Assistant Professor in Operations and Supply Chain Digitalisation

Syddansk Universitet; Sønderborg; On-site; DKK 503,000 - 567,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

37 hours per week

30 days paid holiday

Salary includes pension (18.07%)

Travel and moving expenses partially/​

Job summary

Syddansk Universitet invites applications for an Assistant Professor in Operations and Supply Chain Digitalisation, starting February 2027. You will develop quantitative methods including discrete-event and agent-based simulation, automation, data science, and machine learning, collaborating with industry to attract external funding.

The role emphasizes education excellence, supervision of students, and leadership of an international, interdisciplinary team within the Center for Supply Chain

Qualifications

• PhD in an engineering-related field (industrial engineering / supply chain / operations management / operations research)
• Strong research record with potential for international impact
• Ability to attract external research funding and publish in engineering journals

Responsibilities

• Conduct experimental and applied research in production systems and supply chains.
• Collaborate with industry partners and build quantitative models and methods.
• Provide outstanding education, supervise bachelor’s and master’s students, and develop junior researchers.

Skills

Discrete-event simulation

Agent-based simulation

Process automation

Data science

Machine learning

Industry collaboration

Education

PhD in engineering/industrial engineering/supply chain/operations research

Job description

Assistant Professor in Operations and Supply Chain Digitalisation

The targeted start date is February 2027.

The successful candidate will be responsible for collaboratively building up the area of operations and supply chain digitalisation with a primary focus on quantitative methods such as discrete-event and agent-based simulation, process automation, data science, and machine learning.

Successful candidates will drive internationally recognized and competitive research, work closely with industry, and are expected to attract external research funding. The position has a strong focus on experimental and applied research in production systems and supply chain fields. The candidate will play a key role in providing outstanding education, supervising bachelor's and master’s students, and developing junior research staff.

SDU CSD is a highly international group of faculty members, embedded in a region with a strong network of companies, including some of Denmark's largest global industrial players (i.e. Danfoss, Linak, Siemens) and many manufacturing SMEs. Projectscurrently run by the group cover a range of topics within the field of operations and supply chain digitalization.

The successful candidate must have a background in engineering. PhD degree preferably in industrial engineering, supply chain, operations management, operations research, or the like.

The application deadline isOctober 15, 2026,at 11.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST)

A highly motivated, collaborative person, who can work in an international, interdisciplinary team, with documented research skills in the field of operations and supply chain. The candidate needs to be a team player and, at the same time, be able to work independently. The successful candidate is active in publishing in engineering journals.

The ideal candidate can connect research with practical technology application and has demonstrated skills and competencies in one or more of the following areas:

Discrete-event and/or agent-based simulation

Artificial intelligence, machine/deep learning applied to operations and supply chain (AI-applications in other fields are not relevant for this position)

Agentic AI applied to operations and supply chain

Business and intelligent process automation

Further information is available from Associate Professor Elias Ribeiro da [e-mail] .

We offer

A professional workplace culture that values equality, mutual respect, and is designed to accommodate and encourage work-life balance

A vibrant social environment with structured activities and informal routines that promote cross-disciplinary interaction and cultivate an inclusive, supportive atmosphere.

An engaging, dynamic, and international interdisciplinary environment with extensive collaboration opportunities across national, international, and industrial partners

Opportunities for continued professional development and education for all staff members.

Access to a well-developed research infrastructure

A strong institutional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the workplace

About the workplace

The position is within theSDU Center for Supply Chain Digitalisation (CSD) at the Faculty of Engineering on the international campus Sønderborg. The center conducts research at the intersection of supply chain management, data science, and digital technologies. Our work applies quantitative, data-driven methods to analyse, design, and optimise complex supply chains.

In close collaboration with industry partners, the center focuses on the full data journey across the supply chain, developing tools and methods based on advanced analytics, simulation, and artificial intelligence to enable stronger coordination, end-to-end transparency, and more sustainable and efficient supply chain operations.

SDU CSD is situated in a region with a robust network of companies, including some of Denmark’s largest global industrial players as well as numerous SMEs. The group’s current projects mainly focus on building quantitative models and methods to support better decisions or on turning data-driven optimisation, simulation, and digital tools into practical use in operations.

SDU CSD is a highly international and interdisciplinary group of faculty members, with international students. The campus is in Sønderborg, an attractive coastal town with an open Scandinavian culture, and affordable housing and living costs.

Special benefits when working in Denmark

The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week

30 days of paid holiday per year

The yearly salary for a full-time assistant professor is between DKK 502.905 and DKK 566.647 depending on the years of working experience. Postdoc experience may place you on a higher salary step. The salary includes a base salary, a position-related supplement and pension (18.07 %). Additional supplement(s) for special qualifications can be negotiated. Authorisation supplement(s) will be granted, if relevant for the position. Your local eligible trade union representative at SDU negotiates your salary on your behalf.

Subsidized preschool childcare and a free education system from primary school up to university level

Universal health insurance as a resident of Denmark, including family members officially residing in Denmark

In relation to childbirth, employees are entitled to a combined total of 52 weeks of parental leave, shared between parents, with full or partial salary depending on circumstances.

Researchers recruited from abroad are offered a special researcher tax scheme with a lower tax rate.

Travel and moving expenses may be partially covered.

Living in Denmark

TheInternational Staff Office (ISO) at SDU provides a variety of services for new employees, guests and people who consider applying for a job at the University of Southern Denmark. Among other things, the staff answers questions concerning salary, taxation, housing and accompanying family.

We recommend that international applicants also take the time to visitWork in Denmark .

The University of Southern Denmark wishes to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position.

Application and assessment

Applications will be assessed by an expert committee. When the expert committee issues its assessment, applicants will receive the portion of the assessment pertaining to them personally.

The committee assesses candidates only based on the application materials. Please include the following documents in English:

Full list of publications

Copies of the three publications on which the applicant wishes to be evaluated. Please attach one pdf-file for each publication

Diplomas/Certificates (Master and PhD degree)

Documentation of other qualifications relevant to the position

All documents must be in English and PDF format. CPR number (civil registration number) must be crossed out. All PDF-files must be unlocked, allow binding and may not be password protected.

SUBMISSION GUIDE: Motivated application must be uploaded under ‘Cover letter’ (max. 5 MB), Curriculum Vitae must be uploaded under ‘Resume’ (max 5 MB). All other documents must be uploaded under ‘Miscellaneous documents’ (max 10 files with a maximum 50 MB per file).

The application deadline isOctober 15, 2026,at 11.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST)

Appointment as an assistant professor is temporary and for an initial 3-year period. The preferred start date is from February 2027.

Employment as an assistant professor requiresacademic qualifications at a minimum of PhD level at the time of employment. Employment will be in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the state including the associated circular on the protocol for the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for assistant professor as described therein.

Salary is determined in accordance with the applicable collective agreement and based on objective and gender-neutral criteria, including the content of the position, responsibilities, and qualification requirements. As an applicant, you are entitled to information about the starting salary and salary range for the position. This information will be provided during the recruitment process. SDU does not collect information on applicants’ previous salary.Further information on salary and taxation.

Persons employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial assessment, be exempted from time registration, also known as a “self-organizer”.

SDU conducts research in critical technologies, which, due to the risk of unwanted knowledge transfer, is subject to a number of security measures. Therefore, based on information from open sources, background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position(s).