Tenure Track Assistant Professor or Associate Professor and Curator of Mammals

Tenure Track Assistant Professor / Associate Professor, and Curator of Mammals at Natural History Museum Denmark
The Natural History Museum Denmark wishes to appoint a Tenure Track Assistant Professor or Associate Professor and Curator of Mammals (mammalia) with a great vision for natural history museums in a changing world. Duties are divided equally between collection-based research and other museum duties including curation of the mammal collections, research-based teaching and supervision of students, public engagement work, and to act as the museum's liaison with relevant Danish natural history communities. The successful applicant will be expected to establish and develop an externally funded collection-based research programme/group and publish in influential journals. We particularly encourage applications from applicants with a collection-based research specialization on mammalogy. The successful applicant will be expected to curate the museum’s historically important mammal collections (56.000 specimens) requiring a thorough understanding and practical knowledge of mammal classification. We value collaboration across disciplines and professions. All applicants are expected to demonstrate interdisciplinary thinking and a commitment to working together to create solutions to global challenges. This also goes for collection work. Curators develop the collections that they are responsible for through research, field work, loan activities, digitization, acting as scientific host for visiting researchers, and increasing accessibility for everyone. This curatorial position in Mammalogy at the Natural History Museum Denmark will be filled at either the Tenure Track Assistant Professor or Associate Professor level. All curators at the Natural History Museum Denmark are expected to take a leading role in society as advocates for science and nature, creating impact at all levels while actively promoting the museum’s Vision and Values (). Further details of qualifications required for appointment at the museum are detailed below.

The position is available starting March 1, 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Qualifications
Tenure-track assistant professor
Applicants at the tenure track assistant professor level are expected to have an academic record demonstrating the potential to deliver high profile internationally competitive research in the area of specialization. They should be a scientific specialist in one of the collection areas of the museum and have experience with collection-based research. Previous experience curating natural history collections and university teaching experience would be advantageous but is not a requirement at the time of hiring for tenure-track assistant professors. Documented interest in and experience with public engagement and community-based activities is expected. Relevant experience from a natural history museum or similar institution is an advantage.

Associate professor
Applicants at the associate professor level are expected to have a strong publication record in high-level, international, peer-reviewed venues in the area of specialization and a track record of successful external research funding. They should be a scientific specialist in one of the collection areas of the museum and have significant experience with collection-based research. Relevant experience from a natural history museum or similar is expected. Curatorial expertise and considerable previous experience and impact with curating and developing natural history collections is required at associate professor level. Broad experience and a compelling vision for public engagement and community-based activities is essential. Candidates are also required to have documented university-level competencies in delivering high-quality undergraduate/graduate teaching and must be able to explain and reflect upon their own teaching practice and portfolio. Formal pedagogical training or supervision equivalent to the University of Copenhagen teacher training programme for assistant professors is required.

Assessment of applicants
Assessment of applicants will primarily consider their level of documented, internationally competitive research as well as their curatorial experience and potential to curate one or more of the museum’s collections. Teaching and public engagement qualifications and experience will be considered according to career level. The overall fit for the Natural History Museum will also be considered.
Ideal applicants will have the following qualifications:

• An outstanding reputation for high-quality research within Mammalogy
• A record of scientific use of museum collections and/or data
• A proven track record of interdisciplinary research
• Scientific expertise that ensures ability to curate Mammalia collections held by the museum
• Curatorial experience improving and developing natural history collections
• Experience from a natural history museum or similar
• Participation in national and international museum collaborations through organizations and programs.
• A vision for how digital, genomic, and other new technologies will drive advances in natural history science
• Ability to work at a strategic level
• A track record of public engagement and creating impact beyond academia
• Experience working on museum exhibitions, interpretation, and/or public engagement
• Experience in fundraising and ability to attract research funding from external sources for research, digitization and collection development.
• Supportive and collaborative people skills and commitment to an inclusive workplace that celebrates diversity and respect for everyone with equality and opportunity for all
• A passion for the vision and values of the Natural History Museum Denmark
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Confidence in ability to provide advocacy for the museum with multiple stakeholders

University of Copenhagen’s criteria for recognising merit
General criteria apply to the appointment of assistant professor/associate professor at the University of Copenhagen. The criteria (research, teaching, innovation & societal impact, organizational contribution and leadership) are considered as a framework for an overall assessment of the applicant. In addition, each applicant will be assessed according to the specific requirements listed in this advertisement.
For tenure-track assistant professors
For associate professors

Applicants are encouraged to read the University of Copenhagen's Guidance on the merit criterion Innovation and Societal Impact here

Information on the tenure-track programme
The tenure-track programme is a career programme and an assigned mentor will provide the tenure-track assistant professors with guidance related to career development, other academic topics and administrative procedures. Performance of the tenure-track assistant professor will be followed via internal yearly evaluations and a mid-term and final international evaluation by an assessment committee. If the ‘final appraisal’ is positive you will be promoted as associate professor. Performance and progression towards the criteria below will be evaluated with due consideration of differences between research fields. After a 6-year tenure-track period, tenure-track assistant professors are expected to meet the criteria for appointment of associate professors at the University of Copenhagen.

