Applications are invited for a position as tenure track Assistant Professor or Associate Professor at the Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University (AU) (chem.au.dk). The opening is broadly in the field of experimental structural chemistry with the use of single-crystal diffraction (X-ray or electron) as core method. The scientific field is completely open, but could for example be within areas such as solid-state pharmaceutics, drug polymorphism, coordination chemistry, single molecule magnetism, homogeneous catalysis, nanoscience, bio-inorganic chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, crystal engineering, molecular materials science, or chemistry for the green transition. The intended start is April 1, 2025, or as soon as possible.

The Department of Chemistry at Aarhus University is a leading European chemistry department with a broad research portfolio. It has a permanent staff of ~35 full, associate and assistant professors, a support-staff of ~35 technical and administrative staff, ~100 Ph D-students and ~50 postdocs and around 300 students. In addition to excellence in research, teaching and supervision, the Department of Chemistry values equal opportunities, a collegial atmosphere, and a student-friendly mindset of future colleagues. The successful candidate can be affiliated with one of the interdisciplinary centers at AU depending on research topic.

The Department of Chemistry seeks to strengthen our programs by appointing a tenure track Assistant Professor or Associate Professor to lead and develop research in experimental structural chemistry. The ideal candidate must use single-crystal diffraction as a core method, and have significant experience with solving crystal structures by diffraction.

The candidate is expected to build an independent research group and conduct an active research program, which is internationally recognized and can attract external funding. The research must include experimental aspects and emphasize structural characterization by single-crystal diffraction methods but is otherwise not restricted to a particular area of chemistry.

The successful candidate is expected to scientifically supervise the service crystallography facility at the Department of Chemistry and to participate in applying for new diffractometers with relevant colleagues to develop the diffraction infrastructure further. The Department of Chemistry has a strong existing single crystal X-ray diffraction infrastructure and is involved in synchrotron diffraction facilities such as the Dan MAX beamline at MAX IV.

Applicants for a tenure track Assistant Professor or Associate Professor position must be able to demonstrate potential for excellent research and teaching. International experience and extensive postdoctoral training is expected (see below for tenure-track program). To be considered for the Associate Professor position, you are expected to either be in an assistant professor or associate professor position or have received the required competences from similar obligations. You must have a proven track record of independent research.

Interest and competences in teaching chemistry at all levels of university education is essential. Accordingly, a successful candidate must be able to teach all topics of introductory chemistry courses as well as undergraduate and graduate-level courses in single-crystal diffraction structure determination in addition to one or more of the fields of organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, physical chemistry, nanochemistry, molecular materials chemistry or catalysis. Teaching can be in Danish and English, depending on the course. We offer didactics course to applicants who have not yet fulfilled such requirements, and we offer Danish courses to all new foreign employees, expecting non-Danish colleagues to learn Danish in a 3-5 year time span.

We expect our new colleague to value and participate in the general academic work at the Department of Chemistry. This includes serving on committees, solving tasks with colleagues, helping with and giving feedback to colleagues etc. Similarly, the colleagues may help you as well, for example in relation to applications for external funding.

We are aware of the gender balance at the Aarhus University, and we encourage female researchers in particular to apply for the position. Both women and men are welcome to apply for the position. No one will be given priority, and all applicants will be assessed in accordance with the requirement profile for the position.

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. 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.

For further information on the position, please contact head of search committee Professor Henrik Birkedal (hbirkedal@chem.au.dk), or Acting Head of Department of Chemistry Jørgen Skibsted (jskib@chem.au.dk).

The place of work is Langelandsgade 140, 8000, Aarhus, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.
Work and life in Denmark and Aarhus
All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. We see diversity as a strength. It is a priority that the successful candidate has a personality that promotes positive interactions with students and staff, as well as being a good colleague in general. Together, we define the future of the Department of Chemistry, both scientifically and with respect to thriving in our day-to-day work.

Working in Denmark offers opportunities for a good work-life balance. In Denmark there is a system of guaranteed and affordable daycare. Education is free, including universities. English is widely spoken, though Danish is the common language off campus. A fraction of the courses at the Department of Chemistry is given in English. The majority of BSc and MSc thesis works are written in English, as are all Ph D theses. We offer free Danish courses to all non-Danish speaking employees for helping in integration and for use in teaching.

Aarhus University offers Relocation service to International researchers.

Aarhus is Denmark’s second largest city, and forms the center of the western parts of the country on the Jutland peninsula. It is situated beautifully at the Aarhus Bay near Mols National Park and the Lake District around Silkeborg. Recently, Aarhus has attracted international attention as a travel destination due to its unique combination of a thriving food-scene, high-quality museums, surrounding beautiful nature, a lively city due to the “young population”, and many cultural events including music festivals etc. See e.g. the recent recommendations by CNN (https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/aarhus-denmark-things-to-do/index.html) and Time https://time.com/collection/worlds-greatest-places-2023/

Aarhus is easily reached through local international airports in Jutland within 1 hour of Aarhus, or through either Copenhagen or Hamburg Airports, both situated about a 3-hour train-journey from Aarhus.

Aarhus University is consistently ranked as a top-100 university in the World and it houses both an engineering and a medical school, as well as divisions for the traditional natural sciences, business, social sciences, arts, and environmental and agricultural sciences.