The Department of Technology and Innovation (ITI), Faculty of Engineering at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), invites candidates to apply for one position of Full Professor in the area of Digital Design or Construction Automation. The anticipated start date is March 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. 

The strategic goal of this position is to strengthen SDUs position within civil and architectural engineering with focus on digitally driven sustainable construction. This aligns with SDU’s mission to advance sustainable principles, reduce environmental impact, foster innovation in digital design and construction, and create a forward-thinking academic environment contributing meaningfully to society.

  Job Description

The selected candidate will be responsible for:

• Providing intellectual and academic leadership in Digital Design and/or Construction Automation and leading 

new research directions with the potential to transform practice.

• Leading an internationally recognised programme of research, producing sustained high-quality

outputs in the leading journals of your discipline.

• Securing research and innovation funding from Denmark, EU and international sources, including industry, with a strong track record of knowledge exchange and impact.

• Obtaining research funding to sustain the growth and position SDU has as an international leader in the field of Digital Design and Construction Automation.

• Leading strategic development and initiatives at the university and national levels, focusing on advancing sustainable developments in the built environment.

• Developing and managing a research team that performs at an international level.

• Supervising and mentoring PhD candidates, Postdoctoral researchers, Research Fellows, and early-career academics.

• Disseminating research findings through high-impact publications, public engagement, industry implementation, and contributions to broader societal and academic communities.

• Building and managing strategic collaborations with industrial and academic partners at both national and international levels.

• Establishing collaborations across disciplines within SDU to foster interdisciplinary innovation.

• Developing innovative curricula and fostering pedagogical excellence with a focus on inclusivity and internationalisation.

• Contributing strategically to the work of the University, including leadership roles in committees, management groups and interdisciplinary initiatives

  Qualifications

The position requires a university-level education (PhD) in Architectural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Building Engineering, Architecture, or a related field. Candidates must demonstrate academic excellence in their field, evidenced by a strong track record of research achievements and peer-reviewed publications. Evidence of high-quality teaching should be presented through a statement of teaching philosophy and a proven record of course development in the relevant disciplinary area, as well as delivery at various educational levels. Commensurate with the seniority level of the position, it is expected:

• Demonstrated academic excellence through a substantial and sustained record of high-quality peer-reviewed publications

• Proven ability to secure research funding and effectively manage interdisciplinary projects

• Leadership in developing and managing teams, research topics, and innovative educational programmes

• A track record of supervising PhD candidates, Postdoctoral researchers, and Research Fellows, as well as mentoring academic staff

• Considerable contributions to curriculum development and pedagogical innovation across various education levels

• Documented experience with built experimental projects in academic contexts, particularly those addressing sustainability challenges in construction will be desirable.

• A track record proving expertise in areas such as computational design, digital fabrication, architectural robotics, or large-scale additive manufacturing will be desirable.

• Successful interdisciplinary collaborations with related fields, such as materials science, environmental engineering, computational sciences, or artificial intelligence.

• Demonstrated expertise in emerging technologies applied to the built environment, including the integration of sustainable materials, biomaterials, circular design practices or other related developments.

• Proven experience with data-driven methods will be regarded as advantageous.

• Experience in developing and managing laboratory infrastructure for research and education.

  Assessment Process

A panel will assess the qualifications of candidates for the described position based on submitted documents, which will include:

• A motivated application outlining the candidate’s vision for the role, including (i) plans for research, (ii) teaching and (iii) impact.

• Curriculum Vitae, including relevant diplomas and certificates (master’s and PhD degrees, Danish and/or English)

• Complete list of publications

• Teaching portfolio addressing the candidate’s pedagogical approach and experience in education

• Descriptions of previously managed projects, including funding sources, duration, and size

• Documentation of leadership experience and the ability to attract external funding

• Dissemination qualifications (optional, may be included in the CV)

• Other documentation relevant to the position

Shortlisting may be applied, and only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment. Read about shortlisting at SDU.  Interviews and tests may be part of the overall evaluation. Read about the Assessment and selection process.

  Contact Information

For further information about this position and the Department of Technology and Innovation (ITI), you are welcome to contact Professor Jeroen Bergmann, Head of the Department, at jberg@iti.sdu.dk or by phone at +45 65 50 72 61.

  Conditions of Employment

Appointment as a Full Professor is permanent.

The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the state, with the associated circular on the protocol for the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for full professor as described therein. Further information on salary and taxation is available. The person employed in the position will be exempted from time registration, also known as a “self-organizer”.

Employment as a professor requires academic qualifications at PhD level as well as scientific qualifications with a high level of international academic production, experience with teaching on multiple academic levels, and contributions to the development of teaching and teaching materials, as well as documented ability to administer scientific and educational management tasks.

  Application Procedure

Applicants are advised to read the SDU information on how to apply and refer to the specific faculty information for application details at the Faculty of Engineering.

The application deadline is January 31, 2026, at 11.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST) 

SUBMISSION GUIDE: Motivated application shall be uploaded under ‘Cover letter’ (max. 5 MB), Curriculum Vitae shall be uploaded under ‘Resume’ (max 5 MB). All other documents shall be uploaded under ‘Miscellaneous documents’ (max 10 files of max 50 MB per file). All documents must be in English and PDF format. CPR number (civil registration no.) must be crossed out. All PDF-files must be unlocked and allow binding and may not be password protected.

If you experience technical problems, please contact hcm-support@sdu.dk. 

  About Us

The University of Southern Denmark was established to create value for and with society. Whether our contributions come in the form of excellent research, innovative solutions, education, or learning, we must make a positive difference in society and contribute to a sustainable future. We do this by cultivating talents and creating the best environments for research and learning. It is, therefore, crucial that SDU retains, develops, and recruits talent. At the same time, we need to ensure consistently high quality in all our activities – and we can only do that with the right people. The University’s researchers, lecturers, students, managers, and technical/administrative staff are the foundation of our success.

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.

Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark. You may also visit WorkinDenmark for additional information.

Further information about The Faculty of Engineering.