DIAS Fellow in Experimental Biophysics

The Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS) and the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy (FKF) at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) seek an excellent candidate to fill a tenure track Fellow (Assistant Professor level) position in the field of Biophysics or a closely related discipline. The candidate is expected to start on 01.08.2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. 

We are looking for a researcher with clear potential for research excellence who thrives in and is inspired by interdisciplinary collaboration. The ideal candidate will be expected to contribute to high-quality research in their field while embracing DIAS’s mission of curiosity-driven inquiry and interdisciplinary dialogue. The successful candidate should have a strong and promising research profile, with potential for attracting external research funding, and a demonstrated ability to work across disciplines. The candidate will be attached to both the Department and DIAS and should be prepared to engage in multiple and diverse research environments at SDU. 

Existing research areas

The department has strong research groups in biophysics and soft condensed matter, located in the PhyLife cluster. The scientists in PhyLife study the physical principles of biological phenomena and the behavior of biological materials with an interdisciplinary approach that combines physics, chemistry and molecular biology and uses a wide range of experimental, theoretical and computational approaches. Active research areas include self-assembled complex systems such as biomembranes, polymers, liquid crystals, as well as membrane proteins, bioimaging, image analysis, and statistical physics. The Phylife cluster includes state-of-the-art experimental facilities for cell culture, imaging and microfabrication, shared among the researchers. 

Who are we looking for

We seek Biophysics candidates with a research area that should expand and complement existing activities in PhyLife, meaning that synergy with existing research along with a clearly recognizable novel research line/focus is considered ideal. There is preference for a research area with a strong experimental component. 

As a DIAS fellow you are expected to: 

• Establish a competitive research activity in Biophysics.
• Engage in interdisciplinary collaborations. 
• Obtain external funding for independent research and collaborative research.
• Teach in physics courses offered by the Department (reduced teaching load compared to normal teaching load) 
• Supervise physics students and potentially students in related disciplines. 
• Participate in outreach activities in physics. 
• Contribute to the department’s organizational activities and strategy development. 

The ideal candidate should demonstrate: 

• A commitment to engage in boundary-crossing interdisciplinary research and dialogue.
• A strong commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, contributing to research that bridges multiple fields. 
• Strong interest in driving internationally competitive research activities. 
• Engagement in various forms of research dissemination, including interdisciplinary research and dialogue. 

Qualifications

Successful applicants must: 

• Hold a PhD or similar qualifications within relevant fields of Biophysics.
• Exhibit curiosity-driven research excellence, thinking beyond traditional boundaries. 
• Be fluent in English.
• Show potential for attracting external research funding. Experience in applying for external funding and a strong international network are considered advantages.
• Have a publication record that demonstrates excellence and broad thinking. 
• Be an inspiring and engaging teacher and supervisor.

The Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS)

DIAS at SDU is a hub for interdisciplinary excellence at and beyond the frontier of knowledge, bringing together outstanding researchers from various disciplines to foster groundbreaking interdisciplinary research and bold innovation. DIAS nurtures a collaborative and curiosity-driven environment, encouraging scholars to think outside the box and challenge conventional boundaries. The institute values open-minded exploration and an ambitious yet collegial atmosphere with a strong sense of community. Researchers affiliated with DIAS are expected to contribute actively to DIAS activities, mentor DIAS fellows, and engage in interdisciplinary collaborations across faculties and departments, both nationally and internationally. 

The Department

At the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, 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.

But we go further. At SDU, we collaborate with researchers from IMADA (Department of Mathematics and Computer Science) to advance fields towards digital transformation. We work with IGT (Department of Green Technology) and MMI (Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Institute) to harness the potential at the intersection of research and technological application. We also collaborate with researchers from the Faculty of Health Sciences to integrate health-related perspectives.

Additional information

For further information about being a fellow at DIAS, please contact DIAS director Sten Rynning at +45 6550 2193 or via email at director-dias@sdu.dk.

For more questions about the position please contact Head of Section Adam Cohen Simonsen adam@sdu.dk. 

