The Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS) and the Mads Clausen Institute (MCI), Faculty of Engineering at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) in Sønderborg seek an outstanding candidate to fill a tenure track fellow position (assistant professor level) in the field of Materials Chemistry. The candidate is expected to start on January 1st, 2027, or as soon as possible.
The application deadline is September 1, 2026, at 11.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST)
We are looking for an ambitious 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 the field while embracing DIAS’s mission of curiosity-driven inquiry and interdisciplinary dialogue, as well as MCI’s strategic focus. 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 Mads Clausen Institute (MCI) in Sønderborg and DIAS and should be prepared to engage in multiple and diverse research environments at SDU.
Who are we looking for?
We seek a researcher with expertise in the field of materials chemistry, (photo)electrochemistry, spectro(photo)electrochemistry, spectroscopy of chemical compounds, or solar-to-X, who is eager to develop an excellent research career within the DIAS framework. Accordingly, teaching obligations will be minimized. The ideal candidate should demonstrate:
A commitment to engaging 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 at the highest level of ambition.
Engagement in various forms of research dissemination, including interdisciplinary research and dialogue.
Focus on curiosity-driven research excellence, thinking beyond traditional boundaries.
Strong interest in collaborating with industrial partners.
Scientifically, the fellow is suggested to work in the field of electrochemical reactions for sustainable energy conversion, but to develop its own, curiosity driven research profile. The research should help to understand the underlying mechanisms governing (photo)electrochemical processes, including charge generation, separation, transfer, recombination, surface reactions, stability, and efficiency. A specific emphasis might be placed on applying in situ and in operando spectroscopic techniques at the lab-scale as well as at synchrotron facilities (e.g., XAS, Raman, XPS, UV-Vis, etc.) to identify reaction intermediates and correlate structure with their (photo)electrochemical performance. The research will involve advanced materials as catalysts, such as transition metal (oxy)nitrides, to provide fundamental insights that guide the rational design of efficient and stable (photo)electrochemical systems for pilot-scale studies.
Qualifications
Successful applicants must:
Hold a PhD or similar qualifications within relevant fields of materials chemistry, (photo)electrochemistry, spectro(photo)electrochemistry, spectroscopy of chemical compounds, or electrochemistry solar-to-X.
Have an excellent track record in related fields, supported by patents, first-author publications in reputed journals or similar
Possess proven hands-on experience in designing a measurement setups for beamlines, measurements, or data analysis.
Show potential for attracting external research funding. Experience in applying for external funding and a strong international network are considered comparative advantages.
Have strong communication skills, a willingness to collaborate with other scientists and industry, and a strong interest in a long-term commitment to a growing research group.
Be fluent in English.
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, and engage in interdisciplinary collaborations across faculties and departments, both nationally and internationally.
The Mads Clausen Institute
The Mads Clausen Institute covers research and education spanning from foundations to applications of engineering science. Most of our courses are taught in English, reflecting the fact that 75% of our students and staff are international. SDU NanoSYD, with about 30 coworkers, 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 and perched on the strait of water separating the island of Als from the mainland. Besides being part of vibrant global science and technology networks, the institute also has very close relations with industries in Sønderborg, Southern Denmark, and Northern Germany.
The fellow will be embedded in the CatMatX Research Group led by Mirabbos Khujamberdiev focused on research into functional catalytic materials for sustainable energy conversion at SDU NanoSYD. This includes the synthesis and advanced characterization of transition metal (oxy)nitrides for applications like water splitting, ammonia decomposition, hydrogen production, etc. The research emphasizes understanding structure-property relationships and improving catalytic efficiency and stability. The Assistant Professor’s expertise in materials chemistry and related fields will complement these activities by providing mechanistic insights into charge transfer, reaction intermediates, catalyst dynamics, stability, and efficiency under in situ and in operando conditions. This integration will strengthen CatMatX’s ability to develop high-performance advanced materials guided by fundamental understanding. Simultaneously, this collaborative environment will strengthen interdisciplinary research and significantly enhance the group’s competitiveness in the field of catalytic materials.
Additional information
For further information about being a professor 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 Institute, Prof. Dr. Horst-Günter Rubahn (rubahn@mci.sdu.dk) or Head of CatMatX, Assoc. Prof. Mirabbos Khujamberdiev (mirabbos@mci.sdu.dk).
Application, salary, and employment terms
The position is based at the Mads Clausen Institute, SDU NanoSYD, in Sønderborg and includes regular participation in DIAS and interdisciplinary collaboration. Employment is governed by the collective agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The salary comprises a seniority-based base salary and a centrally agreed supplement. Persons employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial assessment, be exempted from time registration, also known as a “self-organizer”. Additional supplements may be negotiated locally.
As of 1 November 2025, the annual salary for an Assistant Professor is DKK 470,849 (salary level 6), consisting of a base salary of DKK 409,267 and a supplement of DKK 61,581. All amounts are stated before tax, before added pension (18.07%), and any additional supplements. Pension contributions are paid by SDU, and both salary components (the annual salary and the supplement) are pensionable. Further details are available in the relevant salary and taxation information.
Further information on salary and taxation.
The tenure track programme of the Faculty of Engineering is aimed at the most talented scholars who have established a high level in their current research and other professional work, and those who possess exceptional potential to achieve the highest international level within their research area. Candidates enter at the assistant professor level (for up to 6 years) and, upon successful completion, will be promoted to a permanent position as associate professor, subject to a positive assessment by an expert committee. Indicators of relevant scholarly merits include documented independent scholarly output, ground-breaking publications, achievement of excellence grants, and an international research network.
Teaching obligations will be reduced as compared to a standard assistant professorship at SDU, allowing for more time for research and leadership activities.
To qualify for the position, 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 elaborate 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.
Master’s and PhD degree certificates or equivalent (original and an official English translation).
Complete list of publications, indicating which publications are most relevant for the position.
Up to five 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.
Teaching Portfolio as documentation for teaching and learning experience as well as supervision qualifications. Any format is acceptable, but you can find inspiration for structuring your teaching portfolio on the Faculty's teaching portfolio page.
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 the 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
All documents must be in English and PDF format. CPR number (civil registration number) must be crossed out. All PDF-files must be unlocked, allow binding, and may not be protected by password.
Motivated application must be uploaded under ‘Cover letter’ (max. 5 MB), Curriculum Vitae must be uploaded under ‘Resume’ (max 5 MB). All other documents must be uploaded under ‘Miscellaneous documents’ (max 10 files with a maximum 50 MB per file).
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.
Interviews and tests may be part of the overall evaluation, and references may be obtained.
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 our email support.
The application deadline is September 1, 2026, at 11.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST)
