Assistant (tenure-track) Professor positions in Need-driven Health Technology

The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), invites applications for Assistant (tenure-track) professor positions in Need-driven Health Technology. Multiple candidates can be hired for this post depending on the assessment of the panel. 

The candidates should be at the forefront of integrating healthcare innovations and engineering to focus on creating real impact within the healthcare system. We are particularly interested in the integration of engineering innovations with entrepreneurial considerations to develop new patient monitoring approaches, preventive/assistive care technologies, new diagnostics or cost-effective treatments. The position centers on applying need-led innovation to develop novel medical technologies. We are seeking candidates with a strong engineering research record within medical device development and a background in entrepreneurship. Applicants should be aware of the requirements, regulatory and clinical pathways that needs to be navigated to develop appropriate medical technologies. 

Examples of interesting research areas include, but are not limited to, pediatric technology, FemTech, digital health and assistive technologies. The position will be located at a newly established Biomedical Engineering Centre (BEC) that will focus on medical devices and biomechanics. The lab will fall under the Department of Technology and Innovation. Starting date is around August 1, 2025, in Odense, Denmark.

Job description and responsibilities

We are looking for individuals who are enthusiastic about developing novel medical systems, whilst also solving problems with regards to the translational of these devices into the clinic. We welcome candidates whose experience in teaching, research, or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to excellence.

Experience in biomedical engineering, need-led innovation, medical device development (hard- and software), clinical trials and translational research will be desired for this post. The BEC group also has direct links to the Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford and therefore willingness to collaborate across borders is essential. 

The BEC is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds.  The role will form a key part of our friendly, collaborative, energetic research group, with the applicant working closely with our students, research collaborators, and industrial partners. 

Responsibilities

Specific Duties

• Develop new need-driven healthcare technologies.
• Test hypotheses and analyse data from a variety of sources, reviewing and refining working hypotheses as appropriate
• Engage with industrial stakeholders to understand needs and disseminate results
• Organise and deliver user system trials and demonstrations
• Plan and run in medical device trials. 

Additional Duties

• Manage own academic research and administrative activities. This involves project and time management, to co-ordinate multiple aspects of work to meet deadlines
• Adapt existing and develop new scientific techniques and experimental protocols
• Test hypotheses and analyse scientific data from a variety of sources, reviewing and      refining working hypotheses as appropriate
• Contribute ideas for new research projects
• Develop ideas for generating research income, and present detailed research proposals to senior researchers
• Collaborate in the preparation of scientific reports and journal articles and occasionally present papers and posters 
• Use specialist scientific equipment in a laboratory environment
• Act as a source of information and advice to other members of the group on scientific protocols and experimental techniques
• Represent the research group at external meetings/seminars, either with other members of the group or alone
• Carry out collaborative projects with colleagues in partner institutions, and research groups
• The researcher will have the opportunity to undertake teaching (this can include lecturing, demonstrating, small-group teaching, tutoring of undergraduates and graduate students and supervision of master projects in collaboration with principal investigators). 
• Any other duties appropriate with the role.

Selection criteria

Essential selection criteria

• Hold a relevant PhD/DPhil together with relevant experience
• Possess knowledge in medical device development.
• Knowledge or experience in need-led innovation
• Experience in working with clinical data
• Experience in running and analysing experiments with human participants 
• Ability to manage own academic research and associated activities
• Previous experience of contributing to publications/presentations
• Ability to contribute ideas for new research projects and research income generation
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results, and represent the research group at meetings

Desirable selection criteria

• Experience of independently managing a discrete area of a research project
• Evidence of formal education in need-led innovation

For further information please contact: Professor Jeroen Bergmann e-mail: [email protected].

If you experience technical problems, please contact [email protected]. 

About the Biomedical Engineering Centre (BEC) at SDU

At the Biomedical Engineering Centre (BEC), we are committed to making engineered solutions for clinical users. Our research creates innovative technologies that are designed with stakeholder involvement to ensure that they are fit for purpose.

BEC is part of The Department of Technology and Innovation, which is located in the city of Odense. Odense is a world-leading city for robotics, especially for collaborative robotics. The city has a fast-growing international community with an open Scandinavian culture, affordable housing and reasonable living costs. Odense is one of Denmark's oldest cities dating back to the Viking Age, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The University of Southern Denmark (SDU)
At the University of Southern Denmark, we break boundaries and shape the future amidst considerable challenges in healthcare, climate change, cyber threats, and a changing global economy. We believe world-class research, education, and partnerships are essential to find appropriate solutions, as major societal issues are complex and multifaceted. To create lasting, positive change, we must apply new, interdisciplinary knowledge. Upholding academic freedom is crucial for our staff and students to innovate and share discoveries.

Danish Tenure Track Employment

For tenure track assistant professors, applications from promising early-career talents are highly encouraged. The Danish tenure-track employment is a focused assistant professorship with a guaranteed assessment for a tenured position as an associate professor; it is expected that, within the fourth year of employment and with no advertisement of the position, the tenure track assistant professor will be offered permanent position as associate professor provided that the tenure track assistant professor receives a positive academic assessment. The criteria for academic assessment upon transition from assistant to associate professor include excellence in research, teaching, and knowledge exchange, as compared to the associate professor level. 

Applicants for tenure track positions are assessed based on an evaluation of their potential to, during the course of employment as assistant professor, meet the criteria for transition to associate professor level during the tenure track progress, and the assessment is conducted based on information concerning the applicant’s proven record of scientific achievements, teaching experience and other relevant details as specified in the job advertisement.

Application procedure

Applicants are advised to read the SDU information on how to apply.

Assessment of the candidates is based on the application material, and an application must include: 

• Motivated application.
• Curriculum Vitae. 
• Master’s and PhD degree or equivalent (copy of original/official English translation). 
• Complete list of publications.
• Publications most relevant to the position (must be attached as PDF-files).
• Summary and documentation of experience in teaching. You may attach as a Teaching Portfolio. 
• A research statement may be included.
• References/reference letters may also be included.
• A statement/documentation of other qualifications relevant to the position may also be included.

All documents must be in English and PDF format, no more than 5 MB per file. Documents should not contain a CPR number (civil registration number) – in this case, the CPR number must be crossed out.

UPLOAD GUIDE: Motivated application shall be uploaded as ‘Cover letter’, Curriculum Vitae shall be uploaded as ‘Resume’. All other documents shall be uploaded as ‘Miscellaneous documents’. 

 

The application deadline is May 1, 2025, at 11.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST) 

 

Assessment and selection process

Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. Shortlisting may be applied, and only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment. Read about shortlisting at SDU.  Interviews and tests may be part of the overall evaluation.

Read about the Assessment and selection process.  

Conditions of employment

Appointment as a tenure track assistant professor is a 4-year temporary position with a guaranteed assessment for a permanent position as an associate professor within the fourth year of employment. Employment will be 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. Further information on salary and taxation. The person employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial evaluation, be exempted from time registration, also known as a “self-organiser”.

During employment, the assistant professor will complete the Lecturer Training Programme. 

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The University of Southern Denmark wishes our staff to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position. SDU conducts research in critical technologies, which, due to the risk of unwanted knowledge transfer, are subject to a number of security measures. Therefore, based on information from open sources, background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position.

Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark. You may also visit WorkinDenmark for additional information.

Further information about The Faculty of Engineering.