Job Description

Do you want to be a key contributor to the education of future candidates from Department of Biology at SDU?

The Department of Biology at SDU is seeking a Senior Lecturer (Assistant Professor or Associate Professor) who can teach in our programs, work to strengthen our study environment, and especially help develop our pedagogy and teaching methods.

We offer bachelor's and master's degrees in biology and are currently developing a 75 ECTS master in nature restoration. Although biology is a traditional and well-established subject, we are constantly working to improve and further develop our biology programs and make teaching in these programs even better, and here you will play a crucial role.

About the job

We are looking for a person with a biological educational background and research experience who, in collaboration with our education leader, will lead the ongoing development of our teaching, pedagogical methods, and programs. At the same time, you will build bridges between the Department and external partners to involve them in our programs and teaching.

You will be responsible for coordinating and further developing the Competence Portfolio, a new Faculty initiative. The Competence Portfolio aims to increase our students' awareness of the professional and cross-disciplinary (versatile) competencies in relation to their own learning, development, and future career, which they continuously acquire throughout their education. This work is done in collaboration with other educational programs at the Faculty of Science, teaching committees, and the Vice-Dean for education.

Based on your own teaching, you are expected to implement the pedagogical framework used at Faculty of Science and to explore and test new pedagogical trends and methods, such as how alternative teaching formats can constructively contribute to students' professional learning and competence development, and how this development can be tested and documented. Through your work, you are expected to inspire your colleagues at the Department and Faculty to explore new possibilities, implement new tools, and evaluate their teaching practices. This exploratory and experimental approach is an important element in the faculty’s education strategy, which focuses on the development of pedagogical approaches.

As a member of the Department's teaching committee, you will contribute to the improvement and adaptation of teaching at programs in general at the Department. We expect that you will also contribute to the Department's outreach and bridge-building activities. You will also contribute to visibility, communication, and recruitment for the programs at the Department of Biology.

You will work closely with the study administrative staff at the Department. With the position, we offer an exciting and versatile workday in a dynamic scientific environment, where you will bring both your professional and pedagogical competencies into play.

Expectations for the ideal applicant

• You are passionate about academic education, science, biology, and the dissemination of this and have a natural interest in students and their development.
• You have scientific research experience and preferably a PhD in biology, environmental science, molecular biology, or similar fields.
• You have teaching experience, preferably at university level, and can inspire and engage other people - students as well as scientific colleagues. Completed University Lecturer Training Program (or equivalent) is an advantage but not a requirement. You are expected to complete the program within the first two years of employment.
• You are willing and eager to explore and test how new trends, such as AI, can constructively contribute to students' professional learning and competence development, and how this development can be tested and documented.
• You can see biology as the interdisciplinary subject it is, have the skills and interest to contribute to teaching biology across the entire subject, while having an overview of the coherence in the entire educational process.
• You have an open, positive, and welcoming personality, and you easily engage in collaborative relationships.
• The preferred candidate is fluent in written and spoken Danish, as the language of instruction for the bachelor’s program in Biology and the administrative language at SDU is Danish.

The position starts as soon as possible, and it will be possible to work part-time. If applying as Assistant Professor, it will be a 3-year position with possibility for a tenure-track position. If applying as Associate Professor, the position will be tenure.

About the Department of Biology and SDU
The Department of Biology has approximately 240 employees, and our research is organized into five research groups that focus on specific, yet still diverse disciplines and biological focus areas. In addition, the Department has approximately 300 students.

Research at the Department as a whole is characterized by using state-of-the-art technology, methodologies, and facilities in both disciplinary and interdisciplinary ways to address scientifically and societally relevant biological questions and challenges at local, regional, and global scales.

At the Department, staff and students develop collaborative networks both within and outside the department as they conduct research. These collaborative efforts foster the sharing of ideas, techniques, and technologies, thereby greatly increasing research potential and productivity. The Department believes in fostering a stimulating and inspiring environment for both staff members and students.

SDU is the third-largest university in Denmark with campuses across the country. As part of the Faculty of Science, the Department of Biology is located in Odense, which houses the university's largest campus.

We recommend that as an international applicant, you take the time to visit Work in Denmark where you will find information and facts about moving to, working and living in Denmark, as well as the International Staff Office at SDU

Contact information

Further information about the position can be obtained from Head of Department Gary Banta, banta@biology.sdu.dk or Vice Head of Department/Educational Leader Sara Egemose, saege@sdu.dk

If you experience technical problems, please contact hcm-support@sdu.dk

Application, salary etc.

Appointment to the position will be in accordance with the salary agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Please check links for more information on salary (only available in Danish) and taxation

Applications will be assessed by an expert committee. When the expert committee issues its assessment, the applicants will be sent the portion of the assessment pertaining to them personally.

In your application, please indicate which of the two positions you are primarily interested in.

The application must include:

• A curriculum vitae, including information on previous employment with start and end dates
• A full list of publications
• Copy of PhD diploma
• Copies of all publications on which the applicant wishes to be evaluated
• A brief survey of the applicant's most important research results and research plans for the next three years
• A teaching portfolio (not applicable for the assistant professor position)

Shortlisting may be used in the assessment process. Incomplete applications and applications received after the deadline will neither be considered nor evaluated.

An interview may be included as a part of the overall assessment of the applicant’s qualifications.

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link " Apply now". Attached files must be in Adobe PDF format. We strongly recommend that you read How to apply for a position at SDU before you apply.

Since not all members of the appointment committee are Danish-speaking, it is recommended that your application is submitted in English.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.
Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark.

About SDU

The University of Southern Denmark was established to create value for and with society. Whether our contributions come in the form of excellent research, innovative solutions, education or learning, we must make a positive difference to society and contribute to a sustainable future. We do this by cultivating talents and creating the best environments for research and learning. It is therefore crucial that SDU retains, develops and recruits talent. At the same time, we need to ensure consistently high quality in all our activities – and we can only do that with the right people. The University’s researchers, lecturers, students, managers and technical/administrative staff are the foundation of our success.