Professor in applied basin research

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? Yes

Offer Description

The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) seeks an applicant with a strong research profile in applied basin research including expertise in large-scale structural geology, tectonism and depositional systems to fill a new full professor position.

You are expected to contribute to GEUS' overall strategy by strengthening our knowledge of interpretation reflection seismic data in integration with other techniques involving well and outcrop data. GEUS conducts basin analyses to investigate the storage and resource potential within sedimentary basins in the Kingdom of Denmark. GEUS further collects large amounts of marine and onshore seismic data to improve our understanding of sedimentary basins, the deep crust-mantle system, and the evolution of different tectonic provinces. GEUS further has a core repository that stores cores and cuttings from Danish wells, and we have advanced laboratory facilities for core analyses, radiometric dating and provenance investigations. Much of GEUS' own data collection has typically focused on the Danish and Greenlandic areas, but GEUS is also involved in other international studies involving both cross-border basin analysis and applied basin studies in other parts of the world. The professor is expected to contribute and drive such studies within the GEUS' strategy. In recent years, much focus has been directed towards offshore deep seismic mapping in the Arctic environment and on- and offshore mapping for future CO2 storage, geothermal prospects, and energy storage in Denmark. As a professor you are expected to play a leading role in developing our expertise within applied basin research, seismic interpretation methods and our understanding of large-scale geological structures.

GEUS frequently uses different types of marine and onshore seismic systems for new data collection. Together with Copenhagen University and Aarhus University, GEUS has acquired a new state-of-the-art onshore seismic equipment capacity, which will be available to the professor's research group at GEUS and the university partners.

You are expected to promote our ideas, competences and concepts to the surrounding world, to deliver research outputs at a high international level, and to successfully obtain funding for and lead larger research projects. Moreover, the position aims to strengthen and profile our research, public sector consultancy and advice-related activities.

The position is in our Department of Geophysics and Sedimentary Basins, which is located at GEUS' main office in Copenhagen.

About the position

The candidate is expected to establish and further develop a strong and coherent research group in the Department of Geophysics and Sedimentary Basins, which closely cooperates with the other departments in GEUS as well as with Danish universities and relevant international research institutions. Many of GEUS' activities in this research field are focused on Denmark and Greenland, and fieldwork in these environments will be central for the research group.

Candidates for professorships at GEUS must have a strong research profile in the field and have a strong publication track record in international research journals with high impact in the research field. Moreover, candidates are expected to have played and have the ambition to play a key role in advancing the research field, for example by taking part in the organization of international conferences, facilitation of scientific and consultancy workshops at a high level and by editing relevant journals and/or book series.

Research activities are to a high extent depending on external funding. GEUS has a strong tradition for attracting research funding from, e.g., Danish research councils, EC, private foundations and authorities, but also from private companies. GEUS also leads and acts as a partner in internationally funded research projects such as, for example, EU Horizon projects. Professors at GEUS should have a strong track-record of developing research ideas for research funding and play a leading role in research funding applications and project leadership.

Professors at GEUS are expected to form research groups within their field of expertise and related fields to develop and advance research and make new ideas thrive in an open and welcoming research environment. Further, professors at GEUS play an active role in career planning for early career scientific staff and take responsibility for education of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. They are also expected to have a collaborative spirit, actively engaging with other professors, project leaders and staff to contribute to a dynamic research environment. Moreover, professors may become members of GEUS' research committee and act as sparring partners for leadership decisions on strategic planning and development of hiring plans for scientific staff.

GEUS is an independent research institution. Parts of GEUS' activities involve providing research-based public sector consultancy for Danish governmental institutions, and GEUS may also provide research-based advice to private companies. Professors are expected to take part in such public sector consultancy, to advise and act as sparring partners for colleagues and to take leadership in such matters.

Who are you?

We seek candidates with an excellent international profile. Consideration will be given to your international network, your ability to engage and motivate staff, as well as your openness, drive and interpersonal skills.

You have a strong research profile within seismic interpretation, applied basin research and structural geology (when preparing your publication list, please indicate publications where you have either been the lead or senior author). You have expertise in working with a wide range of basin types, depositional systems and tectonic settings within the North Atlantic and Northwest Europe.

You have experience in creating and establishing research projects with different partners, as well as in leading and managing large research programmes. Furthermore, you have experience in facilitating geoscientific research and providing advice to industry, authorities and research boards.

