Post.Doc. positions in Industrial Ecology

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The Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University Roskilde, is looking for dedicated candidates for three 2-year Post.doc. positions within the research unit on EcoIndustrial System Analysis starting at the 1st of March 2022, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The roles will be dedicated to;
1) further development of the hybrid-LCA, and EE-IO modelling activities within the EcoIndustrial System Analysis research Unit potentially contributing to setting up an IE lab,
2) further development of modelling concepts and tools to quantify engineered ecosystem services that may be obtained from local regenerative circular bioeconomies.
3) applying tools such as process-based LCA in the development of integrated systems sustainability assessment tools combining LCIA with the Planetary Boundaries and the Sustainable Development goals.

The positions will be part of the EcoIndustrial System Analysis (EISA) research group dedicated to the development of research-based business and policy-decision support.


Job description

• You will be contributing to
• Work with databases with fine-scale production, supply chain and trade data
• Co-supervise and teach
• perform process-based, hybrid-LCA and EE-MRIO modelling of the global economic with a special focus on either seaweed, food or forest based sectors
• Assess the effectiveness of existing policies and transformation pathways into circular regenerative bioeconomies contributing to climate change mitigation and environmental restoration services
• Actively contribute to ongoing research projects in industrial ecology
• Take part in ad hoc project applications and networking activities
• Coordinate and participate in conference sessions  of relevance to EISA to enhance and develop further the national and international research network and collaborative partnerships of the group
• Contribute to the development of teaching material taught at Bachelor and Master education at  AU and other universities

Your profile
You have a PhD degree in quantitative fields of Industrial Ecology, Environmental/Sustainability Science, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, Chemical and/or biological engineering or related fields.

• Solid experience in sustainability science and modelling frameworks based on the principles of general systems theory
• Solid knowledge in complex systems analysis, environmental technologies and nature-based solutions
• Solid experience with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and/or hybrid-LCA and/or economic and environmental input-output analysis (material flow analysis is a bonus) using SimaPro, OpenLCA or Gabi
• Strong quantitative background in system dynamics, optimization and environmental modelling using big data and at least one of the following programming languages, python, MATLAB, and R is advantage
• Strong publishing and excellent written and oral communication skills in English
• Highly motivated and independent researcher, enthusiastic about working in an interdisciplinary academic environment

Who we are
The Department of Environmental Science conducts problem-oriented research, spanning environmental ecology, chemistry, and physics, and interactions between the environment and society in economic, political, and social terms. The department also performs research-based public administration and provides research-based advice. With around 150 employees, plus students and guest researchers, our academic expertise ranges from environmental chemistry, microbiology, and biotechnology; to atmospheric chemistry and physics; to environmental economics, geography, politics, and sociology. The Department of Environmental Science works interdisciplinary with society’s challenges, including seven strategic growth areas.

The EcoIndustrial System Analysis (EISA) research group from the core group of the research area Environmental Credibility, Economic Feasibility and Social Acceptance   within the AU center for Circular Bioeconomy (CBIO) take a systemic approach to identify regulatory, social and economic barriers and enablers of a transition towards an environmentally sustainable circular bioeconomy. The EISA research unit develops integrated sustainability assessments models (e.g. quantitative environmental and economic cost benefit analysis, hybrid-LCA and stakeholder network analysis) of bioeconomic value chains. Special focus is on process-based LCA of biomass conversion pathways leading to ecosystem service preservation and enhancement via the implementation of green/clean technologies and business models adapted to the principles of a circular regenerative economy. The EISA research group disseminates their research in high impact Journals and conferences and partnerships such as the Sectoral Working Group Ecosystem Services in a bio- and Circular Economy within the Global Ecosystem Service Partnership (es-partnership.org).

What we offer
The Department of Environmental Science offers:

• a well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories and access to shared equipment
• an exciting interdisciplinary environment with many national, international and industrial collaborators
• a research climate encouraging lively, open and critical discussion within and across different fields of research
• a work environment with close working relationships, networking and social activities
• a workplace characterised by professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance.

Place of work and area of employment
The place of work is Frederiksborgvej 399 P.O. Box 358. DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.

Contact information
For further information, please contact: Professor Marianne Thomsen, +45 22292627, [email protected]
 Application procedure Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants. Letter of reference If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration. Formalities and salary range Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Read more here. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.