DIAS Fellow in Chemical Engineering

Location: Odense M, Denmark

Job Description

The Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS) and the Department of Green Technology at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) seek an outstanding candidate to fill a tenure track fellow (Assistant Professor level) position in the field of Industrial Ecology. The starting date for the candidate is flexible, with a preference for summer Spring/Summer 2026.

We are looking for a researcher with clear potential for research excellence who thrives in and is inspired by interdisciplinary collaboration. The ideal candidate will be expected to contribute to high-quality research in their field while embracing DIAS’s mission of curiosity-driven inquiry and interdisciplinary dialogue. The successful candidate should have a strong and promising research profile, with potential for attracting external research funding, and a demonstrated ability to work across disciplines. The candidate will be attached to both the Department and DIAS and should be prepared to engage in multiple and diverse research environments at SDU.

Who are we looking for?

We seek a researcher with expertise in the field of Chemical Engineering. The applicant is expected to perform research in an interdisciplinary environment involving competences from chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, agricultural science contributing with core competences from chemical engineering. In addition, you are eager to develop your research career within the DIAS framework. We are looking for a candidate who will actively contribute to teaching, supervision, and the development of educational activities. You will collaborate with academic staff to secure external funding, join research projects and teams, and deliver high-quality research in one or two of the following focus areas:

• Research within catalysis and reaction kinetics.
• Chemical reactor design, process upstreaming and downstreaming.
• Extraction, separation and purification of high value products from biomass and/or industrial waste streams.
• Innovation, development, application, and demonstration of core chemical engineering solutions for industrial production, pollution mitigation, emissions and climate impact from industry and/or agriculture to support the green transition.
• Upscaling of processes and methods from laboratory to industrial scale.

Qualifications

We are looking for a dynamic researcher who holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, worked some years as postdoctoral and is eager to push boundaries. The ideal candidate is highly motivated, collaborative, and ready to contribute to a vibrant, interdisciplinary environment that spans faculties and connects with DIAS.

We encourage you to showcase the full scope of your research and teaching experience. Industrial experience adds significant value, and mastery of both traditional and advanced chemical engineering methods is a key requirement.

In addition, we seek someone who:

• Thrives on curiosity-driven research and thinks beyond traditional disciplinary lines.
• Is fluent in English and comfortable in a diverse setting of curiosity-driven research.
• Shows strong potential for attracting external research funding; prior experience and a global network are clear advantages.
• Has a publication record that demonstrates excellence and broad, interdisciplinary thinking.

Join us in shaping the future of sustainable technologies through cross-faculty collaboration and innovative research.

The Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS)

DIAS at SDU is a hub for interdisciplinary excellence at and beyond the frontier of knowledge, bringing together outstanding researchers from various disciplines to foster groundbreaking interdisciplinary research and bold innovation. DIAS nurtures a collaborative and curiosity-driven environment, encouraging scholars to think outside the box and challenge conventional boundaries. The institute values open-minded exploration and an ambitious yet collegial atmosphere with a strong sense of community. Researchers affiliated with DIAS are expected to contribute actively to DIAS activities, and engage in interdisciplinary collaborations across faculties and departments, both nationally and internationally. As a DIAS Fellow, your teaching obligations will be reduced compared to a standard assistant professorship at SDU, giving you more time to focus on research and leadership activities.

The Department of Green Technology

The Department of Green Technology at SDU is a dynamic and interdisciplinary research environment focused on developing technologies and strategies for a sustainable future. Our research spans environmental chemistry, process engineering, life cycle thinking, and circular systems. We collaborate closely with industry and public stakeholders to ensure real-world impact and relevance.

This position will be attached to section SDU Chemical Engineering.

SDU Chemical Engineering

SDU Chemical Engineering focuses on advancing sustainable chemical processes and materials through innovative research and education. Our mission is to contribute to a greener future by developing technologies that enable efficient resource utilization, reduce environmental impact, and support the transition to a circular economy. At the heart of our work is a deep understanding of chemical systems, process integration, and material design, which we apply to solve real-world challenges in energy, water, and industrial production. We combine fundamental science with applied engineering to create solutions that are both technically robust and environmentally responsible.

Tenure Track at the Faculty of Engineering

This position is part of the Danish tenure-track system, designed to support early-career researchers in developing into permanent academic roles. As a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor, you will be appointed for a fixed term with a guaranteed assessment for promotion to Associate Professor by the end of the tenure-track period (4 years), provided the criteria are met.

You enter the tenure track programme at assistant professor level and if successful you are promoted to associate professor by the end of the programme, provided an expert assessment committee confirms that you have acquired the international level of scholarly excellence characteristic of associate professors. Indicators of relevant scholarly merits include independent scholarly output, ground-breaking publications, achievement of excellence grants, and international research network.

From the outset, you will be assigned a dedicated mentor and benefit from annual performance and development reviews. A formal midterm evaluation will be conducted by a committee of internal and external experts to ensure your progress and alignment with the expectations for promotion.

The final assessment for promotion is carried out by a formally approved committee, including external members, and follows the Faculty of Engineering’s promotion guidelines. Successful candidates will demonstrate a strong research profile, high-quality teaching, and active engagement in interdisciplinary collaboration — especially within the DIAS framework.

Additional information

For further information about being a professor at DIAS, please contact DIAS director Sten Rynning (director-dias@sdu.dk).

For further information about the SDU Chemical Engineering and this specific position, please contact Head of Section, Associate Professor Knud Villy Christensen (profile).

Application, salary, and employment terms

The candidate will be attached to Department of Green Technology, SDU Chemical Engineering in Odense and is also expected to participate DIAS activities and interdisciplinary cooperation in Odense regularly.

The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the state with the associated circular on the protocol for the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for tenure track assistant professor as described herein.

For more details on salary and taxation, please refer to the provided links about salary and taxation.

Application requirements

The application must include the following:

• Letter of motivation that clearly explains the applicant's interest, qualifications, and motivation for the position.
• Detailed CV including documentation of experience activities, and contacts for possible references.
• An elaborate research and funding plan (max 4 pages) for the next three years including a description of synergy with the department's activities and the potential to benefit from DIAS’s interdisciplinary environment.
• Copies of Certificates/Diplomas (Master' and PhD degree).
• Complete list of publications, indicating which publications are most relevant for the position.
• Up to 5 of the most relevant research articles – if you submit a monograph, it counts as 3 articles. Please upload a pdf for each publication. For co-authored publications, briefly describe the extent of the co-authorship or your contribution to the publications (please do this for each co-authored publication). You can do so by using this form or by describing the co-authorship in such a way that the committee can assess the extent of your contribution.
• Applicants are requested to submit a teaching portfolio with the application as documentation for teaching experience as well as supervision qualifications. Formal application instructions and a guide for the teaching portfolio can be found here: link

All application materials must be submitted in English, and only applications written in English will be considered.