211-0734/26-2E Associate Professor of Experimental Physics

Associate Professor of Experimental Physics
Niels Bohr Institute
Faculty of Science
University of Copenhagen

The Niels Bohr Institute announces the availability of a faculty position in any area of experimental physics, including those based on controlled experiments and observations, with an emphasis on paradigm-shifting science. The search is open to all areas of experimental physics, and the application will be a two-step procedure as specified below.

The Niels Bohr Institute hosts or has access to excellent facilities for carrying out experimental physics in the following areas:

Astrophysics (including Planetary Sciences, Cosmology, Galactic, and Extragalactic Astrophysics)
Observational astrophysics in Denmark is primarily supported by privileged access to world-class facilities through national memberships of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT). In addition, University of Copenhagen owns the 1,5m Danish telescope at ESO, La Silla. Past Danish investment in astrophysical instrumentation and space infrastructure such as Euclid and the James Webb Telescope allow us to play leadership roles in international collaborations and secure GTO time. The Danish government has recently launched a new space strategy, encouraging Danish astrophysics to contribute. Denmark has made strategic investments in the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) and the NBI leads Danish involvement in the ANDES high-resolution spectrograph at the ELT. NBI is associated to the Rubin-LSST and has established a Danish Independent Data Access Center for Rubin. Astrophysics heads the Tycho supercomputer at the faculty of SCIENCE, which provides computational capacity across NBI at an international competitive level, and several research groups have smaller dedicated computational infrastructures. Denmark is a member of the LUMI consortia, with guaranteed computational resources allocated to UCPH, and Denmark is also part EuroHPC. Coordination in astrophysics at a national level is carried out under the umbrella of Instrument centre for Danish Astrophysics.

Biophysics and Biocomplexity
Experimental research in Biocomplexity at NBI addresses mammalian, plant, microbial, and reconstituted biophysical systems through quantitative measurements tightly integrated with theory.

The cell laboratory carries out quantitative experiments on living cells and multicellular systems, focusing on cell mechanics, viscoelasticity, force generation, and collective behavior. Work is based on controlled in-vitro and mammalian and plant cell-culture systems and combines fluorescence, confocal and scattering microscopy, Brillouin microscopy, mechanical perturbations, and quantitative image analysis.

The Center for Optical Bio-Manipulation (COBM) provides shared infrastructure centered on most advanced type of optical bio-manipulation equipment integrated with super resolution (STED) imaging, including optical tweezers, microfluidics, and advanced fluorescence microscopy. These tools enable force application and measurement at micro- and nano-scales, manipulation of biological structures, single molecules and dynamic studies of cells and soft biological matter, and are accessible to both internal and external users.

The bacterial and phage laboratory supports quantitative experimental studies of microbial growth, virus–host interactions, and population dynamics in both well-mixed and spatially structured systems, providing a platform for physics-based investigations of microbial dynamics.

The membrane laboratory investigates lipid membranes and membrane-associated processes using controlled model systems and spectroscopy, linking thermodynamic and mechanical properties to cellular function.

Geophysics (including Ice, Climate, and Earth Sciences)
Experimental work in Physics of ice, climate and Earth at NBI is related to ice core research, involving field campaigns to retrieve ice cores, collect snow samples, and conduct geophysical surveys. A strength of the section is developing and maintaining advanced ice core processing laboratory facilities for obtaining paleo-climatic records of past climate change from ice cores and leading international ice core processing campaigns.

The ice core processing facilities at NBI currently include a gas extraction and measurements laboratory, a chemical and biogeochemical analyses laboratory, and a water isotope measurements laboratory. The work involves optimizing the laboratory setup for continuous flow analysis. Major instrumentation at PICE are isotope ratio mass spectrometers for atmospheric components, laser spectrometers for water isotopes and trace gases, an ion chromatograph, a laser ablation system, and a continuous flow analyses system from ice cores for chemical components and trace gases. The ice sheet research includes geophysical surveys using various radar and GPS techniques, facilitating research in e.g. polarized radar techniques, and bore hole logging instrumentation. Strong collaborations are established between ice core research and ice flow and climate modelling activities. We are currently involved in ice core drilling and research activities for large international collaborations, including the EC Horizon project BEOI (Beyond-EPICA-Oldest-Ice), the ERC Synergy project Green2Ice, the Novo Nordisk Foundation center PRECISE, and the EU Horizon project ICELINK.

