Group Leader/Associate Professor in live-cell in vitro analysis of cellular function and dysfunction associated with Parkinson’s disease

PACE - Lundbeck Foundation Parkinson’s Disease Research Center, Department of Clinical Medicine at the Faculty of Health, Aarhus University invites applications for a position as group leader (Associate Professor level) in the field of live-cell in vitro modelling of Parkinson’s disease as per 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a 5-year, full-time position, with the possibility of an extension dependent on a successful evaluation of the first period.

PACE – Lundbeck Foundation Parkinson’s Disease Research Center

PACE is a newly established clinical and basic research center as of January 2025 and is generously funded by a large 10-year grant from the Lundbeck Foundation. PACE consists of a close-knit community of world-leading research groups in basic and clinical Parkinson’s disease research wherein a number of novel group leaders will be embedded. We are part of and collaborate closely with both Aarhus University, consistently ranked as one of the world’s top 100 universities, and Aarhus University Hospital, which in 2024 was elected Denmark’s best hospital for the 15th time.

PACE’s mission is to take research in Parkinson’s Disease to the highest level possible and to improve life for people with Parkinson’s Disease or other neurodegenerative disorders. We focus on discovering and validating novel innovative tools, biomarkers and disease-modifying mechanisms, which within a 10-year time frame will be applied in clinical trials.

Department of Clinical Medicine

As an Associate Professor at PACE, you will be part of the Department of Clinical Medicine - probably the largest health science research department in Denmark. Our clinical research covers all the medical specialities and takes place in close collaboration with the university hospital and the regional hospitals in the Central Denmark Region. We have approx. 30,000 square meters of modern research facilities for experimental surgery and medicine, animal facilities and also advanced scanners at our disposal. The department has overall responsibility for the Master's degree programs in medicine and in molecular medicine. At the department we are approx. 670 academic employees, 500 PhD students and 160 technical/administrative employees who are cooperating across disciplines.

About the group leader position

PACE invites applications for a full-time Associate Professor (Group Leader) position to join a vibrant and interdisciplinary research environment focused on clinical and basic biological aspects of Parkinson’s disease and related synucleinopathies. We are seeking a group leader to establish a research program with an emphasis on live cell imaging to gain mechanistic insight into cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous consequences of progressive accumulation of α-synuclein aggregates in cells and/or mechanisms involved in intercellular spreading of such processes.

The successful candidate will develop a collaborative research program on live-cell functional studies of α-synuclein aggregation induced processes in cell models . The new group leader will complement and contribute to ongoing research in PACE investigating α-synuclein-induced neurodegeneration, including studies on disease progression, disease modelling, neuroimmune response, and circuitry disturbances associated with α-synuclein aggregation. The candidate is expected to interact with the clinical research teams, including collaborations centered on the extensive biobank of diverse tissue samples from the longitudinal studies of PACE patient cohorts.

The position comes with an attractive package of 2.8 mill. € to cover the candidate’s own salary, salaries for lab technician and students, and running costs. Additional substantial funding is available for purchase of equipment.

Job responsibilities

As Group leader in live cell in vitro modelling, you will contribute to the department’s research and teaching environment and to the faculty’s overall research strategy. You will contribute to the development of the department both individually and in collaboration with others via your research of high international quality. You ensure that your teaching maintains a high academic and didactic standard. You possess professional collaborative skills and a broad academic network which you are able to bring into play in your contribution to the academic development of Aarhus University and its profile both nationally and internationally.

Your primary tasks include:

• Developing of a successful research group in live cell in vitro modelling of synucleinopathies.
• Conducting internationally competitive research
• Publishing in leading international journals and disseminating research nationally and internationally in academic networks and to public audiences
• Teaching and supervision of Bachelor’s and Master's degree students and contributing to the development of new teaching activities
• Contributing to the funding by securing external research funding
• Supervision of PhD students and contributing to the development of the faculty's PhD courses.
• Participating in assessment and committee work at Aarhus University
• Actively engaging in the scientific and professional environment of the research center.

