The posting
Job Description
2 Assistant Professor Positions (non-tenured) with a Focus on Innovation in Pharmacy or Medicinal Chemistry at SDU in Odense
The Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) invites applications for 2 positions as Assistant Professor with a focus on innovation within pharmacy or medicinal chemistry.
The positions are expected to commence on 1 February 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter. Each position is fixed-term for 3 years.
The positions are intended for talented early-career researchers who wish to develop an independent academic profile at the intersection of research, innovation and education. The successful candidates will conduct research within pharmacy or medicinal chemistry and contribute to translating scientific knowledge into solutions with potential value for patients, healthcare, society or the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.
The Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy is one of four departments at the Faculty of Science and is located at SDU’s main campus in Odense. The department is responsible for educational programmes in chemistry, medicinal chemistry and physics, as well as the bachelor’s programme in pharmacy. The successful candidates will join the sections for Chemistry and Pharmacy and become part of an interdisciplinary research environment with strong opportunities for collaboration across scientific fields and with external partners.
Research and innovation profile
The assistant professors will develop and conduct research within pharmacy or medicinal chemistry with a clear focus on innovation and application. Relevant research may include, but is not limited to, the discovery, design, development, formulation, delivery, analysis or evaluation of pharmaceutical substances, technologies and products. Innovation is understood broadly and may involve the development or application of new:
- compounds, drug candidates or therapeutic concepts;
- formulations, drug-delivery systems or pharmaceutical products;
- experimental, analytical, computational or data-driven methods;
- technologies, platforms, processes or research tools;
- approaches to solving challenges relevant to patients, healthcare, society or industry.
The successful candidates are expected to identify the innovation potential of their research and contribute to its maturation and translation. Depending on the nature and stage of the research, this may include validation of concepts, development of prototypes or proof of concept, collaboration with relevant users and external partners, protection of intellectual property, technology transfer, entrepreneurship or other pathways to application and impact.
The positions provide an opportunity for early-career researchers to develop an independent research and innovation profile. Applicants are therefore not expected to have an extensive record of patents, commercialization or entrepreneurship. Relevant previous experience is an advantage, but equal emphasis will be placed on the applicant’s scientific qualifications, motivation and potential to develop innovative research.
Roles and responsibilities
The assistant professors will be expected to:
- Establish and develop an independent research programme within pharmacy or medicinal chemistry with a clear innovation perspective.
- Conduct high-quality research and communicate the results through scientific publications, conferences and relevant outreach activities.
- Identify and explore the scientific, societal and/or commercial potential of research ideas and results.
- Develop research-based concepts, methods, technologies or solutions towards validation, proof of concept or application, where relevant.
- Establish collaborations across disciplines and engage with relevant academic and external partners, such as companies, hospitals, healthcare professionals, public authorities, innovation environments or other users.
- Apply for or contribute to applications for external research and innovation funding.
- Contribute to teaching and course development within the department’s educational programmes, particularly pharmacy, medicinal chemistry and related areas.
- Contribute to research-based and innovation-oriented teaching, including the involvement of students in relevant research and innovation activities.
- Supervise and mentor bachelor’s and master’s students and, where relevant, contribute to the supervision of PhD students and other junior researchers.
- Participate actively in the academic environment and contribute to the continued development of the department’s research, innovation and educational activities.
- Participate in public engagement, knowledge exchange and other activities that strengthen the relationship between the university and the surrounding society.
The ideal candidate
We seek ambitious and collaborative early-career researchers with:
- A PhD degree in pharmacy, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry or another closely related field.
- A strong scientific background relevant to research within pharmacy or medicinal chemistry.
- The ability and motivation to develop an independent research and innovation profile.
- A clear interest in translating scientific knowledge into new concepts, methods, technologies, products, practices or other solutions.
- The potential to identify relevant needs and opportunities and engage with academic and external partners.
- Good communication and collaboration skills and an interest in interdisciplinary research.
- Proficiency in spoken and written English.
Experience in one or more of the following areas will be considered an advantage but is not a requirement:
- Translational or application-oriented research.
- Interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Collaboration with industry, hospitals, healthcare organizations, public authorities or other external partners.
- Development and validation of methods, technologies, prototypes or proof-of-concept studies.
- Intellectual property, technology transfer, entrepreneurship or commercialization.
- Participation in applications for research or innovation funding.
- Innovation-oriented teaching or student activities.
As the positions are aimed at early-career researchers, applicants will be assessed in relation to their career stage. Applicants are not required to demonstrate an established innovation track record. A convincing motivation and a realistic plan for developing innovative research will be central to the assessment.
The research and innovation environment
The Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy provides a highly collaborative environment that brings together experimental, computational and theoretical research. The department offers broad opportunities for collaboration within research, innovation, funding applications and teaching.
The successful candidates will become part of the sections for Chemistry and Pharmacy and will have opportunities to collaborate with researchers across the department, the Faculty of Science, other faculties at SDU and relevant external organizations.
SDU provides access to an extensive innovation ecosystem that supports researchers in developing ideas and exploring pathways towards application and impact. Depending on the individual project, this may include support for innovation funding, collaboration with external partners, intellectual property, technology maturation, entrepreneurship and business development.
The assistant professors will be expected to contribute actively to this environment and to help strengthen connections between excellent research, education, innovation and society.
What we offer
The successful candidates will be offered:
- The opportunity to establish an independent research and innovation profile in a supportive academic environment.
- Access to interdisciplinary research communities and relevant experimental, analytical and computational infrastructure.
- Opportunities to collaborate with academic and external partners.
- Support for the development of applications for research and innovation funding.
- Access to relevant mentoring, career-development and pedagogical activities.
- Opportunities to contribute to the further development of innovation within the department’s research and educational programmes.
Application
The application must include:
- A motivated application outlining the applicant’s interest in the position and ambitions for combining research and innovation.
- A curriculum vitae.
- A full list of publications and potential patens.
- A copy of the PhD diploma.
- Copies of the publications on which the applicant wishes to be evaluated.
- A brief account of the applicant’s most important research results.
- A research and innovation plan for the three-year appointment period.
- A teaching portfolio or a brief description of previous teaching and supervision experience.
The research and innovation plan should describe:
- The proposed research area and its scientific contribution.
- The need, challenge or opportunity addressed by the research.
- The potential for innovation, application and impact.
- The main activities and expected milestones during the appointment.
- Relevant interdisciplinary and external collaborators or stakeholders.
- How the applicant intends to develop an independent research and innovation profile.
The plan should be ambitious but realistic and will be assessed in relation to the applicant’s career stage. It is not a requirement that the proposed activities are already supported by intellectual property, commercial partners or preliminary commercialization results.
Contact information
Further information about the positions is available from Head of Department prof. Jacob Kongsted, [email protected].
Application deadline: 21 December 2026
Expected starting date: 1 February 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter
Natural Science Research – Interdisciplinary Strength
The Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy is one of four departments at the Faculty of Science, SDU and is located in Odense. At the Department, we contribute to solving some of society’s greatest challenges within energy, environment, health, and sustainability. We succeed because we build bridges between disciplines and transcend traditional boundaries. Our interdisciplinary mindset is not only a fundamental condition, but also our strength. And it is a strength that ensures our research and education are recognized both nationally and internationally.
Our vision is to create and apply knowledge across the natural sciences. We are unique in housing research within physics, chemistry, and pharmacy under one department, which provides excellent opportunities to explore the intersections between these disciplines. Read more about our vision here.
Shortlisting may be used in the assessment process.