High Energy and Astro-particle Physics
The experimental High Energy Physics (HEP) group at NBI participate in the ALICE, ATLAS, and IceCube experiments, and are part of designing the future ALICE FoCal, SHiP, and FCC-ee detectors.

The ALICE group studies evolution of quark-gluon-plasma properties and the impact of collision system size, while at the same time leading the development and construction of the new ALICE forward calorimeter (FoCal) to probe, for example, gluon saturation.

The ATLAS group works on rare Higgs decays (Z+gamma and di-Higgs channels) and the use of Machine Learning for analysis optimisation. The group is strongly involved in the ATLAS upgrade tracker for the high luminosity phase of LHC both on the hardware and software side.

The IceCube group is leading measurements of neutrino oscillations and testing quantum-gravity models and heads the development of the GraphNeT machine learning framework, for optimised classification and reconstruction in IceCube and several other astrophysics experiments. The NBI group also contributes to CERN’s future SHiP and potential FCC-ee experiments with coordinating roles in the detector design effort, as well as phenomenology in particle and astro-particle physics.

Quantum Physics (including Condensed Matter, Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics)
Current experimental research in condensed matter physics is centered around low-temperature nanoscale quantum electronics, solid-state quantum information devices, as well as neutron and x-ray scattering for characterization of soft materials like polymers and biomolecules and hard materials like magnets and superconductors.

The quantum electronics efforts include epitaxial growth of superconductor-semiconductor materials, cleanroom device fabrication, alongside with advanced cryogenic DC and RF measurement techniques, facilitating research in e.g. spin-based and superconducting qubits for which control electronics for tens of qubits is being installed. Activities also include quantum simulations based on quantum dot and Josephson junction arrays, constituting artificial quantum matter. The laboratories host a dozen milli-kelvin cryostats and the teams are strongly involved in NBI’s cleanroom, housing shared facilities for nanofabrication, including e-beam lithography, deposition/etching tools, molecular beam epitaxy, as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy. During the past decade, condensed matter physics has been strengthened through the creation of the Center for Quantum Devices (QDev) and the Q-MAT project on Magnetism and Quantum Materials. There are strong local collaborations between experimental and theoretical activities in both quantum electronics and materials, and with the Novo Nordisk Foundation Quantum Computing Program as well as other science departments. We are involved in the design and development of instrumentation for large-scale international facilities, including the European Spallation Source (ESS), opening soon next to MAX-IV, close to the institute. The group is directly involved in ESS beamlines with instruments for QENS, SANS and inelastic scattering. Soft matter research takes advantage of in-house light and Small-Angle X-ray Scattering, Raman imaging and thermal analysis.

Activities in Quantum Optics cover ultracold atoms and room-temperature atomic ensembles, as well as solid-state quantum optics, photonics, and optomechanics. Experiments are hosted in state-of-the-art optical laboratories suitable also for the most vibration- and temperature-sensitive equipment and are set up with support from the local electronic and mechanical workshops. The in-house cleanroom enables fabrication of advanced micro- and nano-photonic devices using e-beam and photo-lithography and most common deposition and etching techniques. It is complemented by access to a wide range of tools at the Danish national fabrication facility DTU Nanolab. Strong theory-experiment collaborations are an outstanding feature of Quantum Optics research at the Niels Bohr Institute, as are collaborations within and between the dedicated Quantop, Hy-Q, CBQS and NQCP research centers.

We seek to appoint an outstanding researcher based on scientific excellence and demonstrated track record. We are looking for a candidate whose expertise will strengthen our mission to deliver excellent research and education. The position will be filled at the level of tenured associate professor. 

