Tenure Track Assistant Professor in food lipid chemistry, food quality and shelf-life at Aarhus University, Denmark

The Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Denmark, invites applications at the Tenure Track Assistant Professor level within lipid chemistry and food quality and shelf-life. We are looking for a successful candidate with a strong research profile within lipid chemical modifications, identification of oxidation-derived compounds, volatile metabolites chemistry, and food quality and shelf-life, who would like to work with a highly engaged and motivated staff in an innovative and dynamic working environment. The position is available from 1 August, 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The position
We are specifically interested in a candidate, who has expertise in the cross-field between lipid chemistry using chromatographic and spectroscopic approaches, processing technology and spectroscopy of lipids, and food quality and shelf-life. The area covers food lipid chemistry, specifically on neutral and polar lipids, lipid oxidative/hydrolytic chemical modifications, identification of oxidation-derived compounds, evaluation of volatile metabolites by chromatographic and spectroscopic approaches and processing approaches to extend enhance the quality and shelf-life of any type of food. The area lies at the interface between lipidomics and food processing. The position will focus on plant and animal-based food matrices, as well as sustainable packaging materials. A special focus point for the position is research related to development of methods for metabolite analysis for better understanding the physical and chemical interactions of importance for food and packaging functionality.

Development of this research area is a focal point, and the candidate’s scientific competences are expected to make a key contribution to further strengthening the research and teaching activities within the Department of Food Science. The position is aligned to the Science Team of Food Technology. Current research is focused on modelling and understanding of molecular interactions and details of importance for structure-function relationships in food matrixes using advanced rheology, light scatter techniques, processing equipment and mass spectrometry. Current chemistry, processing, and physical chemistry equipment comprises chromatographs (LC- and GC-MS), mass spectrometers, NMR, extruders, light scattering, surface tensiometers, ICP-MS, HPAEC-PAD, DSC, TGA, DMTA, and all sort of equipment to fabricate and analyse packaging materials.

You are expected to have research experience within three or more of the following areas:

• Hands on experience with 1H NMR, FTIR and/or SPME-GC/MS to identify and quantify lipids and volatile metabolites
• Hands on experience with the evaluation of food quality and shelf-life
• Hands on experience with food processing and packaging technologies
• Documented experience in method development related to food macromolecules
• Knowledge of lipid and polysaccharide chemistry in complex food matrices
• Modelling and analysis of macromolecule-metabolite interactions

Collaboration and exchange of knowledge with industry and advisory services, and the Danish Government are seen as a natural part of the position. The successful candidate must also take part in teaching and supervision of students at BSc and MSc level.

Qualifications

• PhD degree in food science and minimum of 2-3 years of relevant postdoc experience
• A proven publication record in international peer-reviewed journals (minimum 15 publications)
• Teaching experience at BSc and MSc level
• Experience in international research collaboration and networking
• Documented ability to attract or contribute to attracting research funding
• Write and speak English fluently

The Department of Food Science

The Department of Food Science is part of the Faculty of Technology, Aarhus University and includes research across the food value chain within the areas of Plant Production Systems, Biofunctional Food, Systems Biology, Food Chemistry and Technology, Food Quality, and Sensory and Consumer Science. The Department currently employs approx. 60 full time research staff and 80 PhD students and Postdocs, with an additional approx. 60 Master and Bachelor thesis-based students and visiting researchers, who together contribute to an international research environment where English is the preferred language in the laboratory, at meetings and at seminars.

We offer a challenging and independent job opportunity in an ambitious and inspiring research and education environment with an informal atmosphere. We are looking for a dynamic employee who is able to work independently and maintain an overview during periods of high workload. We expect that you are efficient at planning your time and organizing major tasks. You enjoy interaction with both scientific staff, students and technical-administrative staff and you have a flair for establishing collaborative relationships. The Department works in teams and therefore self-leadership, clear and open communication, success in mentoring, supervising and teaching are important qualities needed to be successful in the Department. In addition, the Department has a strong culture that is based on openness, equality, consultation and inclusion, and contributing to the Department strategy and working environment is viewed as important.

The Department is responsible for a Master’s programme in Molecular Nutrition and Food Technology, taught at AU, Denmark, and a Master’s programme in Food and Health at the Sino-Danish Center in Beijing, China. In addition, Department staff contribute to several other key interdisciplinary educations, including Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in Agrobiology, and a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering in Food Technology, Aarhus University. Staff also teach on a number of other educations offered at other Universities in Denmark and China.
The Department also conducts research-based advice of the Danish Government in the areas of plant production and food quality.

Please refer to http://food.au.dk/ for further information about The Department of Food Science and to https://tech.au.dk/en /and http://www.au.dk/en/ for information on Faculty of Technical Sciences and Aarhus University, respectively.

Place of Work and area of Employment
The place of work is Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.

For further information contact Head of Department Michelle Williams, phone: +45 25170049, e-mail: [email protected].

Living in Aarhus / Denmark
Please visit the International Centre website (http://www.au.dk/en/internationalcentre/ )
for information about arriving, working and living in Denmark.

Technical Sciences Tenure Track

Aarhus University offers talented scientists from around the world attractive career perspectives via the Technical Sciences Tenure Track Programme. Highly qualified candidates are appointed as Assistant Professors for a period of six years with the prospect of performance- based advancement to a tenured Associate Professorship.

The aim of the Technical Sciences Tenure Track Programme is to:

• attract outstanding talented individuals that are competitive at an international level
• to promote the early development of independent research success early in the career of scientists
• to create transparency in the academic career path

As part of the tenure track position, the candidate is offered:

• access to research infrastructure
• capability development, including postgraduate teacher training
• a mentoring programme
• support to develop scientific networks and to secure interdisciplinary research at the highest level

As part of the Aarhus University Tenure Track Programme, the University carries out a mid-way evaluation to review the progress of the tenure track candidate after three years, according to the same criteria used in the final tenure review. The final tenure review is conducted after five and a half years. If the review is positive, the candidate will be offered a tenured position as Associate Professor at Aarhus University.

Please refer to the tenure track guidelines for the tenure review criteria and for the tenure review process.

Application procedure

Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the assessment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. The selection is made on the basis of an assessment of who of the candidates are most relevant considering the requirements of the advertisement. All applicants will be notified within 6 weeks whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee and will receive his/her assessment. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Letter of reference

If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

Formalities and salary range

Technical Sciences refers to the

Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities .

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here . Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here .

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.