4-year Group Leader (Assistant Professor) Position in Colloidal Chemistry Related to new ESS Lighthouse Full-time NEW

Assistant Professor Position in Colloidal Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry at Aarhus University invites applications for a 4-year Assistant Professor (non-tenured) position in the field of colloidal chemistry with focus on neutron and X-ray scattering of colloidal systems with applications in food-related and pharma chemistry. The position is part of a strategic initiative to strengthen neutron and scattering based interdisciplinary research across chemistry, biophysics, and food science, and is part of the collaborative framework of the ESS Lighthouse: Colloids and Interfaces in Food and Pharma (CaIFF). The position is available from September 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The successful candidate will join a dynamic research environment and will have access to in-house small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and light scattering (LS) infrastructure at Department of Chemistry, as well as all other research infrastructure at the Department of Chemistry. The position involves cross-disciplinary research at the interface of soft matter physical chemistry, food colloids, and/or pharmacological science with opportunities for joint projects, shared supervision, and acquiring access to large-scale neutron facilities. The candidate is expected to participate in driving the Lighthouse's research on non-equilibrium multicomponent colloidal systems preferably relevant to food or pharma systems. The work is expected to involve the application and development of neutron scattering and methodologies. This should be integrated with advanced data analysis, simulations, and/or mathematical modeling. The work involves close interactions with other employees in CaIFF and the principal investigators to foster methodological innovation and interdisciplinary synergy. The position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a vibrant, collaborative research environment focused on translating fundamental insights into practical applications in food or pharma science.

The candidate is expected to build an independent research group and conduct an active research program, which is internationally recognized and can attract external funding. The candidate should have experience with modelling and data analysis of scattering data as well as physicochemical studies of soft matter and/or food colloids. The candidate is expected to align with the Department ambition on increasing the societal relevance of our research, e.g. within improved future health, green transition and climate changes. Applicants for an Assistant Professor position must be able to demonstrate potential for excellent research and teaching. International experience and extensive postdoctoral training are expected. Interest and competence in teaching chemistry at all levels of university education is essential. Teaching can be in Danish and English, depending on the course. We offer didactic course to applicants who have not yet fulfilled such requirements, and we offer Danish courses, expecting non-Danish speaking colleagues to learn Danish in a 3–5-year time span. We encourage female researchers to apply for the position. Both women and men are welcome to apply for the position. No one will be given priority, and all applicants will be assessed in accordance with the requirement profile for the position. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background.

This is a 4-year independent Group Leader position with the expectation of establishing a high-impact research program and securing external funding. Towards the end of the 4-year period, a tenure track assistant professor or associate professor position at the Department of Chemistry will be announced to which the Group Leader will be eligible to apply. As part of the position, the candidate is offered:

• access to research infrastructure
• capability development, including postgraduate teacher training a mentoring programme
• support to develop scientific networks and to secure interdisciplinary research at the highest level.

For further information on the position, please contact Head of Search Committee Professor Jan Skov Pedersen (jsp@chem.au.dk), or Head of Department of Chemistry Thomas Vosegaard (tv@chem.au.dk). The place of work is Department of Chemistry (Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus) and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.