The successful candidate must be an outstanding scientist who has already had significant international impact on research and who has demonstrated: (1) the talent and vision to define an independent research program, (2) the scientific maturity to establish an independent research group, and (3) the ability to attract significant external funding in open competition at national and international levels. The successful candidate is expected to collaborate both internationally and within University of Copenhagen on research questions of broad-scale relevance.

The successful candidate will:

• Develop and lead an innovative research program of leading international quality
• Teach and examine students at all levels including lecturing undergraduate and postgraduate courses, supervising students, and contributing to curriculum development work.
• Act as a coach and role model through excellent practice and mentoring of junior colleagues
• Contribute to the promotion of equality, diversity and inclusivity in Physics
• Undertake appropriate administrative tasks in support of the Department’s activities

In the evaluation of candidates emphasis will be put on the following criteria:

• A PhD or equivalent, in a relevant area
• A strong established international reputation and expertise in a forefront research area
• Ability to develop and expand the research portfolio of the institute into new areas
• A track record of securing external research funding in open competition as well as postdoc and/or PhD supervision
• Substantial and successful experience in undergraduate teaching and in graduate training

The associate professor’s duties include the applicant’s own research, development of the field, assessment tasks, grant applications, and research management such as supervision and training of research fellows and other staff. The successful applicant must also teach, supervise, prepare and participate in examinations, and fulfill other tasks as requested by the Department. Applicants are required to have successful university level teaching experience, documented teaching competencies and must be able to explain and reflect upon their own teaching development, practice and portfolio. Formal pedagogical training or supervision equivalent to the University of Copenhagen teacher training programme for assistant professors is required. Ideally the candidate has been responsible for lectures and course development as well as supervision at both bachelor and master's levels.

Assessment of applicants will primarily consider their level of documented, original scientific production at a leading international level, including contributions to developments in their field, as well as their documented teaching qualifications. Managerial and out-reach qualifications of applicants including ability to attract external funding will also be considered.

University of Copenhagen’s criteria for recognising merit
General criteria apply to the appointment of associate professor at the University of Copenhagen. The criteria (research, teaching, Innovation & societal impact, organizational contribution and leadership) are considered as a framework for an overall assessment of the applicant. In addition, each applicant will be assessed according to the specific requirements listed in this advertisement.

For associate professors: https://jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabelige-stillinger/kriterier-for-videnskabelige-stillinger/kriterier-for-meritering-maj-2026/5b_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-Associate_professors.pdf

Further information on the Department is linked at https://science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/organisation/departments/. Inquiries about the position can be made to Associate Professor Troels Haugbølle, Deputy Head of Research, VILF@nbi.ku.dk.

The position is open from 1 February 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

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

Terms of employment
The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.
Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

Filing of application
The application process is a two-step procedure: applicants are invited to initially submit a ‘short’ application consisting of CV and publication list. The Niels Bohr Institute will then screen these and subsequently invite a subset of applicants to submit a full application.

First step: For all applicants interested in the position.

Submit in English:

• Curiculum vitae including information about external funding
• Complete publication list

These two documents will be the basis for our selection of applicants who are invited to submit a full application and thus be a part of the recruitment process.

It will be appropriate if the five overall criteria for associate professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen are reflected in the CV.

Please also highlight in the CV, if special conditions in your career/life affects your CV and number of publications.

To submit the CV and publication list click APPLY NOW below.

The deadline for submission is Sunday 2nd August 2026, 23:59 GMT +2.

Second step: Only for applicants who are invited to submit a full application.
In the second step invited applicants must submit a full application. Invited applicants will have around two weeks to send a full application and we expect it will be between week 37-38. Invited applicants will receive further instructions.

Please reserve 7 and 9 December 2026 if you are invited to an interview.

Contact

Please refer to the following no. in future communication in this case:

211-0734/26-2E Associate Professorship of Experimental Physics.