Tenure Track Assistant Professor, or Associate Professorship in Visual Computing, Computer Graphics and Animation

Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
University of Copenhagen

We invite applications for a position as Tenure Track Assistant Professor or Associate Professor in Visual Computing, Computer Graphics and Animation. The position is to be filled by 1 November 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter, subject to negotiation.

We are looking for an innovative researcher with intellectual curiosity to strengthen and complement the research profile of the department within Visual Computing or Computer Graphics and Animation. Research areas of interest concerns computer animation, computer graphics, and geometry processing in a broad sense. This includes but is not limited to data-driven character animation, neural geometry processing, inverse rendering, and real-time rendering. Candidates are expected to publish in premier venues within Computer Graphics including but not limited to SIGGRAPH, SCA, EG, ACM TOG, CGF, IEEE TVCG, CHI, and GDC.

It is a high priority at our department to foster a research environment of the highest excellence, allowing people from diverse backgrounds to thrive. You will join a rapidly growing department with strong research sections in the areas of Human-Centred Computing; Algorithms and Complexity; Machine Learning; Natural Language Processing; Software, Data, People, and Society; Programming Languages and Theory of Computing; Artificial Intelligence; and Image Analysis, Computational Modeling, and Geometry. We are heading two centres within Artificial Intelligence: the SCIENCE AI Center and the Pioneer Center for Artificial Intelligence.

Description of the position
The position offers opportunities to teach and build a research team in a thriving environment with strong connections to Danish computer gaming industry, robotics and research and applications in extended reality (XR). A priori, the researcher will join the IMAGE research section, but the section affiliation will be negotiated in the hiring process.

As a tenure-track assistant professor, you will primarily focus on research, publishing and scientific communication, and research-based teaching. To a limited extent the position may also include other tasks. As an Associate Professor, you will focus on both your own research and advancing the broader field of research. Other responsibilities include assessment tasks, grant applications, and research management, such as supervision and training of research fellows and other staff. You will also teach, supervise bachelor and master students, prepare, and participate in examinations, and fulfill other tasks requested by the department.

Members of the IMAGE section teaches at both the bachelor and master levels in computer science. The researcher may be part of teaching fundamental topics of computer graphics, game programming, computational geometry (geometry processing), and further development in an advanced curriculum in computer graphics and animation.

We value interdisciplinary research and teaching and are actively involved in several cross-faculty research projects and educational programs. As a successful applicant, you should therefore be interested in facilitating cross-disciplinary interactions both within the Department of Computer Science and across the university, as well as internationally. You are also expected to be open to conducting interdisciplinary teaching, including courses for students with a non-technical background, e.g., health sciences.

About the Department of Computer Science 
Our department was founded in 1970 as part of the University of Copenhagen – the oldest and largest university in Denmark; founded in 1479 with more than 10.000 employees. The university is often listed as the best university in Scandinavia and is ranked number 2 in the European Union according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2023.  

We offer the highest professional level of Computer Science study programmes in Europe and our interdisciplinary research solves problems within all feasible areas of our society where data plays a role. We focus on how we, ethically and efficiently, can shape future digital technologies to ensure that they are adapted to the needs of people and society. And we aim to have a diverse, inclusive, and sustainable research and educational environment while doing so. 

At our department, you will meet friendly, dedicated, and inspiring colleagues and inclusive settings for building up internationally competitive and thriving research groups. We have a professional and service minded administration including an experienced research support unit to give you mentoring and assistance when applying for funding. You can read more about start packages and recruitment grants offered by Danish private and public foundations here.  

The IMAGE research section
The IMAGE research section currently has 10 faculty staff, 2 Postdocs, and 20 PhDs. The IMAGE section hosts researchers in image analysis and processing, computer vision, computer simulation, numerical optimization, machine learning, computational modelling, geometry, and geometric statistics. The research work ranges from theoretical analyses, over algorithm development, to solving concrete problems for science, industry, and society. There are excellent opportunities for applications and collaborations within the department on data-driven approaches using AI or ML methodology for character animation or geometry processing, visualization, and XR applications. The IMAGE research section is highly regarded in the area of physics-based animation and is very active in research on simulation methods and robotics control. The IMAGE research section has a wide network of Danish game companies and is a co-creator of the Danish computer game programmer education offering many opportunities for the researcher to start new collaborations. The Department has several laboratories with mocap equipment, cobots, manufacturing, and AR & VR equipment. For further information, please visit the IMAGE Section's page.

Living in Copenhagen 
The university is situated in Copenhagen, which is consistently rated among the world's top 10 most livable cities. Located in Denmark, ranked in the top three happiest countries globally, Copenhagen boasts a vibrant culture, rich in music, theater, and community organizations. Life for families is made easier via a publicly supported daycare and healthcare system, dual-career opportunities, maternity/parental leave, and six weeks of annual vacation. International candidates may find information on living and working in Denmark.Useful information is also available at the university’s International Staff Mobility (ISM) office, which offers a variety of services to international researchers coming to and working at the University of Copenhagen. 

