Assistant Professor of Neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s Disease

The Department of Clinical Medicine at Faculty of Health at Aarhus University invites applications for a position as Assistant Professor in the field of the Neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s Disease as per 1 June 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a fixed-term full-time position for 2 years.

Department of Clinical Medicine

As an Assistant 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 an Assistant Professor, you will be working at Aarhus University Hospital or another hospital in the Central Denmark Region. You can read more about the department here and about the faculty here.

Your job responsibilities

As Assistant Professor of Neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s Disease your primary tasks will be research and research-based teaching. You will teach and supervise students at Bachelor’s and Master’s level, and you will contribute to the development of the department through research of high international quality. In your daily work, you will work closely with both Danish and international colleagues. The position of Assistant Professor is a career development position in which you will receive supervision and pedagogical upgrading.

Your main tasks will consist of:

• Independent research of high international quality, including publications.
• Teaching, guidance and examination of Bachelor’s and Master's degree students, as well as possibly supervision of PhD students.
• Some degree of contribution towards attracting external research funding.
• Dissemination of research results in group meeting and at international conferences
• Collaborate with research groups in neurodegenerative diseases at AUH and AU, nationally and internationally to stay in forefront with knowledge and technologies and being able to translate data from neurodegenerative animal models to the clinic.

You will report to Prof. Jens R Nyengaard at the Core Center for Molecular Morphology, Section for Stereology and Microscopy Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark

Your competences

You have established yourself as an emerging researcher within Parkinson’s Disease and possess documented experience in the independent design and implementation of research projects in cellular and animal models. You have broad international cooperative partnerships and experience in attracting competitive research funding from national and international funding bodies. You have documented experience, ideally supported by 2-3 publications as a first or senior author, in the following aspects: (1) establishing animal models of Parkinson’s Disease using different routes of inducing protein aggregate pathology (intracerebral, intramuscular), (2) performing stereotaxic animal survival surgeries and assessment of sensorimotor behaviors in rodents, (3) theoretical competency and hands-on experience with immunohistochemical and microscopic analyses of protein aggregate pathology relevant to Parkinson’s Disease from animal models as well as patient-derived histological specimen, and  (4) hands-on experience with in vivo delivery of AAV viral vectors in rodents. The position requires high degree of independence and the ability to carry out the research with minimal supervision. It is an advantage if you have more than 3 years of postdoctoral research experience at one or more internationally recognized research institutions.

You are a clear communicator and you have some degree of experience of supervision and teaching at Bachelor’s and Master's degree level. We draw attention to completed pedagogical courses in supervision or similar, as well as experience with the establishment of PhD courses and external research collaborations.

As a person, you have good interpersonal skills, are inclusive and team-oriented. 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 collaborations at departmental, faculty and university level, as well as internationally.
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 order to be assessed as qualified for an Assistant Professor position, you must meet these academic criteria.

Shortlisting will be used.

Questions about the position
If you have any questions about the position, please contact Prof. Jens R Nyengaard, tel.: (+45) 6020 2620.

Your place of work will be at the Core Center for Molecular Morphology, Section for Stereology and Microscopy Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
 



Terms of employment

• Appointment as an assistant professor requires academic qualifications at PhD level.
• 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.
• The yearly base salary for a fulltime assistant professor is between DKK 484.214,84 and DKK 538.720,20 depending on the years of working experience after achieved MSc degree. The base salary includes a position related supplement and pension (17.1 %). Additional supplement(s) for special qualifications can be negotiated. 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.
• Researchers recruited from abroad are offered a special researcher tax scheme with a lower tax rate.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job description can be found in the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.

Application

Your application must include the following:

• Motivated application
• Curriculum Vitae
• Diploma
• Template for applicant - assistant professor or tenure track assistant professor
• A list of publications
• A teaching portfolio. We refer to Guideline on the use of teaching portfolios
• A maximum of five of the publications of greatest relevance to the job may be submitted (optional)
• Research plan, which is part of the 'Template to applicant - assistant professor or tenure track assistant 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. Aarhus University also has a Junior Researcher Association and offers career development support. You can read more about these resources 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.


Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/