About the Natural History Museum Denmark
The Natural History Museum Denmark is the Danish national museum for nature. We work to empower citizens to connect with nature with the aim to create positive change for people and planet. We want to inspire, engage, and enable people to enjoy, understand, and care for the diversity of the natural world. The impact of climate change and anthropogenic forces on biodiversity has reached a critical point. We firmly believe that natural history museums can and should play a key role towards a more sustainable relationship with nature. We are opening a new Danish national museum for nature in spring 2027. One big museum site, in the Botanical Garden, in the centre of Copenhagen, will host state-of-the-art laboratories, outstanding research collections, new public galleries, and combined facilities for programming, education, and citizen science. It is an ambition for the museum to enhance natural history and inspire curiosity, knowledge, and empowerment for the future. The Botanical Garden was founded in 1600, and the museum’s collections date back to Ole Worm’s Cabinet of Curiosities from around 1620. With 14 million preserved specimens and living plants of 8,000 different species in the Botanical Garden, it is the largest museum collection in Denmark. It covers our planetary history with botanical, zoological, and geological specimens from all over the world. Read more about the Mammalia collection here .

The Natural History Museum Denmark is part of the University of Copenhagen, which was founded in 1479 and is the largest university in Denmark. Read more about the museum here .
Inquiries about the position can be made to Museum Director Nina Rønsted (e-mail: Se e-mailadresse på nature.com). 

Affirmative action
The Natural History Museum Denmark is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, or disabled status. We are actively promoting a strategy to improve the gender balance among scientific staff. Copenhagen is a highly diverse and international Scandinavian capital with a green profile. Education is free and childcare is subsidized. Public transport is well developed, and most Copenhageners take their bike to work. There are lots of green areas in and around Copenhagen, the water in the harbor is clean enough for swimming, and the city has multiple museums and other cultural venues.

Terms of employment
Employment is as tenure-track assistant professor/associate professor according to the collective agreement or job structure under the applicable collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. There will be an opportunity to negotiate supplements based on qualifications. You can read more about salary levels in the state sector (in Danish).

The successful applicant is expected to take Danish lessons if there is no prior knowledge of Danish language. The International Office at the University of Copenhagen can help.
This position comes with an opportunity to negotiate a start package for up to 2,500,000 DKK that will help leverage the candidate’s scientific deliverables in the initial years of employment. The negotiation for the start package takes place as part of the recruitment process. Please read about the contents of the programme and conditions, as well as UCPHs extensive support for international researchers  here

How to apply
The application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW.

Applying for the tenure-track assistant professorship please include 

• A cover letter stating the motivation for applying (1 page)
• Research profile: description of previous, current and future research plans (3 pages)
• Curatorial area, experience, vision, and interests (1 page)
• Curriculum vitae documenting:
• Previous positions at museums, universities, or other research or cultural institutions
• Fundraising experience
• International network and relations
• Curatorial experience (curation of collections)
• Public engagement activities, i.e. citizen science projects, exhibitions, popular lectures or other relevant activities

• 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
• Diplomas (MSc and PhD degree or equivalent)
• Complete publication list
• Separate reprints of up to 5 particularly relevant papers

Applying for the associate professorship please include

• A cover letter stating the motivation for applying (1 page)
• Research profile: description of previous, current and future research plans (3 pages)
• Curatorial area, experience, impact, vision, and interests (1 page)
• Curriculum vitae including information about external funding
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)
• Description and documentation of teaching experience and qualifications according to university guidelines
• Complete publication list
• Separate reprints of 5 particularly relevant papers

The deadline for applications is November 2 2026 23:59 GMT +1. 

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorised recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee. We work thoroughly with this process. Several professionals from different fields must be involved. Therefore, we will not be ready for interviews until February 2027.

You can read about the recruitment process here .

Please refer to the following no. in future communication: 211-0260/26-2N, Tenure-track Assistant Professor and Curator of Mammals/211-0765/26-2E Associate Professor and Curator of Mammals.

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