Professor or Associate Professor within the natural sciences, with a focus on Innovation (4 positions)

Aarhus University is currently expanding its strategic efforts within innovation and entrepreneurship, with the aim of bringing more research into play as concrete societal solutions, spin-outs, and collaborations with established companies. This initiative is closely aligned with Aarhus University’s Strategy 2030, where research-based innovation and entrepreneurship constitute a central strategic focus area. With the aim of expanding AU’s capacity to bridge research and innovation, the university leadership has decided to establish a number of new research and innovation positions across the university. These positions are intended to contribute to integrating innovation thinking into the university’s culture while at the same time ensuring tangible impact and societal value. As part of this, the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Aarhus University now invites applications for four permanent positions as Professor or Associate Professor with focus on research-based innovation within the natural sciences. The positions are open across all the scientific disciplines represented at the faculty . With these positions, we wish to make research-based innovation an integral pillar of our academic activities. Each successful candidate will be affiliated with the department at the faculty that best match their scientific profile, and they will be expected to play a central role in developing research-based innovation activities both locally and faculty-wide. We additional encourage applications from skilled scientists and experienced innovation professionals currently employed in research and innovation heavy industry or start-ups. Expected date of accession: April 1st 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter. Your profile You are a recognised researcher from an academic institution, industry, start ups or similar. You have a clear vision for how research-based innovation generates impact from natural science research, and experience with translating research into innovative solutions – whether through external collaboration, entrepreneurship, methodological development, technology transfer, co-creation with private or public-sector partners, or other forms of societal use of research-based knowledge. You are motivated by contributing to the strategic development of your department and the Faculty of Natural Sciences, and you are interested in serving as a role model who shows the way for and supports colleagues and students in integrating innovation into their research. The ideal candidate preferable: Demonstrate a strong record of research. Document experience with research-based innovation, for example in the form of commercialisation, establishment of research alliances, entrepreneurship, development of new research collaborations with external partners, or similar. Present a clear vision for how you will contribute to a cultural change where research-based innovation becomes a natural part of our research culture. Take an active role in developing the teaching programme, including supervision of students at all levels (BSc, MSc, PhD) and, where relevant, entrepreneurship teaching. Demonstrate leadership capacity with the ability to lead research teams, drive cultural change, and contribute strategically to the development of the department and the faculty. Possess excellent collaborative skills and an ability to develop networks that enable you to build bridges between academia and external stakeholders. Experience with research management, interdisciplinary collaboration, and attraction of external funding for innovation-oriented activities will be considered an advantage. What we offer The Faculty of Natural Sciences and Aarhus University offer: A permanent position with a clear focus on research and research-based innovation. Institutional support for developing scientific networks and securing interdisciplinary research and innovation collaborations at the highest level. Capability development, including pedagogical training and support for innovation and entrepreneurship activities (see more below). A collaborative and international working environment with a flat organisational structure and a strong collegial culture. A broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. We offer a range of services to support relocation to Denmark. You can read more about these services here and about living in Denmark here . Key innovation and collaboration partners To support innovation activities, the Faculty of Natural Sciences works closely with several strategic units across Aarhus University. As a holder of one of these positions, you will be expected to engage actively with: Science Bridge – a strategic initiative at the Faculty of Natural Sciences that improves systematic, early-stage knowledge exchange between basic research and society. Science Bridge facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers and external partners through thematic, time-limited “Actions”, creating trust-based arenas for co-creation and joint project development prior to formal funding or IP agreements. Successful candidates are expected to take an active role in the development and use of Science Bridge as a platform for driving research-based innovation and external collaboration at the faculty. Kitchen – Aarhus University’s central unit for innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration across the entire university. Kitchen provides researchers and students with entry points, guidance and support to develop ideas, build start-ups and establish partnerships with industry and other external actors. Interdisciplinary Research Clusters – the faculty hosts a range of interdisciplinary clusters that bring together research groups across departments and faculties to support interdisciplinarity and external collaboration on major societal challenges. These clusters offer a framework for large-scale, collaborative research with national and international partners. Place of work and area of employment The place of employment is Aarhus University. The place of work will be at one of the departments under the Faculty of Natural Sciences, determined in negotiation with the candidate. The successful applicant is expected to contribute positively to scientific discussions and to the general working environment at the department. Qualified candidates have a high level of proficiency in English. Non-Danish speaking candidates are willing to learn Danish within two years. Danish language training will be provided. Contact information For further information, please contact: Dean Birgit Schiøtt, email: dean.nat@au.dk , phone: +45 2982 6882 or Vice dean for innovation Ole Bækgaard Nielsen, email: obn@au.dk , phone: +45 6020 2674. For practical questions regarding the application procedure, please contact HR.Nattech@au.dk . Deadline Applications must be received no later than 30 September 2026. Application procedure Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman– the relevant head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. The selection is made on the basis of an assessment of which 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 their assessment. The assessment will be based on our ABC criteria, with particular emphasis on the criteria related to innovation. Once the recruitment process is completed, a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants. When applying, applicants will be asked to indicate which department they would like to handle their application. We reserve the right to