211-0085/20-2K Professor of Computer Vision for Digital Natural History
Professor of Computer Vision for Digital Natural History
Department of Computer Science & the Natural History Museum of Denmark
Faculty of Science
University of Copenhagen
The Department of Computer Science (DIKU) and the Natural History Museum of Denmark (NHMD) at the University of Copenhagen are seeking candidates for a full professorship in Computer Vision for Digital Natural History. The new professor is expected to make a significant contribution to leadership in Computer Vision within the Department of Computer Science and will serve a leading role as Curator of Digital Collections at the Natural History Museum of Denmark. The professor must ensure that Computer Vision research, teaching, and public engagement activities are thriving, and act as a mentor to young researchers.
Outstanding applicants in all areas of Computer Vision will be considered, but research areas of special interest include:
- Theory and application of object recognition
- Machine learning in image analysis
- Mathematical foundation of image analysis
- Technological innovation related to object digitization
We are looking for an outstanding, experienced researcher with an innovative mindset and intellectual curiosity to strengthen and complement the research profile of the department's IMAGE Section and the museum’s digitization programme. 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 work ranges from theoretical analyses, over algorithm development, to solving concrete problems for science, industry and society. A new Danish national museum for nature is currently under construction in the Botanical Garden at the centre of Copenhagen. The new museum building will host state-of-the-art laboratories, outstanding research collections, new public galleries, and combined facilities for programming, education, and citizen science. In this context, the museum is launching a major digitization programme to make the 14 million specimens in the collections digitally available for everyone. The museum is leading partner in the new EU Research Infrastructure DiSSCo (dissco.eu) and hosts the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (gbif.org).
The successful candidate will become full professor at the Department of Computer Science in a joint position with the Natural History Museum of Denmark with 50 % of the time for 5 years allocated to taking part in leading the digitization efforts at the Natural History Museum.
At the Natural History Museum, the successful candidate will:
- become section head for the Digital Data Lab
- serve as GBIF-liason
- be responsible for curation of digital data, including taking the lead in designing a state-of-the-art infrastructure for data storage, management and open access
- participate in developing a digitization strategy, including best practices and standards
The department and the museum offer a friendly and thriving international research and working environment with opportunities to build up internationally competitive research groups. The position provides a unique opportunity to be part of a large project dedicated to making positive change for life on Earth, including topics relating to sustainability, climate change, biodiversity, etc.
The department and the museum value interdisciplinary research, teaching, and public engagement. The successful candidate must be capable of and interested in facilitating cross-disciplinary interactions within the Computer Science Department and the museum, and across the university. The candidate is expected to engage in interdisciplinary teaching, including courses for students with a non-technical background, e.g., health sciences and natural sciences.
Selection Criteria
- A research doctorate or equivalent in Computer Science, applied mathematics, statistics, or another relevant field.
- A demonstrated relevant world-class track record of high-quality research and scholarship as evidenced by publications in internationally leading journals and conferences.
- A track record of leadership, including leading of a research group, effective management of academic staff, organization of workshops and conferences, and involvement in public engagement activities.
- A track record in attraction of research funding from competitive grant agencies and other sources including industry.
- Drive, energy, and a vision for building and leading a world-class research group in computer vision of natural history collections.
- Demonstrated capacity to teach effectively across a range of subjects, including the capacity to supervise undergraduate and graduate students; and develop curriculum and learning resources. Experience in interdisciplinary teaching will be an advantage. Applicants are required to have university level teaching experience, documented teaching competencies and must be able to explain and reflect upon own teaching practice and portfolio. Formal pedagogical training or supervision equivalent to the University of Copenhagen teacher training programme for assistant professors is required.
- Relevant experience in designing state-of-the-art infrastructure for data storage, management and open access.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other researchers, students, and technical-administrative staff.
- Experience with digitization of museum collections and an interest in museums, collections, natural history, and nature broadly defined, is an advantage
- Experience in public engagement is an advantage.
Duties include the applicant’s own research and curation of digital data, 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 requested by the Department and the Museum.
The professor is expected to secure competitive external funding and build an internationally recognized research group.
Six overall criteria apply for professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The six criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organisational contribution, external funding and leadership) are considered a framework for an overall assessment of the candidates. Furthermore, each candidate must be assessed according to the specific requirements stated in the job advertisement.
Please read more at https://jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabelige-stillinger/kriterier-for-videnskabelige-stillinger/dokumenter-til-meritering/5c_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-professors.pdf
Assessment of applicants will primarily consider their level of documented, original scientific production at an international level, including contributions to developments in their field, as well as their documented teaching qualifications. Managerial and public engagement qualifications of applicants including ability to attract external funding will also be considered.
Further information on the Department and the Museum is linked at https://www.science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/organisation/. Inquiries about the position can be made to Head of Department, Professor Mads Nielsen (madsn@di.ku.dk) and Museum Director, Professor Peter C. Kjærgaard (kjaergaard@snm.ku.dk).
The position is open from 1 June 2021 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The University of Denmark is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, or disabled status. We are actively promoting a strategy to improve the gender balance among scientific staff.
Copenhagen is a highly diverse and international Scandinavian capital with a green profile. Education is free and child care is subsidized. Public transport is well developed and most Copenhageners take their bikes to work. There are lots of green areas in and around Copenhagen, the water in the harbour is clean enough for swimming, and the city has multiple museums and other cultural venues. The University of Copenhagen was founded in 1479 and is the largest in Denmark. The Department of Computer Science is highly ranked internationally and the collections at the Natural History Museum of Denmark date back more than 400 years.
The successful candidate is expected to take Danish lessons if there is no prior knowledge of the Danish language.
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.
Commencing salary is currently DKK 631.596 including annual supplement (+ pension DKK 108.003). Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.
The application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.
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
- A brief vision for computer vision of digital natural history that includes research and societal importance
- 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 16 December 2020, 23:59 GMT +1.
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee.
You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.
Interviews/trial lectures will be held on 26 April 2021.
Please refer to the following no. in future communication in this case: 211-0085/20-2K
Københavns Universitet giver sine knap 10.000 medarbejdere muligheder for at udnytte deres talent fuldt ud i et ambitiøst, uformelt miljø. Vi sikrer traditionsrige og moderne rammer om uddannelser og fri forskning på højt internationalt niveau. Vi søger svar og løsninger på fælles problemer og gør ny viden tilgængelig og nyttig for andre.
Info
Ansøgningsfrist: 16-12-2020
Ansættelsesdato: 01-06-2021
Arbejdstid: Fuldtid
Afdeling/Sted: Department of Computer Sicence