Professor of Environmental Risk Assessment of contaminants

at  Roskilde universitet

Department of Science and Environment (DSE), Roskilde University, invites applications for a position as professor of Environmental Risk Assessment of contaminants from 1 March 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.
In announcing the position, DSE looks to strengthen its research in environmental sciences within the following fields: environmental fate and impact of contaminants (e.g., chemical- and material like plastic) abundance and environmental risk assessment of contaminants. The Department is interested in applicants, whose research and teaching profile includes one or more of the above subject areas in combination with an interest in building interdisciplinary research and collaboration on education. The main teaching focus will be in environmental risk assessment, but we expect you to be willing and able to teach broadly within these subjects at bachelor- and master levels.
Through collaboration with researchers and stakeholders across sectors globally, the position will allow you to integrate environmental science, including assessing fate and effects of contaminants and anthropogenic materials (e.g., nano- and microplastics), and environmental risk assessment frameworks, thereby making the platform for having a strong impact on European regulatory decision-making for the benefit of the environment and society.
Department of Science and Environment is one of four departments at Roskilde University. The department conducts basic and applied research within environmental sciences, medicinal biology, molecular biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. Bachelor and interdisciplinary Master programs are offered within these areas. Roskilde University as well as the Department has a strategic focus on interdisciplinary science and external collaboration, and the Professor must be willing to support this strategy and be motivated to develop new collaboration platforms.
The department is organized into four sections: Environmental Dynamics, Molecular & Medical Biology, Mathematics & Physics, and Chemistry. We work interdisciplinary across sections and departments, often in collaboration with private companies, public institutions, other universities and NGO’s. Read more at https://ruc.dk/en/department-science-and-environment
The position is anchored in the Section for Environmental Dynamics. This Section comprises at the moment eight professors, associate professors and assistant professors as well as a varying number of PhD-students, and postdoc’s. We furthermore have a group of four to five technicians as part of the group. DSE has a well-established shared infrastructure with state-of-the-art equipment facilities, including field spectroradiometer, Mass-spectrometry (LCMS, GCMS, ICP-MS, FT-IR), CHNS, various microscopy facilities and access to work shops. We offer an international and team-oriented research environment with excellent opportunities for collaboration both within the department and across departments. Read more about the section at https://ruc.dk/en/research-group/environmental-dynamics

QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must hold a PhD degree within the research area. Documented scientific qualifications equivalent to associate professor level in relation to the above-mentioned subject area(s) are required. In addition, the candidate should have:

• a strong research track-record within environmental risk assessment integrating regulatory aspects and ecotoxicology.
• a clear vision for the research field, and the development of a research group.
• experience with management of research teams and to develop research talents.
• a proven interdisciplinarity and have an international research experience and strong international network.
• a strong track-record in attracting funding nationally and internationally.
• shown commitment to communicating natural science to the general public, government etc.
• experience with development of new courses/teaching programs within her/his field of expertise
• proven study-administrative skills e.g., in developing integrated education programs
• a portfolio showing responsibilities for different course teaching and project supervisions - including supervision at Ph.D. and post.doc levels

The ideal candidate shall be enterprising and possess good communication skills and be a visible, involved participant in the department’s daily activities, in addition to being willing to engage in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration across the department.
Applicants are referred to the university’s Faculty expectations for specifications on the required level of qualifications within research, teaching, networking, fundraising, impact and outreach etc.

The professor’s main tasks are to further develop the field of environmental risk assessment focusing on fate and effects of contaminants and anthropogenic materials, e.g. plastic including nano- and microplastics, and to specifically integrate this into a regulatory outlook by leading and further developing a research team, and to undertake research and research-based teaching within the field of research.
The professor is expected to maintain a significant record of publications, to inspire research achievement and to build a research culture within the research group. You will also be expected to secure external research funding and engage in research networks. The Professor will teach in an interdisciplinary environment and engage in problem-oriented project work with extensive student involvement and responsibility. You will be required to teach, supervise and assess students at BSc and MSc levels as well as PhD students. This also implies developing the field in relation to teaching. As professor you will be required to participate in post-doctoral training and be responsible for the supervision of assistant professors as well as take part in academic assessments. The position also includes a duty to actively share knowledge with the rest of society – including participation in the public debate within your field. The Professor’s tasks will also include activities within student recruitment and popular dissemination of science.
You are also required to be enterprising, to possess good interpersonal skills, and to be a visible, active participant in the daily activities in the group and the department, in addition to being willing to engage in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration within and outside the department. You are also expected to be able to take a leading responsibility for the continuation of a creative and pleasant working environment. Finally, you will be expected to take a strategic responsibility for management and leadership through engagement in the group and the Department.
The ideal candidate is expected to be able to teach in English immediately, and within three years acquire proficiency in Danish sufficient for participation in departmental and university committees and meetings.