry through engagement in larger research projects with the aim of providing environmental and societal impact. A close collaboration with the composite industry in Denmark, and in particular, the wind turbine industry is expected. It is the ambition of the department to further increase its current international high standings within the area of Composite Structures.

The candidate must have a demonstrated record of extensive and dedicated teaching, including positive student and/or mentor evaluations, reflections upon own teaching practice, and a well-founded experience with independent curriculum development. At Aalborg University, our philosophy of teaching is the world-renowned Aalborg model of problem-based learning(PBL). Documented experience with this learning approach is therefore considered an advantage but is not a prerequisite.

The candidate must have leadership and management skills of young people and a solid experience with supervision at all academic levels(from Bachelor students to postdocs).

The successful candidate is expected to:

• Build up and maintain an excellent research environment within composite structures,
• Teach undergraduate and graduate students, primarily in Mechanical engineering,
• Handle management of researchers with different research and cultural backgrounds,
• Motivate and develop the full potential of young researchers,
• Promote multi-disciplinary collaboration across research groups, departments and faculties within the university and also with other universities and organizations,
• A close engagement with industry is expected,
• Contribute in a positive and constructive manner to the overall activities of the Department of Materials and Production,
• Raise third-party funding.

The following criteria are considered a framework for an overall assessment of the candidates: research, teaching, scientific impact, outreach, organizational contribution, leadership, external funding, independence, creativity and collaborative skills.

You may obtain further professional information from Head of Department Jens Christian Rauhe by mail [email protected].

Qualification requirements:
The suitable applicant can demonstrate a documented high level of original scientific production at an international level, including proven further development of the research area in question. An assessment of the candidate’s undertaking of research management and/or other possible management functions will also be taken into account. In addition the applicant is expected to have the qualifications required for undertaking teaching responsibilities. Special contributions to and development of educational and teaching related areas will be considered in the overall assessment. 

The application must contain the following:

• A motivated text wherein the reasons for applying, qualifications in relation to the position, and intentions and visions for the position are stated.
• A current curriculum vitae.
• Copies of relevant diplomas(Master of Science and PhD). On request you could be asked for an official English translation.
• Scientific qualifications. A complete list of publications must be attached with an indication of the works the applicant wishes to be considered. You may attach up to 10 publications.
• Teaching qualifications described in the teaching portfolio.  If this is not enclosed the applicant must include an explanation for its absence.
• Dissemination qualifications, including participation on committees or boards, participation in organisations and the like.
• Additional qualifications in relation to the position.
• References/recommendations.
• Personal data.

The applications are only to be submitted online by using the"Apply online" button below.

Shortlisting will be applied. After the review of any objections regarding the assessment committee, the head of department, with assistance from the chair of the assessment committee, selects the candidates to be assessed. All applicants will be informed as to whether they will advance to assessment or not.

AAU wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background or belief.

For further information concerning the application procedure please contact Mathilde Vestergaard HR-Servicecenter EST by mail [email protected].

Information regarding guidelines, ministerial circular in force, teaching portfolio and procedures can be seenhere.   

Appointment and salary acc. to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of professional Associations(AC) on Academics in the State. Employment as Professor is in accordance with a classified position on scale 37. In addition, a pensionable increment will be given.