Qualifications
Tenure-track assistant professor
The successful applicant will show an increasing publication trajectory in high-level, international, peer-reviewed venues in the area of specialization. Research plans and publication records should illustrate a clear potential for attracting external funding. Documented university-level experience in delivering high-quality undergraduate/graduate teaching is not mandatory but will be an advantage. If not already holding formal pedagogical qualifications, candidates will be required to obtain pedagogical training equivalent to the University of Copenhagen Teaching and Learning in Higher Education program for Assistant Professors.

Associate professor
The position requires a track record of successful external research funding as well as a strong publication record in high-level, international, peer-reviewed venues in the area of specialization. An active network of international collaborations will be considered a very important asset. Candidates are required to have documented university-level competencies in delivering high-quality undergraduate/graduate teaching and must be able to explain and reflect upon their own teaching practice and portfolio. Formal pedagogical training or supervision equivalent to the University of Copenhagen Teaching and Learning in Higher Education program is necessary. Candidates are also expected to have managerial qualifications, for example in managing their own research group and performing outreach activities.

Information on the tenure-track program
Candidates hired as tenure-track assistant professors will be assigned a mentor who will provide the candidate with guidance related to career development, academic topics, and administrative procedures.

The performance of the tenure-track assistant professor will be followed via internal yearly evaluations and a mid-term and final international evaluation by an assessment committee. After a 6-year period, tenure-track assistant professors are expected to meet the criteria for appointment of associate professors at the University of Copenhagen. Performance and progression towards the criteria will be evaluated with due consideration of differences between research fields. Upon a positive final appraisal, the tenure-track assistant professor will be promoted to associate professor, which is a permanent position.

See this page for more information about the University of Copenhagen’s tenure-track program.

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 Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

Negotiation for salary supplement and relocation expenses is possible. Note that Denmark protects the economic, social, and physical well-being of its workers, which includes robust health care, child care, elder care, and other generous benefits. Thus, direct salary comparisons across nations are typically not meaningful. Furthermore, unlike some North American universities, faculty positions are funded for all 12 months of the year, and thus there is no need for faculty to procure summer funding.

International applicants may be eligible to apply for a lower tax rate for 7 years under the Danish tax scheme for researchers.

Assessment of applicants
Six overall criteria apply for appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The six criteria—research, teaching, societal impact, organizational contribution, external funding, and leadership—are considered a framework for an overall assessment of the candidates. Each candidate is also assessed according to the specific requirements stated in the job advertisement.

Please read more here:

Further information
For more information about the Department of Computer Science, please visit our website https://di.ku.dk/english/

Inquiries about the position can be made to the Head of Department, Professor Jakob Grue Simonsen (simonsen@di.ku.dk), or the Head of IMAGE research section, Professor Kenny Erleben (kenny@di.ku.dk).

Filing of application
The position may be applied for at the tenure-track assistant professor level or associate professor level. Please note that it is possible to apply at more than one level. If applied at more than one level, separate applications must be submitted (see below).

The application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Applying for the tenure-track assistant professorship please include:

  • Curriculum vitae including:
    • Please describe and document international network and relations
    • Please describe and document internationally based activities
    • Positions held at universities/research institutions outside Denmark
    • Outreach activities, i.e. popular lectures or other activities in the media
    • Grants held, personal or in part. Career development grants.
  • Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)
  • Research plan - description of current and future research plans
  • If available, description and documentation of teaching and supervision experience and qualifications- please describe and document:
    • Experience with supervision of BSc and MSc students
    • Teaching experience
    • Formal pedagogical training
  • Complete publication list
  • Separate reprints of up to 5 particularly relevant papers

Applying for the associate professorship please include:

  • Curriculum vitae including information about external funding
  • Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)
  • Research plan – description of current and future research plans
  • Description and documentation of teaching experience and qualifications according to university guidelines
  • Complete publication list
  • Separate reprints of 5 particularly relevant papers

The deadline for applications is Sunday 5 May 2024 23:59 GMT +2

Following the application deadline, the authorized recruitment manager identifies candidates at all levels for evaluation, who will then be reviewed by the Assessment Committee. Note that being placed on the short-list is not equivalent to being assessed qualified for the position; short-listed candidates may potentially be deemed not qualified by the Assessment Committee.

A subset of the qualified short-listed candidates will be selected for a formal interview by the Recruitment Committee.

You can read about the recruitment process here

Interviews will be held on 4 September 2024.

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

211-0206/24-2N Tenure-track assistant professorship in Visual Computing, Computer Graphics and Animation

211-0579/24-2E Associate professorship in Visual Computing, Computer Graphics and Animation

Application due: 5/5/2024 
Start date: 11/1/2024 
Category: Faculty and academic positions 
Workplace: Department of Computer Science 
Homepage: https://science.ku.dk/fakultetet/organisation/fakultetssekretariatet/

APPLY FOR POSITION

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.