The University seeks to appoint an associate professor within Equine Sports Medicine to the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences to commence March 1, 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter.
Information on the Department can be found at: http://www.sund.ku.dk/ and www.ikv.ku.dk/english.
About KU - SUND - IKVH - Fr. berg
The Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences covers strong and internationally recognized research areas in clinical veterinary sciences. A relatively large part of KU - SUND - IKVH - Fr. berg's research is fertilized and inspired by clinical challenges, identified in the hospital, in KU - SUND - IKVH - Fr. berg's ambulatory field practice, or from KU - SUND - IKVH - Fr. berg's external collaborators. Based on these, KU - SUND - IKVH - Fr. berg wants to set a new standard for cross-disciplinary research, education, and innovation within animal health and disease.
The Section for Medicine, Surgery, and Reproduction for Large Animals holds research and clinical teaching in a modern 24-hour open university veterinary teaching hospital and ambulatory field practice service for all large animals, with horses as the primary species consulted. KU - SUND - IKVH - Fr. berg also has the cross-departmental University of Copenhagen Centre for Veterinary Simulation, which is open 24/7 for veterinary students to practice clinical skills. KU - SUND - IKVH - Fr. berg's research focuses on diseases of clinical relevance for horses and cattle, thereby having a direct application for veterinarians and animal owners. Translational research bridging basic science to companion animal, as well as human medicine, is also a strength of the section.
KU - SUND - IKVH - Fr. berg has a strong educational and scientific focus on the athletic horse, collaborating with internationally recognized research groups within cardiovascular, airway, and orthopedic research with a high-impact translational research profile. To fully exploit the scientific and clinical potentials, muscular development and disease understanding in sports and rehabilitation medicine, both in horses and companion animals, is a strategic research area in the department. Therefore, collaboration with the companion animal sections of the department is expected in this position. The announced associate professorship is crucial to enhancing and strengthening this area to fully achieve the synergy of the other research areas mentioned above.
Equine medicine is a core discipline in the fourth and fifth years of the veterinary medical education in Denmark. Therefore, the position is highly involved in research-based teaching of veterinary students within equine sports medicine, and the candidate is expected to take a leadership role in conducting clinically relevant research, teaching, and examining undergraduate students, as well as assisting and promoting the development of both pre- and postgraduate teaching and research strategies within the field of equine sports medicine.
The culture of the department is typically Scandinavian: a flat structure with a tradition for close collaboration, where all employees expect openness, mutual respect, and sharing of ideas, resources, and competencies.
Job Description
In considering applications for the associate professorship, the main emphasis will be on the following aspects:
- The applicant’s ability to document a high level of original scientific production at an international level within the area of equine sports medicine, preferably with a strong translational profile.
- The applicant’s practical experience within equine general medicine in both a hospital and research setting.
- The applicant’s experience with the development of clinical research-based teaching of veterinary students.
The associate professor’s responsibilities will primarily consist of:
- Research, including publication and academic dissemination.
- Research-based pre- and postgraduate teaching, including clinical teaching and service, associated examination, and course responsibilities.
- Strengthening, developing, and integrating muscular research into research-based teaching of veterinary students.
- Research leadership, including guidance and supervision of researchers and veterinary students, as well as securing external funding.
- Obligation to share knowledge with the rest of society, including participation in public debate and engagement in topics relevant for horse owners.
- Organizational contribution to the section, department, and university, including, for example, participation in department committees and course leadership.
- Academic assessments.
Required Qualifications
To be qualified for an associate professor position, you will be assessed according to these five overall criteria for recognizing merit at the University of Copenhagen: Research, teaching, innovation and societal impact, organizational contribution, and leadership.
Find information about each criterion.
The successful applicant should:
- Hold a DVM with a license to practice in Denmark or be willing to apply for one within 6 months.
- Hold a PhD degree or similar qualifications.
- A Diplomate degree within ECEIM, ACVIM, or ECVSMR is an advantage.
- Document a high degree of research experience and scientific publications within the field of equine internal medicine and sports medicine at an international level, including considerable contributions to the development of the academic discipline.
- Have experience with research management and other management functions, including the attraction of external funding and group leadership.
- Document pre- and postgraduate clinical teaching experience within the field of the position and documented pedagogical training at university level.
- Perform research-based teaching.
- Perform quality patient care and service management in an equine hospital and ambulatory field practice within equine general medicine.
- Possess good interpersonal and communicative skills.
- If Danish is not the applicant's first language, the applicant is expected to obtain sufficient Danish skills within 1-2 years.
Diversity and International Applicants
The University of Copenhagen is committed to fostering diversity and encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background.
Useful resources:
- www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility)
- www.workingconditions.ku.dk.
Terms of Employment
The position is a permanent position.
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.
Employment is as an associate professor according to the collective agreement or job structure under the applicable collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for Academics in the State. There will be an opportunity to negotiate supplements based on qualifications. You can read more about salary levels in the state sector www.loenoverblik.dk (in Danish).
The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2025.
This position comes with an opportunity to negotiate a start-up package for up to 2,500,000 DKK that will help leverage the candidate’s scientific deliverables in the initial years of employment. The negotiation for the start-up package takes place as part of the recruitment process. Please read about the contents of the program and conditions, as well as UCPH’s extensive support for international researchers here.
Questions
For further information, please contact Group Leader Tina Holberg Pihl thpi@sund.ku.dk.
Application
The application must be submitted in English by clicking on "Apply online" below and must include the following:
- Application, including motivation for applying for this position (maximum 2 pages)
- Curriculum vitae (including information about external funding)
- A complete list of publications
- Diplomas (Master’s, PhD, and other relevant certificates)
- Upload a list of a maximum of 5 publications to be assessed
- Research plan (3-5 pages)
- Teaching plan
- Teaching portfolio (Guidelines)
The Further Process
After the application deadline, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointments Committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been forwarded for assessment. The Dean then appoints an expert assessment committee to assess the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee, and each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to themselves. You can read about the recruitment process at the university's job portal.
Please note that the applicant will be contacted if the assessment committee requires further documentation.
The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of March 13, 2012, on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
Please submit the application with the required attachments.
The closing date for applications is October 29, 2026, at 23:59 CET.
