Job Description

The Research Unit of User Perspectives and Community-based Interventions, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, invites applications for a five year part-time (50%) position as associate professor in Occupational Science.

The position will run from November 2026 or by agreement.

The unit is one of seven research units at the Department of Public Health. The Unit includes two research groups: User Perspectives and Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, respectively. The open position is within the research group of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy.

The research group of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy engage in research focusing on the relationships between human activity, the health of individuals/collectives, and communities in given socio-cultural contexts.

Among the core areas of research are studies focusing on

• enabling engagement in activity related to health and human development;
• the consequences that disease/illness, functional impairment and environmental barriers have for activity and participation;
• development and evaluation of complex and activity-based interventions including environmental adaptation supporting people in their conduct of everyday life (work, home-care, school, leisure); dealing with health and illness use activity to create meaning in everyday life
  

Required qualifications

The successful candidate must hold an MSc, PhD, or equivalent in health sciences, must have proven relevant teaching and supervision experience and must have demonstrated scientific impact through publications. Applicants with research interests that complement the ongoing research within the department will be preferred. Furthermore, the candidate will be expected to have experience with:

• Research management and implementation of research projects.
• A track record of applying for and getting external project funding
• Teaching at undergraduate and preferably also at graduate level in relation to health educations.
• Administration of University based educations.
• Module management of courses at undergraduate and graduate level.
• The candidate must present a plan for the development of his/her own research in relation to Occupational Science & User Perspectives.

Furthermore, it will be expected that the candidate will be able to attract continuous external research funding to partially finance their own research as well as additional positions at the unit.

Position obligations
The successful applicant will contribute with own research within Occupational Sciences & Occupational Therapy.

This includes acquiring funding, conducting and communicating research with involvement in:

• Research seminars, including receiving and providing feedback on e.g. manuscripts, oral presentations and posters
• Possessing research competencies within the field
• Developing and coordinating research activities within the field in collaboration with relevant research groups/units.

The successful candidate will be engaged in teaching, supervision and examination at several educations at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate level at the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Applicants with experience and dedication to teaching and supervising students will be preferred.

Further information

Further information can be obtained from Professor, head of Research Unit Birgitte Nørgaard (telephone +45 24222613, e-mail: binorgaard@health.sdu.dk) or Professor, Head of Research Group (Occupational sciences) Karen la Cour (telephone +45 21481044, e-mail: klacour@sdu.dk).

The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations). 

Application deadline

August 1, 2026, at 23.59 hrs. (CEST).

Salary and terms of employment
Appointment to the position will be in accordance with the salary agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.

Assessment
Shortlisting will be used as part of the initial selection process.

Assessment of shortlisted applications will be done under the existing Appointment Order for universities. Shortlisted applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. The committee may request additional information, and, if so, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the necessary material.

When the assessment committee has submitted its report, the applicants will receive part of the evaluation that concerns themselves.

References will be obtained for the preferred candidate from their current and previous employers. Applicants invited for interview should expect to complete a work-related personality assessment.

Application
Applications – including the required attachments – must be sent via the below-mentioned link “Apply online". Only online applications will be accepted. Attached files must be Adobe PDF or Word format. Each field in the application form can contain up to max. 10 Mb.

Only applications written in English will be accepted for evaluation.

The application must contain (as pdf. - or docx.-files):

• an application
• a detailed CV
• degree certificates (inclusive of PhD-diploma)
• a complete and numbered list of publications up to 8 scientific peer-reviewed publications considered by the applicant to the most important for this position. Please notice that one pdf. - or docx. -file must be attached for each publication.
• a teaching portfolio detailing the candidate’s prior teaching experience, teaching skills, and teaching philosophy
• a research plan detailing the candidate’s ideas and plans for her/his future research work.

For technical issues, please contact: hcm-support@sdu.dk
Incomplete applications with regard to the above-mentioned requirements will not be assessed.

Further particulars concerning the application - please see the link below.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Living and working in Denmark
Foreign applicants will be offered Danish language training as part of the employment.

The International Staff Office(ISO) at SDU provides a variety of services for new employees, guests and people who consider applying for a job at the University of Southern Denmark.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.