DIAS Professor in Clinical Translational Psychiatry and Centre Leader for the Elite Centre for Cl...

The Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS), the Department of Clinical Research at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), and the Region of Southern Denmark seek an outstanding candidate to fill a fully tenured Professor position in the field of clinical translational psychiatry. The candidate is expected to start by agreement.

The Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS) , the Department of Clinical Research at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), and the Region of Southern Denmark seek an outstanding candidate to fill a fully tenured Professor position in the field of clinical translational psychiatry.

The candidate is expected to start by agreement.

We seek an exceptional researcher with demonstrated excellence in their discipline and a proven ability to push boundaries, challenge conventions, and engage in groundbreaking interdisciplinary research. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to cutting-edge advancements in their field while fostering collaboration across disciplines, embracing DIAS’s mission of curiosity-driven research. The ideal candidate will have a strong international research profile, an outstanding record of attracting competitive research funding, and a demonstrated ability to conduct interdisciplinary research. The successful candidate will be attached to the Department of Clinical Research, DIAS, and the Region, and must be prepared to engage in multiple and diverse research environments at SDU and in the Region of Southern Denmark.

What we offer

• The opportunity to lead a new elite centre for clinical and translational psychiatry, with five-year funding of DKK 17 million (equivalent to Euro 2.3 million), with the potential for a five-year extension.

• A strong interdisciplinary research environment through DIAS, comprising leading academics across medicine, science, and the humanities, with the opportunity to collaborate with outstanding researchers across SDU’s five faculties.

• Access to state-of-the-art research facilities at the newly built Odense University Hospital (OUH), where psychiatry and somatic care are integrated to foster collaboration between these fields.

• Comprehensive research support services from DIAS and SDU, targeting prestigious funding such as DNRF, ERC, and grants from Danish private foundations.

• If recruited from abroad or from industry, the candidate will be eligible for a fast-track DKK 11 million (equivalent to Euro 1.5 million ) Lundbeck Foundation Start-Up grant.

• Reduced teaching obligations compared to a standard professorship, allowing the candidate to focus on research and leadership within the elite centre.

Who we are looking for
We are seeking a highly accomplished researcher with expertise in the field of clinical translational psychiatry, who is eager to engage in collaborative activities within the DIAS framework .

The ideal candidate should demonstrate:

• A commitment to engaging in boundary-crossing interdisciplinary research and dialogue.

• A record of internationally competitive research activities at the highest level of ambition.

• Publications in high-level peer-reviewed academic journals and leading innovative research programmes in clinical psychiatry.

• An ability to attract significant external funding to support independent and collaborative research initiatives.

• Engagement in the international academic society.

• Extensive experience in building and leading multidisciplinary research teams that integrate basic and clinical sciences, with an emphasis on translational research spanning from laboratory findings to clinical trials.

• A research focus in areas such as child and adolescent psychiatry, clinical psychopharmacology, epidemiology, molecular neurobiology, substance use disorders, or serious mental illness.

• The ability to develop a translational research programme in one or more of the mentioned fields, with a focus on building cooperative, multidisciplinary teams that bridge basic science and the design and execution of early-phase clinical trials.

• A demonstrated commitment to mentorship, teaching, and leadership, fostering the next generation of researchers in interdisciplinary research environments.

• Experience at Full or Associate Professor level within relevant fields.

• Fluency 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, mentor DIAS fellows, and engage in interdisciplinary collaborations across faculties and departments, both nationally and internationally.

The Department of Clinical Research

The Department of Clinical Research does translational research spanning from basic research to patient care, within both somatics and psychiatry. The interdisciplinary research aims to improve patient treatment, health, and well-being. Researchers at the institute often have joint appointments between clinic, research, and education, ensuring a strong academic foundation for the research at Odense University Hospital (OUH) and in psychiatry. The researchers at the Department of Clinical Research primarily consist of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals with main employment at OUH.

The Centre for Clinical and Translational Psychiatry
The centre will be based at the new Odense University Hospital, which integrates psychiatric and somatic care to promote close collaboration between the fields. The hospital includes a state-of-the-art adult psychiatric department with around 600 employees, 142 single rooms, and specialized sections for joint somatic-psychiatric care, rehabilitation, telepsychiatry, and more. The child and adolescent psychiatric department cover the entire region with about 600 employees, two inpatient wards with a total of 34 beds, and outpatient clinics at four geographical sites.

The centre’s aim is to advance novel psychiatric research through innovative approaches that will significantly impact future patient care. This includes translating discoveries from the laboratory to clinical settings, whether within narrow clinical fields or through broader cross-disciplinary collaborations that involve various clinical functions, professions, and institutions.

Additional information
For further information about being a professor at DIAS, please contact DIAS director Sten Rynning at Se telefonnummer på nature.com or via email at Se e-mailadresse på nature.com

For further information and questions about the position, please contact the Head of the Department of Clinical Research Rikke Leth-Larsen at Se telefonnummer på nature.com or via email at Se e-mailadresse på nature.com or Medical Director Bjarne Dahler-Eriksen, Odense University Hospital, at Se telefonnummer på nature.com or via email at Se e-mailadresse på nature.com . You may also contact the Vice Dean for Research and Innovation at the Faculty of Health Sciences, SDU, Uffe Holmskov at Se telefonnummer på nature.com or via email at Se e-mailadresse på nature.com regarding the position.

Application, salary, and employment terms

This position will be attached to the Department of Clinical Research in Odense. The successful candidate will be expected to regularly engage in DIAS activities and interdisciplinary cooperation in Odense.

The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC).

For more details on salary and taxation, please refer to the provided links about salary and taxation.

Teaching obligations will be reduced compared to a standard professorship at SDU, allowing more time for research and leadership activities.

Application requirements

Applications must be submitted electronically via the "Apply now" link provided below.

If you experience technical problems, please contact Se e-mailadresse på nature.com.

The application must include the following:

• A motivation letter.

• A detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV), including contacts for possible references.

• Copies of relevant certificates/diplomas.

• A teaching portfolio detailing previous teaching experience.

• A complete list of publications, highlighting those most relevant to the position.

• Up to ten of the most relevant publications

• A research and publication plan for the next five years, including a description of synergy with the department's activities and the potential to benefit from DIAS’s interdisciplinary environment.

All application materials must be submitted in English, and only applications written in English will be considered.

Submission guidelines

• Files must be submitted in PDF format, with each file no larger than 10 MB.

• If multiple files are needed for a single section, combine them into one PDF file.

• Zip files, image files (jpg, png, etc.), and password-protected PDF files will not be accepted. All PDF files must be unlocked to allow binding.

• The application deadline is February 7, 2027, at 23:59 CET. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

Applications that are incomplete with regards to the above-mentioned requirements will not be assessed by the committee. Shortlisting and tests may be used in the recruitment process and references may be obtained.

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 will find information and facts about moving to, working, and living in Denmark.

Assessment

Shortlisting may be used as part of the recruitment process. Read about shortlisting at SDU.

Assessment of shortlisted applications will be done under the existing Appointment Order for universities. Shortlisted 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 applicants will receive the part of the evaluation that concerns themselves.

About SDU

SDU is committed to fostering a diverse staff that reflects society’s diversity. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of personal background.

SDU was founded in 1966 and now has over 27,000 students, nearly 20% of whom are international. SDU employs more than 3,800 staff and offers 115 study programmes across disciplines such as the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences, and engineering. While SDU’s main campus is in Odense, it also has campuses in other locations.

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 several security measures. Therefore, based on information from open sources, background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position.

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