Postdoctoral Researcher in Early-Stage Virtual Engineering for Aseptic Production

Aalborg University; Aalborg; Hybrid; DKK 360,000 - 480,000; Full time

Job summary

Aalborg University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Early-Stage Virtual Engineering for Aseptic Production. The role spans Aalborg East Campus and Novo Nordisk facilities, focusing on virtual engineering tools to guide early concept development in aseptic production.

The appointee will build models and simulations for emerging concepts, verify plant data, and develop a fast decision machine to inform future production decisions.

Qualifications

• PhD required in a relevant area for production concept development or reconfigurable manufacturing systems.
• Strong ability to translate complex production challenges into modelling and simulation tasks.
• Excellent written and spoken English; able to present results to academic and industrial audiences.

Responsibilities

• Investigate how virtual engineering supports early-stage decision making for new production concepts.
• Develop models and simulations for early-stage production scenarios and verify data at plant-simulation level.
• Contribute to a fast decision machine enabling early decisions for aseptic production in regulated environments.
• Collaborate with academic and industrial partners and communicate findings to stakeholders.

Skills

Independent work

Collaborative research

English communication

Education

PhD in production concept development / reconfigurable manufacturing

Job description

Postdoctoral Researcher in Early-Stage Virtual Engineering for Aseptic Production

Afdeling: Department of Materials and Production

Would you like to develop virtual engineering approaches that can support decision-making in aseptic production before a new production concept takes physical form? The Department of Materials and Production at Aalborg University is seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher for a fixed-term appointment of three months, with an expected start date of 1 December 2026 or as soon as possible hereafter.

Your work tasks

You will join the Research Group on Robotics and Automation at the Department of Materials and Production, where you will contribute to research at the intersection of production engineering, simulation and industrial application. The position focuses on virtual engineering tools and principles for aseptic production, with particular attention to the very early stages of developing new production concepts. You will work partly at Aalborg University’s Aalborg East Campus and partly at relevant Novo Nordisk facilities, connecting research-based methods with the practical conditions of regulated production environments.

Your main task will be to investigate how virtual engineering can support decisions that go beyond optimising an existing production setup. You will build and assess scenarios for new production concepts at an early stage, develop models and simulations for these scenarios, and verify relevant data at plant-simulation level. A central part of the work will be the development and demonstration of a “fast decision machine” that can provide a qualified basis for early decisions concerning future aseptic production. You will plan and carry out your research systematically, collaborate with academic and industrial partners, document results, and communicate technical findings clearly to relevant stakeholders.

Qualification requirements

Appointmentaspostdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level.

You hold a doctoral degree in an area closely related to production concept development, changeable manufacturing systems or reconfigurable manufacturing systems. You have a solid understanding of complex production environments and can translate technical challenges into structured modelling and simulation activities. You communicate confidently in spoken and written English and can present technical results in a clear and relevant manner to both academic and industrial audiences.

You work independently and systematically when addressing complex modelling tasks, while recognising the value of close collaboration across disciplines and organisational settings. You are able to engage constructively with researchers and industrial partners and contribute to a professional working environment through thorough preparation, open dialogue and reliable follow-through. Experience with disseminating scientific topics to industry is relevant for the role, and familiarity with regulated industries, including pharmaceutical production, will help you understand the context in which the research is applied.

Who we are

The Department of Materials and Production conducts research and education within areas that contribute to the development of future production systems and technologies. In the Research Group on Robotics and Automation, you will become part of an environment where research, engineering practice and collaboration with industry meet. You will work with colleagues who investigate how automation, robotics, modelling and digital approaches can create better foundations for production development and industrial decision-making.

The position offers a focused opportunity to contribute to a concrete research challenge in close collaboration with a major industrial partner. The combination of work at Aalborg University and relevant Novo Nordisk facilities will give you insight into both the methodological development of virtual engineering approaches and their potential application in aseptic production.

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.

Aalborg University has a policy of parallel language use. International staff are encouraged, with support from the university, to learn Danish during their employment in order to support their integration into the workplace and Danish society.

Danish language courses will be offered as part of the employment.

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 and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities. Furthermore, your terms of employment and salary are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities.

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.