Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Copenhagen

The University seeks to appoint an associate professor to the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences to commence January 1st, 2023.

Information on the Department can be found at https://sund.ku.dk/ and https://ikv.ku.dk/english/

About us

The Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences covers strong and internationally recognized research areas in clinical veterinary sciences. Based on these, we want to set a new standard for cross-disciplinary research, education and innovation within animal health and disease and be among the best public workplaces in Denmark. Our research supports teaching in a manner and quality securing continued national and international bench marking. The culture of the department is typical Scandinavian: a flat structure with a tradition for close collaboration where all employees are expecting openness, mutual respect, and sharing of ideas, resources and competences.

The Section for Medicine, Oncology and Veterinary Clinical Pathology’s have active research within the areas of preventive medicine, antibiotic stewardship, urology, oncology, inflammation and hemostasis as well as obesity, metabolism and clinical nutrition. Across the section there is a strong focus on development of assays for predictive biomarkers in companion animal and comparative medicine. The section holds clinical teaching and service obligations within companion animal general, internal and critical care medicine, oncology, comparative and clinical nutrition and veterinary clinical pathology and collaborates across fields nationally and internationally. Veterinary, Comparative and Clinical Nutrition is part of the Section for Medicine, Oncology and Veterinary Clinical Pathology, Dept. of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and consists of researchers and clinicians specialized in the field, including one European boarded diplomat within the field of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition, residents in training and PhD students. The Veterinary Clinical Nutrition referral service is internationally accredited and approved by the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition (ECVCN) as a specialist (residency) training site. Veterinary, Comparative and Clinical Nutrition runs the only specialist based clinical nutrition service in the Nordic countries, seeing both primary cases and referrals. They also provide advice to hospital services and continuous professional education seminars for veterinary nurses, veterinarians in general practice and animal scientists as well as the postgraduate master’s program within Companion Animal Clinical Sciences (www.cacs.ku.dk).

Job description

In considering applications for the associate professorship, the main emphasis will be on the applicant´s ability to document a high level of original scientific work at an international level within the area of energy metabolism, carnivore and comparative nutrition.

The associate professor is expected to participate actively in the development of independent research projects and studies within the fields of carnivore and comparative nutrition research, with a special focus on energy metabolism, preventive and therapeutic nutrition. The associate professor is expected to interact with external researchers and private enterprises both nationally and internationally. Animal and clinical nutrition is a core discipline in the veterinary and animal science curriculum as part of the veterinary education in Denmark. In addition, final year students choosing to specialize within the field of companion animals have additional practical clinical nutrition rotations within their coursework. The associate professor will therefore be expected to take a part in both teaching and examining undergraduate veterinary and animal sciences students, participate in teaching veterinary technicians, animal scientists and veterinarians at a post graduate level as well as assist and promote the development of further teaching strategies within this field. Furthermore, the associate professor is also expected to actively participate in administrative duties.

The associate professor’s responsibilities will primarily consist of:
• Research, including publication/academic dissemination
• Research-based teaching, including course responsibility and examination
• Research leadership, including guidance and supervision of researchers
• Obligation to share knowledge with the rest of society, including participation in public debate
• Academic assessments
• Supervision and assistance of colleagues within the field of veterinary and comparative nutrition
•  Initiation of independent research projects and application for funding
• Conduction of requested research, GCP conducted nutritional trials and experimental dietary trials.

Required qualifications

Six overall criteria apply for associate professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The six criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organisational contribution, external funding and leadership) are considered a framework for the overall assessment of candidates. Find information about each criterion here: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/criteria-for-recognising-merit.

Furthermore, each applicant must be able to document:

• Research qualifications at the level that can be achieved by satisfactorily completing a period of employment as an assistant professor/postdoc, but may also be obtained in other ways
• Teaching qualifications and pedagogical competencies
• Research-based teaching
• Hold a DVM or MSc, Animal Science degree  
• Qualifications within one or more of the following scientific areas within carnivore and comparative nutrition are required: Carnivore energy and nutrient metabolism, dietary  requirements for carnivores such as dogs and cats in different life-stages.
• Strong track record of international publications

The associate professor is also required to possess good interpersonal and communicative skills.

Terms of employment

The position is permanent and the average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

Salary and other terms and conditions of appointment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant professional organisations.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions

For further information, please contact Professor Charlotte Bjørnvad by phone +45 40224682 or crb@sund.ku.dk.

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: https://www.ism.ku.dk/ (International Staff Mobility).

Application

The application must be submitted in English and must include the following documents:

• Application, including information about external funding (Maximum 2 pages)
• Curriculum vitae, including information about external funding
• Diplomas (Master’s, PhD, and other relevant certificates)
• A complete list of publications
• Research plan (3‐5 pages)
• Uploads of maximum 5 publications to be considered in the assessment
• Teaching plan
• Teaching portfolio (Guidelines: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/job-application-portfolio)

Application procedure

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointments Committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment. The Dean then appoints an expert assessment committee in order to make an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee and each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself. You can read about the recruitment process at https://jobportal.ku.dk/.

Please note that the applicant will be contacted if the assessment committee requires further documentation.

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

The University of Copenhagen encourages all interested applicants to apply for this position.

Please submit the application with the required attachments. The closing date for applications is 23.59 p.m. CET, Wednesday, 10 August 2022.

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.