Assistant Professor of Brain Metabolism in Neurodegeneration

The Department of Biomedicine at Faculty of Health at Aarhus University invites applications for a position as Assistant Professor in the field of Brain Metabolism in Neurodegeneration as per 1 April 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a fixed-term full-time position for 24 months.

The Department of Biomedicine prioritizes diversity and a good work environment, as this is a prerequisite for groundbreaking research. In a diverse and international research environment, dedicated employees are looking to generate new knowledge within biomedical research areas such as infection and inflammation, membranes, neuroscience and personalized medicine. The Department of Biomedicine provides research-based teaching of the highest quality and is responsible for a large part of the medical degree program. Academic staff contribute to the teaching. English is the preferred language in the laboratory, at meetings and at seminars. The department employs approx. 500 people from all over the world, and they make use of the department's modern laboratory-, core- and animal facilities. The Department of Biomedicine focuses on innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration with business and industry, and numerous researchers from the department have established companies to develop new medicinal treatments founded in professional scientific basic research. You can read more about the department here and about the faculty here.

Your job responsibilities

As Assistant Professor of Brain Metabolism in Neurodegeneration your primary tasks will be research and research-based teaching. You will contribute to the development of the department through research of high international quality and you will teach students at Bachelor’s and Master’s level. In your daily work, you will work closely with both Danish and international colleagues. The position of Assistant Professor is a career development position in which you will receive supervision and pedagogical upgrading.

Your main tasks will consist of:

• Independent research of high international quality, including publication.
• Teaching, guidance, and examination of Bachelor’s and Master's degree students, as well as possibly supervision of PhD students.
• Contribution towards attracting external research funding.
• Develop novel iPSC models of cell-type specific interactions in Alzheimer’s disease (in 2D and 3D)
• Establish advanced methods for metabolic and functional characterization of iPSC-derived models of the aging human brain.
• Apply multi-omics approaches to the characterization of neurodegenerative disease-associated phenotypes in cell models and patient specimens.

You will report to Professor Thomas Willnow.  

Your competences

You hold a PhD in Neuroscience and have extensive knowledge in cellular and molecular biology and in experimental work with human iPSC models. You have contributed to the development of protocols for the use of iPSCs to recapitulate aging brain health and disease. You have experience in applying such protocols to differentiating stem cells into various brain cell types, including microglia, astrocytes, and neurons using genetic as well as small molecule-based approaches. You have hands-on proficiency in characterization of brain cell type interactions using metabolic (e.g., seahorse assay), biochemical, as well as functional studies (e.g., multi-electrode arrays). You have successfully applied these methods to the elucidation of metabolic causes underlying Alzheimer’s Disease.

We draw attention to a stay or employment in at least one internationally recognised research institution. Importantly, you have a vision how to further advance your cutting-edge research at Aarhus University, and with international collaborators, into the underlying metabolic causes of neurodegeneration. You have a vision how to apply your skills and your expert knowledge to supervision and teaching at Bachelor’s and Master's degree level.

As a person, you have good interpersonal skills, are inclusive and team-oriented and able to contribute to a good work environment.

We expect you to be fluent in oral and written English. International applicants are expected to learn Danish, and Aarhus University arranges Danish teaching.

In order to be assessed as qualified for an Assistant Professor position, you must meet these academic criteria.

Shortlisting will be used.

Questions about the position

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Thomas Willnow  +49 (0) 160 97705304.

Your place of work will be the Department of Biomedicine, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 10, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

We expect to conduct interviews starting 6 January 2025.

Terms of employment

• Appointment as an assistant professor requires academic qualifications at PhD level.
• Further information on the appointment procedure can be found in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
• The appointment is in accordance with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikerne).
• Remuneration is in accordance with the above, and the Salary agreement catalogue for staff at Health.
• The yearly base salary for a fulltime assistant professor is between DKK 484.214,84 and DKK 538.720,20 depending on the years of working experience after achieved MSc degree. The base salary includes a position related supplement and pension (17.1 %). Additional supplement(s) for special qualifications can be negotiated. Authorisation supplement(s) will be granted, if relevant for the position. Your local eligible trade union representative at Aarhus University negotiates your salary on your behalf.
• Researchers recruited from abroad are offered a special researcher tax scheme with a lower tax rate.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job description can be found in the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.

Application

Your application must include the following:

• Motivated application
• Curriculum Vitae
• Diploma
• Template for applicant - assistant professor or tenure track assistant professor
• A list of publications
• A teaching portfolio. We refer to Guideline on the use of teaching portfolios
• A maximum of five of the publications of greatest relevance to the job may be submitted (optional)
• Research plan, which is part of the 'Template to applicant - assistant professor or tenure track assistant professor' can be uploaded separately (optional)
• Coauthor statement(s) can be uploaded (optional)
• References/recommendations can be uploaded separately in the e-recruitment system (optional)

We refer to the faculty’s Guidelines for applicants.

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.

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.

International applicant?

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including assistance with relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about the International Staff Office and the range of services here. Aarhus University also has a Junior Researcher Association and offers career development support. You can read more about these resources 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.