The Centre for Industrial Mechanics, part of the Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Syddansk Universitet (SDU), invites applications for one or more associate professor positions within multiscale modeling of mechanical and electromechanical devices. These positions are open from January 2027, and the specific start date will be agreed upon with the successful candidates.
Unique Opportunity
The Centre for Industrial Mechanics is a research centre focusing on mechanics in combination with mechatronics. You have the unique opportunity to be part of a well-established centre that is still growing and to influence its development. Syddansk Universitet is continuing to establish further mechanical research facilities for both research and teaching, as well as for commercial activities.
Workplace Description
The Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering covers research and education, spanning from fundamentals to applications of engineering science. All Syddansk Universitet's courses are taught in English, reflecting the fact that more than half of Syddansk Universitet's students and staff are international.
The Centre for Industrial Mechanics is located at SDU's beautiful campus in Sønderborg, in the inspiring building of Alsion, which is a centre for science, culture, and learning in the heart of Sønderborg. It is perched on the strait of water separating the island of Als from the mainland.
Syddansk Universitet has very close relations to the industry in Sønderborg, Southern Denmark, and Northern Germany. A significant fraction of the projects in the centre is conducted in close cooperation with the industry, which includes world-leading companies in growing fields such as e-mobility, autonomous vehicles, automation, climate solutions, and energy efficiency.
At the Centre for Industrial Mechanics, research, education, and innovation are performed in teams of scientists and support staff with competencies spanning a wide range of fields, including applied cyber-physical systems, artificial intelligence, embedded computing, mechanical structure integrity and life assessment, heating and cooling, renewable energy systems, and modeling and mechatronic prototyping.
The ideal candidate must be able to demonstrate their ambition to conduct high-quality research, present results at international conferences, and publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Syddansk Universitet expects the candidate to take part in teaching activities.
What Syddansk Universitet Expects
To complement Syddansk Universitet's team, Syddansk Universitet is looking for candidates with experience in two or more of the following fields:
Multiscale mathematical modeling using Finite Element or related methods.
Modeling of multiphysics effects in materials, such as piezoelectricity.
Experimental validation of simulation results using Finite Element or related methods.
The candidates are expected to collaborate with industrial partners and other universities (national and international), perform research work, apply for externally funded projects, and be involved with on-site manufacturing facilities and testing laboratories.
The ideal candidates will push Syddansk Universitet's research and innovation agenda as part of the team and will take charge of teaching one or more of the following topics: Computational Multiphysics, Mechanics of Materials, student semester projects, or similar courses at bachelor and master levels, and mentoring junior research staff and students.
The Candidate Must Have
A PhD in a relevant discipline (Mechanical, Aerospace, or Mechatronics Engineering, or any other relevant engineering discipline).
Experience in attracting funding either via projects or commercial activities, such as consultancy.
Strong abilities in teaching engineering or physics curricula.
An excellent track record in research and development.
Good communication skills in English.
In Addition, the Following Experiences Are Valued:
Working experience in industry.
Patent applications.
Project and team management experience.
For Further Information, please visit www.sdu.dk/ime and https://www.sdu.dk/en/forskning/cim. You may also contact Associate Professor Lars Duggen, Head of Centre for Industrial Mechanics, at tel. +45 6550 1640 or via e-mail at: duggen@sdu.dk.
If you experience technical problems, please contact Syddansk Universitet's email support.
Application
Applicants are advised to read the SDU information on how to apply.
Assessment of the candidates is based on the application material, and the application must include the following:
A motivated application.
A Curriculum Vitae.
Master’s and PhD degree certificates or equivalent (original and an official English translation), along with a complete list of publications.
Publications most relevant to the position.
A teaching portfolio documenting teaching, learning, and supervision qualifications and approach. Any format is acceptable; please see the Faculty's teaching portfolio page for inspiration.
A statement or documentation of other qualifications relevant to the position may also be included.
A research plan.
All documents must be in English and PDF format. A CPR number (civil registration number) must be crossed out. All PDF files must be unlocked, allow binding, and may not be password-protected.
Submission Guide: The motivated application shall be uploaded under ‘Cover letter’ (max. 5 MB), and the Curriculum Vitae shall be uploaded under ‘Resume’ (max. 5 MB). All other documents shall be uploaded under ‘Miscellaneous documents’ (maximum 10 files of maximum 50 MB per file).
The application deadline is July 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM/23:59 (CET/CEST).
Assessment and Selection Process
Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. Shortlisting may be applied, and only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment. Further information about shortlisting at SDU is available here. Interviews and tests may be part of the overall evaluation.
Read about the Assessment and Selection Process in detail here.
Conditions of Employment
Appointment as an associate professor is permanent. Employment as an associate professor requires academic qualifications at PhD level, as well as scientific and teaching qualifications commensurate with the position.
Employment will be in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the state, including the associated circular on the protocol for the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for associate professor as described therein. Further information on salary and taxation is available here.
Persons employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial assessment, be exempted from time registration, also known as a “self-organizer”.
Syddansk Universitet wishes its staff to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position. Syddansk Universitet 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(s).
Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark is available. You may also visit WorkinDenmark for additional information.
Further information about The Faculty of Engineering is available here.
