Assistant Professor in Sustainable Community Health

At Technical Faculty of IT and Design Department of Sustainability and Planning Copenhagen a position as Assistant Professor in Sustainable Community Health is open for appointment from 1st of February 2026 to 31st of January 2029 or soon hereafter.

The department was established in 1975. Today we are located in two beautiful harbour-front locations in both Aalborg and Copenhagen. We have more than 250 employees and approximately 1200 students across the two cities.

Our research and study programmes are rooted in sustainability and the green transition. This means we conduct research in areas such as the circular economy technology urban energy and environmental planning as well as sustainable transition and design. Sustainability is central to our work in environmental assessment and marine surveying and land use sustainability is reflected in our efforts in nature restoration and climate adaptation.

As society continues to develop digitally we also focus on responsible technology development addressing real-life challenges. Our problem-oriented approach and close collaboration with businesses and public organisations form the foundation of all our study programmes. Additionally our engineering programmes are among the best in Europe.

You can read more on TECH as a workplace here.
You can read more on Department of Planning here

Job description
Research areas will focus on sustainable participatory and inclusive social and cultural health transformations within local communities emerging from a growing awareness of the need to develop healthy and equitable cities. The applicant is expected to conduct research that empirically engages with the healthcare sector and its intersections with local neighbourhoods as well as addressing broader public health issues related to urban design and planning of local communities.

A particular emphasis will be placed on research involving citizens users and community stakeholders as active participants in developing sustainable health initiatives. The research aims to explore how local perspectives and lived experiences can inform sustainable health practices and governance.

The research will be connected to research projects about the 15-minute city focusing on social and cultural sustainability in relation to relational ethical and organisational dynamics among institutions professionals and citizens involved in transformation processes. The research will be in close collaboration with five smaller Danish municipalities who are part of a larger project. It is important that the applicant is fluent in oral and written Danish in order to collaborate with the municipal planners.

Applicants are expected to hold a PhD in sociotechnical studies techno-anthropology or a related field and to demonstrate a solid understanding of the Danish health sector social and cultural sustainability and local communities.

Teaching responsibilities will mainly involve the Master of Sustainable Cities and the Master in Techno-Anthropology (both taught in English) as well as the Bachelor in Urban Energy and Environmental Planning and the Bachelor in Sustainable Design (both taught in Danish). Additionally responsibilities include supporting other study programmes at the university such as assisting with the introduction to Problem-Based Learning for first-year bachelor students (in Danish).
You may obtain further professional information from Professor Malene Freudendal-Pedersen Research Group of Planning for Urban Sustainability

Qualification requirements
Appointment as assistant professor requires academic qualifications at PhD level. The research potential of each applicant will be emphasized in the overall assessment.

How to apply
Your application must include the following:

• Application stating reasons for applying qualifications in relation to the position and intentions and visions for the position
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Diplomas (masters degree diploma and PhD diploma)
• List of publications with an indication of the attached publications that you wish to be taken into account in the assessment. You may attach a maximum of five publications. If you are applying for a position at The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) you must submit a co-author statement see template for co-author statement
• Documentation of teaching qualifications. Depending on which faculty you are applying for employment please see guidelines for teaching portfolio at The Technical Faculty of IT and Design The Faculty of Engineering and Science and The Faculty of Medicine or guidelines for teaching portfolio at The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. If this is not enclosed the applicant must enclose the reasons for this .
• Dissemination qualifications including participation on committees or boards participation in organisations etc.
• Additional qualifications in relation to the position
• References/recommendations

You can read more about the requirements for your application here.

The application must be submitted via Aalborg Universitys recruitment system which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg Universitys website.

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore everyone regardless of personal background and orientation is encouraged to apply for the position.

Do you have any questions
If you have any questions about the position you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

Further information
Read more about our recruitment process here

The appointment process at Aalborg University involves a shortlisting process. You can read more about the shortlisting and appointment process here.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires ensuring the safety compliance and integrity of the workplace.

Salary and terms of employment
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish).

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (only in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (only in Danish).

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers students and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights new solutions to societal problems and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.