The Danish tenure track employment

The Danish tenure-track employment is a focused assistant professorship with a guaranteed assessment (but not automatic appointment) for an open-ended position as associate professor within the assistant professor’s field of study. Upon employment, the tenure-track assistant professor is assigned a mentor, and annual performance and development reviews are held to support the assistant professor’s progress. A formal midterm evaluation will be conducted by a committee consisting of internal and external researchers with relevant qualifications, with the purpose of ensuring the focus of the assistant professor's activities and planning the remaining period.

Tenure-track assistant professors are assessed based on their potential to meet the assessment criteria for an associate professorship during the tenure-track period. These criteria are defined in the hosting faculty’s policy on academic career and recruitment, specifically the performance indicators on research, teaching, and academic citizenship. 

The transition from assistant professor to associate professor

Within the 6th year of employment, the tenure-track assistant professor is expected to transition into a position as an associate professor, based on a positive assessment conducted by a formally approved assessment committee, consisting of a chair, appointed by the University of Southern Denmark, as well two external committee members approved by the dean, the academic council, and the tenure-track committee of the university.

Application and employment terms

The candidate will be attached to the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy in Odense and is also expected to participate DIAS activities and interdisciplinary cooperation in Odense regularly.
The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). For more details on salary and taxation, please refer to the provided links about salary and taxation.
Teaching obligations will be reduced compared to a standard professorship at SDU, allowing more time for research and leadership activities.

To qualify for the position as Assistant Professor you must have obtained a PhD or similar degree by the application deadline. 

Application requirements
The application must include the following:

• Letter of motivation that clearly explains the applicant's interest, qualifications, and motivation for the position.
• Detailed CV including documentation of experience, and contacts for possible references. 
• An elaborated research and funding plan (max 4 pages) for the next three years including a description of synergy with the department's activities and the potential to benefit from DIAS’s interdisciplinary environment.
• Copies of certificates/diplomas (Master and PhD degree).
• Complete list of publications, indicating which publications are most relevant for the position.
• Up to 10 of the most relevant research articles – if you submit a monograph, it counts as 3 articles. Please upload a pdf for each publication. For co-authored publications, briefly describe the extent of the co-authorship or your contribution to the publications (please do this for each co-authored publication). You can do so by using this form or by describing the co-authorship in such a way that the committee can assess the extent of your contribution.
• Applicants are requested to submit a teaching portfolio with the application as documentation for teaching experience as well as supervision qualifications. Formal application instructions and a guide for the teaching portfolio can be found here.

All application materials must be submitted in English, and only applications written in English will be considered.

We recommend that international applicants take the time to visit websites of Work in Denmark and the International Staff Office at SDU. Here you can find information and facts about moving to, working and living in Denmark.

Submission guidelines

• Files must be submitted in PDF format.
• If multiple files are needed for a single section, combine them into one PDF file.
• Zip files, image files (jpg, png, etc.), and password-protected PDF files will not be accepted. All PDF files must be unlocked to allow binding.
• Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

Assessment

Shortlisting may be used as part of the assessment process. Read about shortlisting at SDU.

Assessment of applications will be done under the existing Appointment Order for universities. Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. The committee may request additional information, and, if so, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the necessary material. 

When the assessment committee has submitted its report, the applicant will receive the part of the evaluation that concerns them. 

Applications that are incomplete with regards to the above requirements will not be assessed by the committee. Shortlisting and tests may be used in the assessment process and references may be obtained. 

About SDU
SDU is committed to fostering a diverse staff that reflects society’s diversity. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of personal background.
SDU was founded in 1966 and now has over 27,000 students, nearly 20% of whom are international. SDU employs more than 3,800 staff and offers 115 study programmes across disciplines such as the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences, and engineering. While SDU’s main campus is in Odense, it also has campuses in other locations. Odense is the country’s third largest city and is centrally located with easy commutes to Copenhagen and Aarhus (approximately 1½ hour).

Equal opportunity employment
The University of Southern Denmark is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, or any other protected status.

The University of Southern Denmark wishes our staff to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position. SDU conducts research in critical technologies, which, due to the risk of unwanted knowledge transfer, are subject to a number of security measures. Therefore, based on information from open sources, background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position.

How to apply
Applications must be submitted electronically via the "Apply online" link provided in the job posting.

If you experience technical problems, please contact hcm-support@sdu.dk.

Application deadline: 28.02.2026 at 23:59 hours local Danish time