The Department of Geoscience, Aarhus University, Denmark invites applications for a full Professorship in Applied Soil Science. We are seeking an international top-level scientist in the field of soil science with applications in geochemistry and geoarchaeology.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate must demonstrate interdisciplinary research experience in soil science, geoarchaeology and geochemistry to understand human-environmental interactions both globally and through time. The position aims to strengthen ongoing activities within the Department’s core research area, which pivots around understanding the Earth's past, present, and future. The professorship involves field research and requires knowledge of Quaternary glacial landscapes and their soils. Experience with soil formation and historical and current human impact on soils is expected, as well as in-depth knowledge of soil and water geochemistry.

The candidate will have a leading international research standing and a broad multidisciplinary research network. Their scientific profile will be reflected in relevant publications in international peer-reviewed journals, research administration, and public outreach. Proven ability to attract external funding and documented academic teaching at all levels including student supervision are required.

The candidate will expand research collaborations at the highest international level following their scientific interests and priorities, and establish a vibrant research group utilizing external funding from national and international sources. The appointee will develop and teach courses and supervise students at all academic levels.

Department of Geoscience

The Department of Geoscience currently employs around 70 staff including faculty, externally funded researchers, post-docs, Ph.D. students, and administrative and technical personnel. We have a strong research profile spanning a broad range of geological and geophysical disciplines, including basic and applied aspects of the Earth surface systems (hydrogeology, hydrogeophysics, Quaternary studies, palaeoceanography, sedimentology, stratigraphy, geochronology, organic petrology) as well as the deep interior of the Earth (petrology, geochemistry, geophysics, structural geology, basin modelling). The Department is well equipped for the relevant research and teaching with infrastructure comprising sedimentological, micropalaeontological and geochemical laboratories such as an HF-laboratory, class 100 metal-free clean-laboratory, Q-ICP-MS and MC-ICP-MS systems with laser ablation, XRF core scanner, SEM, micro-XRF, XRD, EMPA, sediment corers, experimental sediment flume, and TCN sample preparation facility. The Department has strong links to other departments at Aarhus University including Physics and Astronomy (radiocarbon dating facility), Biology, Chemistry, and Archaeology, and the Technical University of Denmark (OSL dating facility).

About us

The beautiful Aarhus University campus is located close to the downtown of Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark with about 400 000 inhabitants. Aarhus has a lively and charming downtown close to the Aarhus Bay at the Baltic Sea. In Denmark access to schools, higher education, and health care is free. Generous parental agreements are available. 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. More information about entering and working in Denmark is available here.
 

Application procedure

Shortlisting is used. After the deadline for applications, the Head of Department together with the Appointment Committee and the Head of the Assessment Committee selects the candidates to be shortlisted and externally evaluated. All applicants will be notified within 6 weeks whether or not their applications have been sent to the Assessment Committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the Assessment Committee and will receive their assessment. Once the recruitment process is completed, a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

For letters of reference, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter their contact information to ensure that the letter of reference will be submitted before the application deadline. Letters of reference received after the application deadline may not be taken into consideration.

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. Ensuring gender balance at Department of Geoscience is a high priority for Aarhus University, and we particularly encourage women to apply. No candidate will be given preferential treatment, and all applicants will be assessed on the basis of their qualifications for the position in question.

The application must be made online via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website and received by July 1, 2024.

The expected appointment date is November 1, 2024 or at the nearest possible date.

Formalities and salary range

Natural Sciences refer 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 certificates, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and information on previous teaching experience. 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.

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

Further information

Further information can be obtained from the Head of Department Professor Jan A. Piotrowski, Department of Geoscience, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 2, DK-8000 Aarhus C by e-mail: jan.piotrowski@geo.au.dk or phone +45 87156409.