163163 Associate professor or Tenure-track assistant professor in computational drug development

Københavns Universitet; Center (IN); On-site; DKK 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in pharmaceutical education is seeking an associate or tenure-track assistant professor in computational drug development. This role focuses on integrating data science and AI methodologies into drug development processes. The successful candidate will engage in innovative research and develop teaching methods that inspire future pharmaceutical scientists. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, this position offers an exciting opportunity to shape the future of pharmaceutical education and research. Join a collaborative environment that values creativity and strives for excellence in teaching and research.

Qualifications

• Strong background in data science and machine learning in drug development.
• Good interpersonal and communicative skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Conduct innovative research in computational drug development.
• Develop and teach research-based courses in pharmaceutical data science.

Skills

Data Science

Machine Learning

Communication Skills

Collaborative Mindset

Teaching Experience

Education

PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences or related field

Master's Degree

Tools

Statistical Software

Data Analysis Tools

Job description

Associate Professor or Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Computational Drug Development

Center for Pharmaceutical Data Science Education

University of Copenhagen

The new Center for Pharmaceutical Data Science Education at the University of Copenhagen is seeking an associate professor or tenure-track assistant professor within computational drug development from 1 June 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

About the Center

The vision of the Center is to make pharmaceutical data science a catalyst for life science and healthcare strongholds. To achieve this, the Center will develop and deliver research-based education for the future workforce – spanning bachelor, master, PhD, and life-long learning. The Center is based upon grant funding of DKK 123 million from three Danish private foundations: the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Lundbeck Foundation, and the LEO Foundation. The Center is a collaboration between the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) and the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and encompasses seven departments.

The candidate is expected to conduct innovative research and develop research-based teaching in the field of computational drug development, with a particular focus on advancing and applying AI- and data science methodologies in drug development and manufacturing.

Relevant research areas include:

1. Applying data science and simulation techniques to establish a molecular-level understanding of drug development processes.
2. Unfolding the potential of data science for extracting knowledge from complex data to understand the physical chemistry underlying drug development.

In terms of teaching, the candidate will be a pharmaceutical data science anchor point, bringing in new methods and inspiration for other teachers in the pharmaceutical curriculum, covering broadly all aspects of drug development. The candidate will work with existing experimentally oriented senior staff to ensure cohesive integration of pharmaceutical data science elements into existing courses related to drug development and manufacturing, particularly by teaching and developing pharmaceutical data science elements at the bachelor and master levels (compulsory and elective courses) and contributing to teaching at the PhD level and supporting life-long learning initiatives.

The Center will finance a start package of one PhD student (3-years) and one 2-year postdoc.

The position can either be at the level of assistant professor (tenure-track) or associate professor.

For the position as Tenure-Track Assistant Professor, the responsibilities will primarily consist of:

• Research, including publication/academic dissemination.
• Developing and conducting research-based teaching, including associated examination.
• Participating in the development and implementation of digital core curricula (e.g., data analysis and software) in the educational programs of Pharmaceutical Sciences (incl. BSc, MSc, Master, and PhD levels).
• Engaging in outreach activities both within the Center and with other universities and stakeholders.
• Participating in a formal pedagogical training programme for assistant professors.

The tenure-track assistant professor’s performance will be evaluated through annual evaluations and a mid-track appraisal. After no more than six years of employment and on condition of a positive final appraisal, the tenure-track assistant professor will be employed as an associate professor.

For the position as Associate Professor, the responsibilities will primarily consist of:

• Research, including publication/academic dissemination and attraction of external funding.
• Developing, organizing, and conducting research-based teaching, including associated examination.
• Participating in the development and implementation of digital core curricula (e.g., data analysis and software) in the educational programs of Pharmaceutical Sciences (incl. BSc, MSc, Master, and PhD levels) and contributing to the competence upgrade of teachers involved in implementing data science in compulsory and elective courses.
• Leadership, including guidance and supervision of researchers.
• Engagement in outreach activities both within the Center and with other universities and stakeholders.
• Obligation to share knowledge with the rest of society, including participation in the public debate.
• Organizational contributions.
• Academic assessments.

Qualifications of the Applicant

The qualifications of the applicant can be at either the assistant professor or the associate professor level. While traditional pharmaceutical product design relies heavily on experimental approaches, we aim to hire an assistant/associate professor who can integrate data science into product design. Therefore, preferences will be given to a candidate with a strong background in data science, encompassing exploratory data analysis and machine learning, combined with application/experimental expertise in physical chemistry.

Additionally, we value candidates with good communication skills, a collaborative mindset, and strong ambitions to foster creative teaching and working environments that prioritize diversity, equality, and inclusion.

Overall Criteria for the Position:

Six overall criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organizational contribution, external funding, and leadership) are considered a framework for the overall assessment of candidates. The applicant is also required to possess good interpersonal and communicative skills.

Desired Qualifications:

• Documented strong scientific track record within the intersection of data science/machine learning and experimental drug development related research area.
• Experience and keen interest in the development and conduction of research-based teaching.
• Track record in attracting external funding.

Terms of Employment:

The position is a permanent position, anchored at the Department of Pharmacy. The average working hours are 37 hours per week. Salary and other terms and conditions of appointment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant professional organizations.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Foreign applicants may find the following links useful: https://www.ism.ku.dk/ (International Staff Mobility).

The Center is anchored at the Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. This tenure-track assistant professor or associate professor position will be placed at the Department of Pharmacy, UCPH, which is one of the seven departments participating in the center initiative.

Application:

The position may be applied for at tenure-track assistant professor level or associate professor level. Please note that it is possible to apply at both levels. If applied at both, separate applications must be submitted. The application must be submitted in English and must include the following documents:

• Application, including motivation for applying for this position (maximum 2 pages).
• Curriculum vitae, including information about obtained funding.
• Diplomas (Master, PhD, and other relevant certificates).
• A complete list of publications.
• Copies of up to five publications to be considered in the assessment.
• Teaching experience/teaching portfolio, including documentation of formal qualifications and teaching experience presented in the portfolio.

Application Procedure:

After the application deadline has expired, the Chair of the Appointment Committee selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointment Committee. All applicants are immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment. The Dean appoints an expert Assessment Committee to assess the selected applicants for the specific position. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the Assessment Committee, and each applicant can comment on the part of the assessment that relates to their own application. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/. The applicant will be contacted if the Assessment Committee requires further documentation.

The application will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

The University of Copenhagen encourages all interested in this position to apply. Please submit your application with the required documents. Only online applications will be accepted. The application deadline is 18 February 2025, 23:59 p.m. CET.

Interviews for this position are expected to be held in the middle of May 2025.

Afdeling/Sted: Center for Pharmaceutical Data Science Education