You should also be able to document the following:

• Expertise within regional reflection seismic interpretation, structural analyses, tectonic and tectonostratigraphic investigations, analyses and mapping of depositional systems in an applied basin geological context
• Experience with supervision of MSc, PhD students and postdoctoral fellows
• Your international research network
• Experience with career counselling of early career scientific staff
• Fieldwork experience
• Experience with public and private sector consultancy (or similar)

We further wish to learn more about your visions and ideas for developing the research field.

The Department of Geophysics and Sedimentary Basins

The department's main responsibilities are geological and geophysical tasks concerning energy resources, nature, and the environment. Its activities include participation in national and international research projects, mapping, and research in collaboration with the Danish and Greenlandic authorities in relation to externally funded research and consulting tasks, mainly concerning CCS, geothermal energy and energy storage.

The 24 specialised and dedicated people in the department participate in interdisciplinary consulting and research projects with universities and other research institutions. They conduct research and provide consulting services across a broad range of geophysical and geological topics related to the deep subsurface, using advanced modelling and mapping tools, for example basin modelling and mapping of geological structures.

A working environment with a focus on professional development and well-being

There are many good reasons why you should choose a working life at GEUS.

We are a diverse staff of about 300 committed employees. Trust and flexibility are keywords. The working environment is lively, informal and international. Our tasks are versatile and there are plenty of opportunities for you to influence the development of your task portfolio.

We prioritise professional development, among other things by offering access to courses and other relevant activities. Socialising is also very important at GEUS, and we have a rich social life with a staff club, an art association and more.

At GEUS, we prioritise the well-being of every single employee. We prioritise that the Heads of Departments are close to the employees, and we have flexible working hours that allow you to organise your life so that there is time for what matters to you. If you need to work from home occasionally, that is also possible.

Furthermore, we have a gym with associated physiotherapists.

Salary and conditions of employment

The position as Professor is permanent. Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the relevant trade union agreement. Supplements can be negotiated according to skills.

The appointment area is the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities and its institutions.

The Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Utilities considers diversity to be an asset and invites anybody interested, regardless of gender, age, religion or ethnicity to apply for the position.

Additional information

If you would like additional information, please contact the Head of Department Nina Skaarup on telephone +45 22 22 16 76, e-mail nsk@geus.dk or Deputy Director Lars Nielsen on telephone +45 91 33 38 70, e-mail larni@geus.dk.

If you are an international applicant, you can read more about living and working in Denmark on GEUS' website.

Are you interested?

Please write the application in English and include a letter of motivation, your PhD diploma and CV incl. your ORCID, as well as a complete list of publications with 1) a separate indication of peer reviewed journal articles and 2) an indication of publications where you have been either the lead or senior author.

Please include in the application the relevant academic works that you wish to be included in the professor assessment (max. 10). Please enclose other material that documents your research and teaching qualifications.

You are requested to include a 2-3-page account that refers to your most important academic work with relevance to the position. Finally, you are encouraged to write a one-page explanation of your plans for the development of the field. In addition to the material that you would like to be included in the assessment, the assessment committee may choose to include further material in their assessment. It is your responsibility to send the material to the committee upon request.

It is mandatory to include your updated ResearcherID and/or ORCID, which will be used to assess your publication record in Web of Science. Any recently accepted or submitted publications may be added separately to the list of publications.

We must have your application at the latest on Monday 19 October 2026 (Danish time).

Applications or other material received after the deadline will not be considered.

The appointment procedure

A professional assessment committee consisting of one internal and two to four external assessors at minimum professor level will carry out an individual assessment of all applicants' professional qualifications, and the applicants will be assessed as qualified or unqualified for the position. Afterwards, an internal employment committee will decide which of the professionally qualified candidates will be invited for a job interview. This procedure is in accordance with the "Order on employment and assessment of scientific staff at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland § 4 and 7".

Where to apply

Website: https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationForm/SinglePageApplicationForm.aspx?cid=3010&departmentId=19139&ProjectId=168696&MediaId=5

Requirements

Research Field: Geosciences

Education Level: PhD or equivalent

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1

Company/Institute: Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS)

Country: Denmark

City: Copenhagen

Postal Code: 1350

Street: Øster Voldgade 10

Contact

City: Copenhagen

Website: http://www.geus.dk/

Street: Øster Voldgade 10

Postal Code: 1350

E-Mail: nsk@geus.dk