Position as Associate Professor at Center for Music in the Brain

The Faculty of Health, Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University invites applications for a position as Associate Professor in the field of Neuroscience as per May 1, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a permanent part-time position (18.5 hours/week).

Department of Clinical Medicine

As an Associate 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 Associate Professor, you will be working at Universitetsbyen 3, building 1710, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

You can read more about the department here and about the faculty here.

The Danish National Research Foundation’s Center for Music in the Brain is an interdisciplinary research center at Aarhus University and the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus/Aalborg, Denmark (RAMA) aiming to address the dual questions of how music is processed in the brain and how this can inform our understanding of fundamental principles behind brain functioning in general. With a strong foundation in music practice and theory at the highest level and a focus on the clinical application of music, MIB combines neuroscientific, musicological and psychological research in music perception, action, emotion and learning with the potential to test prominent theories of brain function and to influence the way we play, teach, use and listen to music.

Read more about MIB at www.musicinthebrain.au.dk and the Department of Clinical Medicine here.

Your job responsibilities

As Associate Professor at Center for Music in the Brain, you will conduct research in clinical applications of music in somatic and psychiatric disorders. The clinical research should be integrated within a solid understanding of the basic research in the field of music neuroscience and music psychology to contribute to an understanding of both the potential clinical effects of music in relation to sleep and the mechanisms of action involved.

You will contribute to the center’s research and teaching environment and to the university and RAMA’s overall research strategy as well as to the development of the center both independently and in collaboration with others via your research of high international quality. You ensure that your teaching maintains a high academic and didactic standard. You possess excellent collaborative skills and a broad academic network which you are able to bring into play in your contribution to the academic development of Aarhus University and its profile both nationally and internationally. 

Your main tasks will consist of:

• Research of high international quality, including publication in top international journals and communicating your research in national and international academic networks.
• Supervision of PhD students and contributing to the development of the faculty's PhD courses.
• To contribute to the funding with the help of external research funding.
• Teaching and supervision of Bachelor’s and Master's degree students.
• Involvement in assessment and committee work at Aarhus University.
• Dissemination of your research.

Teaching will be a minor part of the job at Center for Music in the Brain.

You will report to the Director of Center for Music in the Brain.

Your competences/qualifications

We expect an excellent track record in the research area of clinical neuroscience, and/or music cognition and emotion, and that you have established yourself as a prominent researcher.

You possess solid research and teaching qualifications at a high international level.

You have a broad international network, and you also have a documented ability to attract competitive research funding from national and/or international funding bodies.

You have a strong interdisciplinary background, documented knowledge of music theory and brain research methods as well as experience as a master and/or as a PhD supervisor.

You must have extensive experience with clinical research methods as well as neuroimaging methods, such as fMRI and EEG and thorough insight into brain structure and function.

As a person, you are helpful, motivational and aim to inspire other researchers and build trusting relationships with students, colleagues and external collaborators. As a lecturer you communicate the newest and relevant knowledge in a committed, clear and comprehensible manner. As a supervisor you are competent, inspiring, supportive and responsible.

We expect you to be fluent in oral and written English. It is desirable for international applicants to learn Danish, and Aarhus University will provide provision for courses for learning Danish.

In order to be assessed as qualified for the Associate 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 Director of Center for Music in the Brain, Peter Vuust.: (+45) 2711 9471.

Your place of work will be at Center for Music in the Brain, Universitetsbyen 3, building 1710, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

About MIB

MIB is headed by Professor Peter Vuust and the center is organized around five research topics:

• Predictive Coding of Music, led by Peter Vuust
• Multimodal Theme, led by Boris Kleber
• Music Interactions, led by Peter Keller
• Meaning of music, led by Elvira Brattico and Morten Kringelbach
• Clinical applications of music, led by Kira Vibe Jespersen

The research in the center is based on the predictive coding of music hypothesis proposing that music reflects fundamental brain mechanisms associated with prediction. This hypothesis offers a fresh perspective on how specialized brain networks can identify and categorize causes of sensory inputs, integrate information with other networks, and adapt to new stimuli. It proposes that perception, and learning occurs in a recursive Bayesian process by which the brain tries to minimize the error between the input and the brain’s expectation. In particular, MIB focuses on how music is involved in establishing, maintaining and fine-tuning meaningful human relationships and interactions. 

MIB is situated in the Danish Neuroscience Center at Health, Aarhus University allowing interactions with clinicians, medical scientists and patient groups. This gives access to MINDLab Core Experimental Facility with an impressive infrastructure providing an array of state-of-the-art technologies (PET, MRI, fMRI, MEG, EEG, tDCS, and TMS), and extensive support. MIB is also affiliated with RAMA’s music teaching programs of the highest national and international levels, training students as professional musicians and high-level music teachers.

Read more about MIB at www.musicinthebrain.au.dk



Terms of employment

• Appointment as an associate professor requires research and teaching qualifications at the level that can be achieved through the satisfactory completion of a period of appointment as an assistant professor, but may also be obtained in other ways.
• The applicant is required to have completed a university pedagogical programme or an equivalent programme.
• 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 associate professor is DKK 650.004,18 (including a position related supplement, a pre-agreed associate professor supplememt and pension (17.1%)). Additional supplement(s) can be negotiated dependent on experience, special qualifications and performance of special functions. 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.
• Travel and moving expenses may be covered according to the employee in question and, to a limited extent, the accompanying family.
• 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 - associate professor
• A list of publications
• A teaching portfolio. We refer to Guideline on the use of teaching portfolios
• The five publications stated as the most important in the 'Template for applicant - associate professor' must be submitted
• Research plan, which is part of the 'Template to applicant - associate 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.

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/