At the Technical Faculty of IT and Design, Department of Sustainability and Planning, a position as assistant professor in ‘Land-Use Governance, Planning Law and Property Right’s role in reaching social- & environmental sustainability goals’ is open for appointment from October 1st 2025 or soon hereafter with workplace in Copenhagen. The position is a fixed term (3 years) position.

The department was established in 1975. Today, we are located in two beautiful harbour-front locations in both Aalborg and Copenhagen. We have more than 250 employees and approximately 1,200 students across the two cities. Our research and study programs are rooted in sustainability and the green transition. This means we conduct research in areas such as the circular economy, technology, urban, energy, and environmental planning, as well as sustainable transition and design. Sustainability is central to our work in environmental assessment and marine management. In surveying and land use, sustainability is reflected in our efforts in nature restoration and climate adaptation.
As society continues to develop digitally, we also focus on responsible technology development, addressing real-life challenges. Our problem-oriented approach and close collaboration with businesses and public organizations form the foundation of all our study programs. Additionally, our engineering programs are among the best in Europe.
           
Job description

The position is available for a period of 36 months and is part of a ‘cluster hire’ of one assistant professor, a PhD student, and a postdoc who will work closely with the existing Land Management & Governance research group, creating a strong environment for making real impact in research and in teaching related to the education of Danish Chartered Surveyors. The primary workplace will be on the Copenhagen campus but frequent trips to Aalborg and close collaboration with Aalborg-based colleagues are required.

Research areas for this position will be within the scope of the Land Management and Governance Research Group at the Department of Sustainability and Planning. The responsibilities will include both teaching and research. To sustain research activities there is a need for external financing, and it will therefore be a key expectation for this position to participate diligently in the work to secure grants. The position seeks to strengthen research aiming to address societal challenges with ties to one or more of the following areas: planning law and other legislation impacting land use; regulation and registration of public- and private property rights; spatial data/property data collections and systems. These components are all central to the education of Chartered Surveyors (https://www.en.aau.dk/education/master/surveying-planning-and-land-management-aal) and we strive to ensure that teaching in this program is solidly grounded in research. While we are open to broad interpretations of the position’s focus within the overall topic (‘Land-Use Governance, Planning Law and Property Right’s role in reaching social- & environmental sustainability goals’), we ask applicants to define a research topic that builds on their training and core strengths, addresses a societal issue of high relevance and has ties to developing research-based high-quality teaching. Regulatory spatial planning is of central importance to reaching sustainability targets in Denmark, the EU and globally, and to contribute to the group’s capacity in a meaningful way, it is important that the applicant has core strengths in planning as a regulatory discipline and the applicant must have research and teaching capacity with clear links to legislative and regulatory subjects. The position will center on developing an area of research that has strong potential for external funding and international collaboration. The ideal candidate has interests in using their strong theoretical foundation to develop a deep understanding of the Danish context as it relates to their core topics of expertise, both to develop appropriate teaching and to engage in research using Denmark as a case in collaborative international research.

This position provides opportunities for:

• A high degree of influence on the specifics of the research conducted
• Balanced work of teaching and research
• Teaching using the Problem Based Learning approach providing opportunity for strong links between research and teaching
• Interdisciplinary working environment 
• Participation in national and international conferences Flexible working hours 
  Potential for promotion to associate professor
  
  

You can read more on TECH as a workplace here

You can read more on Department of Sustainability and Planning here

Aalborg University (AAU) provides outstanding research and education. At AAU, we believe that knowledge can and should change the world. This belief drives our high ambitions. We seek knowledge through interaction with the world around us, focusing on real problems and missions that we aim to solve with sustainable solutions. Our research and educational programs are multidisciplinary and built on close collaborations with business and industry. This approach is further strengthened by our world-renowned Problem-Based Learning (PBL) teaching model, which is grounded in solving real-world problems. These collaborations, along with our recognized research, contribute new insights, solutions to societal challenges, and knowledge that is changing the world.
In 2024, AAU has moved from the world Top-10 to the world Top-5 on sustainability! On the internationally acclaimed Times Higher Education Impact ranking list, AAU takes fourth place among close to 1.600 universities worldwide. The ranking list evaluates the contributions of universities in terms of fulfilling the UN's sustainable development goals. In recent years, Aalborg University has risen in the international lists of university rankings. More than 18,000 students are enrolled at Aalborg University, of which over 7% are international students from various countries worldwide. To support them, we have 3500 employees, divided between Aalborg University's main campus in Aalborg and our departments in Copenhagen and Esbjerg.    

How to apply  
Your application must include the following: 

• Application, stating reasons for applying, qualifications in relation to the position, and intentions and visions for the position 
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) 
• Diplomas (master's degree diploma and PhD diploma) 
• List of publications, with an indication of the attached publications that you wish to be taken into account in the assessment. You may attach a maximum of five publications. If you are applying for a position at The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH), you must submit a co-author statement, see template for co-author statement 
• Documentation of teaching qualifications. Depending on which faculty you are applying for employment, please see guidelines for teaching portfolio at The Technical Faculty of IT and Design, The Faculty of Engineering and Science and The Faculty of Medicine or guidelines for teaching portfolio at The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. If this is not enclosed, the applicant must enclose the reasons for this .
• Dissemination qualifications, including participation on committees or boards, participation in organisations etc. 
• Additional qualifications in relation to the position 
• References/recommendations 

You can read more about the requirements for your application here.    

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

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position. 

Do you have any questions? 
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.     

Further information 
Read more about our recruitment process here   

The appointment process at Aalborg University involves a shortlisting process. You can read more about the shortlisting and appointment process here.  

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace. 

Salary and terms of employment  
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish). 

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (only in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (only in Danish). 

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.

Contacts

• Sektionsleder Janni Sørensen: jannis@plan.aau.dk
• HR Support: HR-support@adm.aau.dk

Ref. nummer

2025/138

Ansøgningsfrist

01.07.2025