Professor / Associate Professor in Clinical Innovation

The Department of Clinical Medicine the at Faculty of Health Sciences at Aarhus University invites applications for a position as Professor / Associate Professor per 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a full-time permanent position.

The candidate will be part of an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem at Aarhus University (AU). AU is currently strengthening its strategic efforts within innovation and entrepreneurship with the ambition of creating concrete societal solutions, spinouts and collaborations with established companies. This effort is a direct extension of AU’s Strategy 2030, in which research-based innovation and entrepreneurship constitute a central strategic focus area. With the aim of expanding AU’s capacity to link research and innovation, the university leadership has decided to create a number of new research and innovation positions across the university. The newly created positions are intended to help integrate an innovation mindset into the university culture, while at the same time producing concrete, visible impact and societal benefit.

The primary focus for the position is research-based innovation as for example: patents, technology transfer, business creation and organisational and Public Sector innovation. We are looking for scientists with medical research background who sees opportunities in collaboration with the strong existing research groups at Aarhus University, Aarhus University Hospital and Regional Hospitals in Central Denmark Region.

About the Department

As a Professor / Associate Professor at The Department of Clinical Medicine, you will be part of what is probably the largest health science research department in Denmark. Our clinical research covers all the medical specialities and takes place in close collaboration with the university hospital and the regional hospitals in the Central Denmark Region. We have approx. 30,000 square metres of modern research facilities for experimental surgery and medicine, animal facilities and also advanced scanners at our disposal. The department has overall responsibility for the Master's degree programs in medicine and in molecular medicine. At the department we are approx. 670 academic employees, 500 PhD students and 160 technical/administrative employees who are cooperating across disciplines. As a Professor / Associate Professor, you will be working at Aarhus University Hospital or another hospital in the Central Denmark Region.

Your job responsibilities

The candidate will strengthen the department's research, innovation and research-based teaching and contribute to the academic development at Aarhus University and to the university's profile both nationally and internationally. The candidate will also contribute to similar tasks at the Department of Forensic Medicine.

Your main tasks as a researcher:

• Research of high international quality, including publication in top international journals and communicating your research in national and international academic networks.
• Teaching, supervision and examination.
• Grant applications to attract external research funding.
• Collaborations with relevant national and international research environments.
• Involvement in assessment and committee work at Aarhus University.
• Dissemination of your research to the outside world.

Your main tasks as an innovator:

• Contribute actively to the faculty community and support the faculty’s ambitions for innovation and collaboration
• Lead own innovation, collaboration, or commercialization projects
• Identify innovation potential within research environments
• Support researchers in the early-stage clarification and assessment process
• Develop collaborations with external partners
• Serve as a local professional sparring partner
• Promote local visibility and awareness of innovation initiatives
• Implement initiatives decided by the faculty leadership and the dean’s office
• Elevate relevant local cases and needs to the faculty level

You are expected to conduct original research at the highest international level. In addition, you should have experience with commercialization of research and technology.

You will report to the Head of Department Christian Fynbo Christiansen.

Your competences

You are ready to take co-responsibility for the development of the department's research and education at the highest international level and for ensuring that we maintain a good work environment. You naturally involve yourself in interdisciplinary collaboration at departmental, faculty and university level as well as nationally and internationally. As a leader, you inspire others and build strong relationships with students, colleagues and partners.

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 the assessment of the candidates, consideration will be given to

• the ability to promote and utilize research results
• experience with innovation activities
• the ability to contribute to the development of internal and external cooperation
• track record in attracting funding
• visions within the research and innovation area
• track record for commercialisation of research results, including protection of intellectual property
• track record for fostering collaboration with industry
• business development
• experience and insight to the Danish life science industry
• patenting, licensing and technology transfers
• visions within the innovation area

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

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

If you wish to apply for both positions, please submit two separate applications.

Shortlisting will be used.

Questions about the position

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Head of Department of Clinical Medicine Christian Fynbo Christiansen tel.: (+45) 9350 8854.

Your place of work will be at Department of Clinical Medicine located at Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.

We expect to conduct interviews in November 2026.

Terms of employment - professor 

• In making the appointment, emphasis will be placed on a high degree of original production at an international level and experience from teaching at different levels as well as contributions to the development of teaching activities and teaching material, hereby documenting that the applicant has developed the academic discipline from a research and teaching perspective. 
• Moreover, there will be an assessment of the applicant’s ability to perform research and teaching management tasks. 
• The yearly base salary for a fulltime professor is DKK 866.461,38 (including a position related supplement, a pre-agreed professor supplement and pension (18.07%)). Additional supplement(s) can be negotiated dependent on experience, special qualifications and performance of special functions. Professors have the authority to negotiate pay on their own behalf. 

Terms of employment – associate professor 

• Appointment as an associate professor requires research and teaching qualifications at the level that can be achieved through the satisfactory completion of a period of appointment as an assistant professor, but may also be obtained in other ways. 
• The applicant is required to have completed a university pedagogical programme or an equivalent programme. 
• The yearly base salary for a fulltime associate professor is DKK 706.233,06 (including a position related supplement, a pre-agreed associate professor supplememt and pension (18.07%)). Additional supplement(s) can be negotiated dependent on experience, special qualifications and performance of special functions. 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. 

Other terms of employment 

• 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. 
• Researchers recruited from abroad are offered a special researcher tax scheme with a lower tax rate. 
• Travel and moving expenses may be covered according to the employee in question and, to a limited extent, the accompanying family. 
• Further information on qualification requirements and job description can be found in the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities. 

Application - professor 

Your application must include the following:

• Motivated application  
• Curriculum Vitae 
• Diploma 
• Template for applicant - professor 
• A list of publications 
• A teaching portfolio. We refer to Guideline on the use of teaching portfolios 
• The ten publications stated as the most important in the 'Template for applicant - professor' must be submitted 
• Research plan, which is part of the 'Template to applicant - 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) 

Application – associate professor 

Your application must include the following:

• Motivated application 
• Curriculum Vitae 
• Diploma 
• Template for applicant - associate professor 
• A list of publications 
• A teaching portfolio. We refer to Guideline on the use of teaching portfolios 
• The five publications stated as the most important in the 'Template for applicant - associate professor' must be submitted 
• Research plan, which is part of the 'Template to applicant - associate 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. 

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. 
The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.