You will report to Per Borghammer, director at PACE.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is an established prominent researcher within the field of live cell in vitro analyses of neurons and/or glia cells with a strong international track record. The successful applicant is expected to have developed broad international collaborations and demonstrated the ability to engage in productive research partnerships. Potential to lead an independent research group and experience in securing substantial external research funding are essential. Previous affiliation with at least one internationally recognized research institution is also required.

Applicants must be proficient in state-of-the-art techniques used in in vitro neuroscience. Proven proficiency in studying models based on human iPSC derived neurons and glial cells or primary cultures from rodents is expected, and ideally also organoids and/or tissue slices. Priority will be given to candidates with extensive experience in in live-neuron experiments for assessing neuronal activity, organellar dynamics and function (such as mitochondria, lysosome, ER/golgi), and synaptic activity using advanced imaging techniques along with high-content, data-driven methods based on omics. Techniques applied will comprise advanced 4D cellular and molecular imaging, e.g. lattice lightsheet SIM, genetically encoded sensors for subcellular and synaptic activities, protein-protein interactions, organellar dynamics, autophagic flux, transcription and translation. The aim should be holistic—broad in scope rather than restricted to a single cell model, a narrow set of biological readouts, or a specific Parkinson’s model.

While prior research in Parkinson’s disease or other neurodegenerative proteopathies such as Alzheimer’s disease is advantageous, it is not a strict requirement if other core qualifications are met.

We are seeking a dedicated and collegial individual who is an effective communicator and committed educator. The ideal candidate will be able to foster constructive relationships with students, colleagues, and external partners, and will be capable of delivering complex information in an engaging, clear, and accessible way. As a supervisor, the candidate should demonstrate professionalism, inclusivity, and the ability to inspire early-career researchers. A willingness to take shared responsibility for developing PACE’s research and education at the highest international level is essential, as is a commitment to maintaining a positive and supportive work environment. Active involvement in interdisciplinary collaboration across the department, faculty, university, and broader academic networks is expected.

Fluency in spoken and written English is required for this position. Aarhus University encourages international applicants to learn Danish, and the university offers Danish language courses to support this.

In order to be assessed as qualified for an Associate Professor position, you must meet these academic criteria.

Shortlisting will be used.

Questions about the position

If you have any questions about the position, please contact professor Marina Romero-Ramos tel.: (+45) 6020 2749 .

Your place of work will be at PACE, Incuba, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 82, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.

We expect to conduct interviews at the end of November.

Terms of employment

• Appointment as an associate professor requires research and teaching qualifications at the level that can be achieved through the satisfactory completion of a period of appointment as an assistant professor, but may also be obtained in other ways.
• The applicant is required to have completed a university pedagogical programme or an equivalent programme.
• Further information on the appointment procedure can be found in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
• The appointment is in accordance with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikerne).
• Remuneration is in accordance with the above, and the Salary agreement catalogue for staff at Health.
• The yearly base salary for a fulltime associate professor is DKK 706.233,06 (including a position related supplement, a pre-agreed associate professor supplememt and pension (18.07%)). Additional supplement(s) can be negotiated dependent on experience, special qualifications and performance of special functions. Authorisation supplement(s) will be granted, if relevant for the position. Your local eligible trade union representative at Aarhus University negotiates your salary on your behalf.
• Researchers recruited from abroad are offered a special researcher tax scheme with a lower tax rate.
• Travel and moving expenses may be covered according to the employee in question and, to a limited extent, the accompanying family.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job description can be found in the Ministerial order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.

Application

Your application must include the following:

• Motivated application
• Curriculum Vitae
• Diploma
• Template for applicant - associate professor
• A list of publications
• A teaching portfolio. We refer to Guideline on the use of teaching portfolios
• The five publications stated as the most important in the 'Template for applicant - associate professor' must be submitted
• Research plan, which is part of the 'Template to applicant - associate professor' can be uploaded separately (optional)
• Coauthor statement(s) can be uploaded (optional)
• References/recommendations can be uploaded separately in the e-recruitment system (optional)

We refer to the faculty’s Guidelines for applicants.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

International applicant?

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including assistance with relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about the International Staff Office and the range of services here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.