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At the Technical Faculty of IT and Design at Aalborg University, the Department of Sustainability and Planning Aalborg is seeking a candidate with a strong legal academic background for an Associate Professorship. The successful candidate will teach and supervise students in AAU’s Bachelor’s and Master’s programs for land surveyors and planning engineers (Surveying, Planning and Land Management). The position is from 1 April 2026 or soon hereafter.

The department was established in 1975. Today, we are located in two beautiful harbour-front locations in both Aalborg and Copenhagen. We have more than 250 employees and approximately 1,200 students across the two cities.
Our research and study programmes are rooted in sustainability and the green transition. This means we conduct research in areas such as the circular economy, technology, urban, energy, and environmental planning, as well as sustainable transition and design. Sustainability is central to our work in environmental assessment and marine management. In surveying and land use, sustainability is reflected in our efforts in nature restoration and climate adaptation.
As society continues to develop digitally, we also focus on responsible technology development, addressing real-life challenges. Our problem-oriented approach and close collaboration with businesses and public organisations form the foundation of all our study programmes. Additionally, our engineering programmes are among the best in Europe.

Job description
The candidate should be able to study regulatory issues related to competing uses of geographical space across a broad scope, including land, coastal, and seabed contexts. Key areas of conflict management include environmental protection, resource extraction, energy production, and the planning of new industrial and transportation infrastructure in hinterlands and along waterfronts. The ideal candidate will demonstrate an interest in addressing practical regulatory challenges, engaging with public authorities, and contributing to societal development. A clear socio-technical approach is important, particularly through experience with legal issues related to digitalization and e-governance in planning. The position encompasses not only law but also governance and public policy, making expertise in social science methodologies a necessity. The ideal candidate will have experience and interest in working with planners and a proven ability to integrate legal perspectives with other disciplines in both teaching and research on spatial planning.

The department is particularly interested in candidates capable of conducting comparative country studies in planning law and property rights to contribute to an international research agenda. The ideal candidate should demonstrate the ability to navigate research across diverse legal contexts in Europe and beyond.
Teaching at AAU emphasizes Problem-Based Learning (PBL), and the candidate should be prepared to engage students in real-world, interdisciplinary challenges. Both teaching and research should approach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) both critically and constructively, emphasizing the skills and knowledge land surveyor students need, including responsible use and governance of land and natural resources. Accordingly, the candidate will address land tenure and ownership challenges, including equitable access and land-use conflicts, demonstrating how secure land rights support livelihoods, food security, and development as well as nature, environmental and water protection, especially in the context of Denmark.

  • Have educational background in law (Bachelor’s, Master’s and/or PhD)
  • Ability or willingness to conduct research and teach in both Danish and English.
  • Willingness to work across AAU campuses while primary work location is Aalborg (CPH & AAL)
  • Applied and academic experience in legal research
  • Experience in obtaining external research funding (e.g., Horizon Europe)
  • Experience in research project management and work package coordination
  • Experience in establishing and maintaining academic and non-academic partnerships
  • Experience in comparative work with sources in different European languages
  • Experience in PBL teaching, supervision of semester projects
  • Experience in supervising Master’s, and PhD students
  • Experience in researching and teaching in a multidisciplinary, socio-technical setting
  • Experience in autonomously handling academic administrative responsibilities
  • Experience as a course coordinator in a higher education setting
  • Experience in disseminating academic work in conferences and through policy briefs
  • Experience in publishing, editing and reviewing academic work in journals and books
  • Relevant industrial experience will be considered as an asset
  • Preferably, the candidate will bring a portfolio of ongoing research Projects

You can read more on TECH as a workplace here and on Department of Sustainability and Planning here

You may obtain further information from Associate Professor Michael Tophøj Sørensen phoneno.(+45) 9940 8415, Email: tophoej@plan.aau.dk concerning the scientific aspects of the position.

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Qualification requirements
Appointment as an associate professor requires research and teaching qualifications at the level that can be achieved through the satisfactory completion of a period of employment as an assistant professor but may also be obtained in other ways.

It is a precondition that applicants have documented research at an international standard. In addition, applicants are assumed to have received supervision and pedagogical skills development and to have obtained a positive written assessment of their teaching qualifications.

How to apply
Your application must include the following:

You can read more about the requirements for your application here.

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website.

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.

Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

Further information
Read more about our recruitment process here

The appointment process at Aalborg University involves a shortlisting process. You can read more about the shortlisting and appointment process here.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.

Salary and terms of employment
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish).

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (only in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (only in Danish).

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.

Please note in your application that you found the job at Jobindex

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