Assistant Professor in Digitalization and eXtended Reality

The Department of Technology and Innovation at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) invites applications for a position as Assistant Professor to strengthen the section within Digitalization and Innovation.

The targeted starting date of the position is December 2023 or early 2024.

The position is located within the Section SDU Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation (TEI) at the Faculty of Engineering on the international campus Sønderborg. The section unites engineering, innovation and business scholars in joint research and teaching. The focus is industrial engineering and how to generate innovative products and the digitalized production of the future. The research is on innovative solutions across the entire product lifecycle, but with a focus at sustainable, digitalized and automated production.

SDU TEI is embedded in a region with a strong network of companies, including some of Denmark's largest global industrial players (i.e. Danfoss, Linak, Siemens, Vestas) and many manufacturing SMEs. Projects currently run by the group cover a range of cutting-edge topics within Smart Factory – Industry 4.0, digitalization and automation, however seen from perspectives of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. The group publishes in leading international journals on these topics, such as Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Journal of Assembly Automation, Journal of Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Journal of Manufacturing Systems. Small Business Economics, Research Policy etc.

The SDU TEI section is a highly international and interdisciplinary group of faculty members, with international students. The campus is in Sønderborg, an attractive maritime town with an open Scandinavian culture and affordable housing and living costs. For more information on SDU TEI, please visit www.SDU.dk/tei.

The successful candidate must have a background in engineering accompanied by a business understanding. The candidates main interests should preferably be in manufacturing, industrial, mechanical, electrical or computer science.

Job description

The candidates will be responsible for growing the area of digitalized production with a focus on eXtended Reality (VR/AR,XR) for product development, training, gaming and other XR application developments. The section is strong in virtual modelling and simulation, and the new candidates will be connected to this research with a focus on developing the XR research and teaching. A developed XR laboratory is available and this position will be responsible to use and develop this laboratory for teaching and industry collaboration.

Successful candidates will drive internationally competitive research, work closely with industry and attract competitive external research funding. The candidates will play a key role in providing outstanding education, supervise students and develop junior research staff.

We offer

We offer a vigorous international research environment with excellent facilities and strong collaborations with research organisations and industry. We also offer the opportunity to shape our educational programmes to benefit from new developments in approach and content.

We expect

A highly motivated, outgoing person, who is able to work in an international, interdisciplinary team. A candidate that is able to generate innovative ideas and solutions for the digitalized production of the future. The candidate must have a strong theoretical background in combination with practical skills in laboratory environment for experiments and testing. The candidate must be a team player and at the same time able to work independently. The successful candidate is active in publishing in engineering journals. Candidates with industrial experience will be preferred.

The candidate must have a relevant PhD.

The ideal candidate has knowledge, skills and competences in some of the following areas:

• Virtual/Augmented Reality/eXtended Reality (XR), being familiar with the tools such as, Unity engine or Unreal engine, as well as GitHub or similar.
• XR solution for real-time monitoring of process parameters through virtual instruments and cameras video feeds assisted by AI models
• Computer vision and Machine Learning
• Software design and development (python/C++)
• Industry 4.0 enabling technologies
• Internet of Things – IOT
• Digital twins from design to operation
  
  

Commensurate with the seniority of the position applied for, the candidates must have:

• An excellent standing in research
• Significant successes in attracting research funding
• A solid track record in education
• Extensive experience with industrial collaboration

Further information is available from the Head of the Section Associate Professor Arne Bilberg [email protected].

Conditions of employment

Employment as an assistant professor requires scientific qualifications at PhD level and is a 3-year temporary position.

The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Please check links for more information on salary and taxation.

The assessment process

Read about the Assessment and selection process. Shortlisting may be used.

Application procedure

The faculty expects applicants to read How to apply before applying.

The application must be in English and must include:

• Curriculum vitae
• Research vision and strategy
• Diplomas/Certificates (Master and PhD degree)
• Teaching portfolio
• Account of experience in working with industry
• List of publications indicating the publications attached
• Documentation of other qualifications with relevance to the position

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Application deadline: 15. September 2023

Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark.

Further information about The Faculty of Engineering.