Professor in Molecular and Comparative Veterinary Clinical Oncology


Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Copenhagen

The Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences seeks a professor in Molecular and Comparative Veterinary Clinical Oncology from 1 April 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. Information on the Department can be found at https://ikv.ku.dk/english/

About us
The Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences covers strong and internationally recognized research areas in clinical veterinary sciences. Based on these, we want to set a new standard for cross-disciplinary research, education and innovation within animal health and disease and be among the best public workplaces in Denmark. Our research supports teaching in a manner and quality securing continued national and international bench marking (UCPH-Veterinary Science currently ranked #14 on QS ranking). The culture of the department is typical Scandinavian: a flat structure with a tradition for close collaboration where all employees are expecting openness, mutual respect, and sharing of ideas, resources and competences.

The Section for Diagnostic Imaging, Surgery and Clinical Specialties has a strong research profile primarily within companion animal research. The section holds clinical teaching and service obligations within companion animal diagnostic imaging, surgery, neurology, cardiology, oncology, and clinical nutrition and strong collaborations across fields nationally and internationally. Veterinary Clinical and Comparative Oncology is part of the Section and consists of researchers and clinicians specialized in the field, including three ECVIM-Oncology diplomates, one ECVIM-Oncology board eligible candidate, a resident and Ph D students. The Veterinary Clinical Oncology referral service is approved by the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine-Oncology (ECVIM-CA, Oncology) as a specialist (residency) training site. Veterinary Clinical Oncology operates a high through put oncology referral service, seeing primarily secondary and tertiary oncology referrals, but also a number of primary care oncology patients. They also provide consults and continuous professional education seminars for veterinarians in general practice as well as an international postgraduate master’s program within Companion Animal Clinical Sciences (Oncology) ( www.cacs.ku.dk ).

Job description
In considering applications for the full professorship, the main emphasis will be on the applicant´s ability to document a high level of original scientific work at an international level within the area of molecular and comparative veterinary clinical oncology as well as strong clinical oncology specialist competences as board qualified or board certified within ECVIM-CA, Oncology.

The professor is expected to participate actively in the development of independent research and clinical studies within the field of molecular and comparative veterinary clinical oncology and clinical genetics including a focus on deciphering the role of both germline and somatic variation in cancer development and response to treatment as well as the application of this variation for diagnostic testing and screening. The professor is expected to interact and collaborate with external researchers and private enterprises both nationally and internationally and apply for external funding. Veterinary clinical oncology is a core discipline in the veterinary curriculum as part of the veterinary education in Denmark as cancer is one of the most common disease related causes of death in dogs and cats. In addition, final year veterinary students electing the companion animal track have additional practical oncology rotations within their coursework. The professor will be expected to participate in teaching, examination and supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as assist and promote the development of further teaching strategies within this field. Furthermore, the professor is expected to participate in leadership, academic assessment as well as administrative duties.

The professor’s responsibilities will primarily consist of:

• Research, including publication and academic dissemination.
• Research-based teaching, including associated examination.
• Research leadership and management, including guidance and supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate students and successful application for external funding.
• Obligation to share knowledge with the rest of society, including participation in public debate.
• Academic assessment committee tasks.
• Training of ECVIM residents within the field of companion animal oncology and internal medicine.
• Facilitate and conduct commissioned research, clinical trials and experimental treatment trials as well as innovation activities.

Required qualifications
To be qualified for a professor position, you will be assessed according to these six overall criteria for recognising merit at the University of Copenhagen: Research, teaching, societal impact, organisational contribution, external funding, and leadership. Find information about each criterion .

Furthermore, each applicant 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.
• Manage research and other management functions, e.g. engage in the university’s external academic activities, as well as knowledge and technology transfer.
• Successful application for external funding.
• Provide research-based teaching and associated examinations.
• Show evidence of teaching qualifications and pedagogical competencies.
• Hold a DVM with license to practice in Denmark, or be willing to apply for such within 6 months.
• Hold a European or American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine-Companion Animal Oncology board certification or be board qualified within oncology in one of these colleges.
• Qualifications within one or more of the following scientific areas within molecular and comparative veterinary clinical oncology are required: Companion animal clinical oncology, veterinary and comparative (precision) cancer diagnostics and therapy, clinical companion animal and comparative cancer genetics deciphering the role of both germline and somatic variation in cancer development, and canine cancer patients as comparative animal models.

Terms of employment
The position is a permanent position. The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

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 Head of Department, professor Annemarie T. Kristensen, atk@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 information about external funding (Maximum 2 pages).
• Curriculum vitae, including information about external funding.
• Diplomas (Master’s, Ph D, and other relevant certificates).
• A complete list of publications.
• Research plan (3‐5 pages).
• Upload of maximum 5 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 the university's Job Portal .

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. The closing date for applications is 23.59 p.m. CET, 11 December 2024.

Interviews for this position are likely to be held 27 March 2025.