Assistant Professor of Mitigation Technologies for Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agricultural fields
The work of the assistant professorship will be associated with several projects seeking to develop mitigation technologies for nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural fields including FoFE which is investigating foliar fertilization, SmartField which is a large project looking at mitigation technologies of various kinds.
The increased use of fertilizer has led to a range of losses of environmentally problematic reactive N compounds including ammonia, nitrate, and nitrous oxide (N2O). The emitted N2O constitute an important greenhouse gas with a global warming potential of about 300 times that of carbon dioxide and agriculture is responsible for ~70% of the emissions worldwide and 80% in Denmark. Denmark is obliged to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions by 70% before 2030 and to achieve this, a 55% target for the reduction of emissions from agriculture has been decided. Consequently, this will require reductions of the N2O emissions.
There is a strong relationship between N fertilization and N2O emission. Therefore, the most obvious technique for abatement of agricultural N2O emissions is to reduce fertilization. However, this can compromise yields and quality, and then other strategies e.g. precision fertilization, the timing of fertilizer application, water management, and the use of fertilizer additives such as nitrification inhibitors and foliar fertilization are needed. Before these strategies can be applied, they will have to be developed, optimized and verified.
The current assistant professorship will investigate will be devoted to the development and testing of such strategies and technologies for N2O emissions from agricultural fields.
We are located in Copenhagen, with a main campus in Frederiksberg and field trials at our experimental farm in Taastrup, 20 km from the main campus. Our research facilities include modern laboratories, growth chambers, greenhouses and experimental fields. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment.
Who are we looking for?
The applicants for the Assistant Professor should have the following key qualifications:
• A PhD and postdoc period within soil science, agricultural or environmental science or a related area.
• A good understanding of the processes that are leading to emissions of N2O and other greenhouse gases from soils.
• Experience with various laboratory and field techniques, especially chamber-based techniques and automated systems for measuring emissions of greenhouse gases.
• An internationally competitive research output documented by a number of co-authored scientific papers in internationally recognized journals.
• Good collaborative skills and collaborative project experience with academic or external stakeholders.
• Experience with contributing to grant proposal writing to attract external funding successfully.
• Experience with outreach activities and communication of research to the public via e.g., popular science articles.
• Experience with teaching and supervision activities will be an advantage.
The assistant professor’s duties will primarily include research and teaching, including obligations with regard to publication/scientific communication and research-based teaching with associated examination obligations within the areas of environmental and soil chemistry, climate change and environmental sustainability at both bachelor and master level. To a limited extent, this may also include performance of other duties. It is expected that the candidate will undergo necessary pedagogical training for assistant professors.
Assessment of applicants will primarily consider their level of documented, internationally competitive research. The ability to attract external funding will be considered together with outreach qualifications. Teaching qualifications are not mandatory but documented teaching qualifications and teaching experience will be considered.
Six overall criteria apply for assistant 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. Furthermore, each candidate must be assessed according to the specific requirements stated in the job advertisement. Please read more at https://jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabelige-stillinger/kriterier-for-videnskabelige-stillinger/dokumenter-til-meritering/5a_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-Assistant_professors.pdf.
Further information on the Department is linked at http://www.plen.ku.dk. Inquiries about the position can be made to Morten Petersen morten.petersen@plen.ku.dk .
The position is open from 01-10-2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.
Terms of employment
The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.
Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.
Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.
The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.
Please include
- Curriculum vitae
- Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)
- Research plan – description of current and future research plans
- If available, description and documentation of teaching and supervision experience and qualifications- please describe and document:
- Experience with supervision of BSc and MSc students
- Teaching experience
- Formal pedagogical training
- Complete publication list
- Separate reprints of 5 particularly relevant papers
You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.
Interviews/trial lectures will be held on 13-08-2025 to 15-08-2025
Please note in your application that you found the job at Jobindex
