Professorship with special responsibilities (MSO) in microbiological occupational health

Do you have a strong background in measuring microbial exposures at work places, assessing possible toxicological consequences, and identify useful solutions that can be implemented at the work place to reduce the exposures? Is it your passion to improve the Danish work environment, then we need you to strengthen and lead our team within microbiological research.

Job description There are five overarching research areas within the NFA. This position is anchored in the microbiology group within the research area of chemical work environment. The microbiology group currently includes senior researchers, researchers, PhD students, research assistants and a technician.

The future professor will be a natural leader of the microbiological research group and must have extensive research experience in the field. This includes a strong Danish, Nordic as well as international network with published collaboration within the area. We expect that you have led projects within several of the topics below:

• Investigations on occupational exposure to microorganisms and endotoxins; including factors affecting the exposure levels
• In depth characterization of bioaerosols in terms of the composition of microorganisms, antibiotic resistance, and inflammatory potential.
• Investigations of the association between the exposures and possible health outcomes in the exposed workers
• Testing and communicating successful interventions that reduce the workers’ exposure

The professor must have qualifications similar to a university professor including a PhD in microbiology (or similar) and an extensive scientific publication record in the field. Based on the available infrastructure and competences, you must develop, apply for and be granted projects within NFA's strategy and the existing research program for the area. This includes cross-cutting projects within NFA or in collaboration with external partners. The professor must also contribute to continuing the department's commitment to European research projects, including Horizon Europe. Successful applications for EU funds will be of high priority. We expect an interest in testing and implementing new AI possibilities in future projects.

In collaboration with senior researchers and researchers - the professor will supervise PhD students and young researchers, and the professor will be actively involved in the broad dissemination of research to relevant media and working environment actors. Finally, knowledge of the Danish labor market and the political system is important. The professor must contribute to the Danish communication of research results to e.g. the Work Environment Authority and the Ministry of Employment and develop a successful cooperation with the social partners.

Join us The applicant must possess extensive research experience within the field of the microbiological work environment and health-related effects outcomes. It would be desirable if this were coupled with knowledge from intervention projects on developing practical solutions that reduce harmful exposures.

All research conducted at NFA must be documented through publishing in scientific journals at a high international level. Furthermore, the candidate’s research must have contributed substantially to the subject area. It is therefore expected that the professor is capable of profiling and developing their subject area at the international level and that they have achieved (or are able to achieve) a recognized international position within their primary subject area.

The National Research Centre for the Working Environment’s ambition is to produce application-oriented knowledge about Danish working environments based on a strong research-grounded foundation and which results in a relevant social impact. The professorship with special assignments is time-delimited, and the role is intended to support the NFA’s research and strategic profile within research on working hours. A major selection criterion is whether potential candidates have experience with initiating and participating in interdisciplinary research programmes.

An additional important selection criterion is whether the applicant has experience with handling major sector-specific assignments, including advising authorities, the social partners and other stakeholders as well as user-oriented dissemination of research results in Danish to a wide range of users of working environment knowledge. The applicant must be able to document extensive collaboration with relevant actors in the area of working environments. The applicant must also be able to document significant experience with research supervision and participation in strong Nordic and international research networks.

We contribute to a healthy and dynamic labour market in Denmark At the National Research Centre for the Working Environment, we conduct research on topics that affect working environments and occupational health today and in the future. As a sector research institution under the auspices of the Danish Ministry of Employment, our mission is also to monitor and evaluate developments related to working environments and identify new risks. We train new researchers and disseminate our research results in recognized journals. We disseminate our research-based knowledge to workplaces, authorities, the social partners and advisers in the field of working environment. In doing so, we contribute to improving the working environment in Denmark.

You can read more about us at www.nfa.dk.

We find solutions together As part of the Danish Ministry of Employment, the National Research Centre for the Working Environment (NFA) helps set the framework for people’s working lives, and we are therefore obligated to find the best solutions. We find them together. The NFA believes in open doors and low barriers. We share our knowledge and give each other feedback and input to help hone each other’s ideas before turning them into common solutions.

At the NFA, you will be working with skilled and dedicated colleagues in a fast-paced environment where we tackle major challenges. Every day offers new problems to solve, and you should therefore be prepared to take on ad hoc assignments and make use of your entire professional skillset. In return, you get plenty of opportunities to make a positive difference to people’s working lives.

Salary and terms of employment This is a full-time position. We would like you to start at June 1st 2025 or at earliest convenience. The professor will be employed at the NFA in a professorship with special assignments for a 5-year period with the possibility of extension for up to 3 years.

The appointment is made in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) as well as the position structure for scientific staff with research assignments in sector research institutions. Remuneration consists of a basic salary according to the AC scale and with a negotiated pensionable supplement.

Questions and application If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, please contact Head of Research Nicklas Raun Jacobsen by e-mail ([email protected]) or phone (+45 3916 5279). If you have any questions about salary and terms of employment, please contact HR partner Rikke Dahl Ledertoug at the Danish Ministry of Employment’s HR department by by e-mail ([email protected]) phone on (+45 2250 3487).

All interested applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of age, gender, disability, religion or ethnicity.

The deadline for submitting your application, CV, exam papers, list of publications, and documentation for research-related, sector-specific and teaching-related experience as well as at least 10 of your most relevant publications is Sunday, January 19th 2025.

NFA reserves the right to select candidates for evaluation by the committee based on the criteria listed in the posting. A committee of experts will assess the selected applicants. The National Research Centre for the Working Environment will subsequently decide which of the qualified applicants with a positive evaluation will be best suited for the position.