Junior Professorship or Full Professorship “Sustainable Chemistry” (Open Rank: W1 TT W2 or W2)

30.10.2024THE SCHOOL OF SUSTAINABILITY AT LEUPHANA UNIVERSITY LÜNEBURG INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING JUNIOR PROFESSORSHIP WITH TENURE TRACK OR FULL PROFESSORSHIP:

Sustainable Chemistry (Open Rank: W1 with tenure track leading to W2 or W2)

Chemistry is a crucial science for sustainability, as it has a significant influence on the material foundations of sustainability (e.g., resources, material flows, products, processes, energy requirements, material environmental impact, digitalization). At the same time, it is directly linked to an industrial sector – the chemical industry and downstream industries, which utilizes its products. The "chemical industry" therefore plays a decisive role in the sustainability discourse in several respects, but also in the concrete achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thus, the importance of sustainable chemistry in research, teaching and application is receiving increasing attention in science, industry and politics, as well as in the international environment in general. However, further research and developments in teaching are needed to make this understanding fruitful for chemical practice and sustainability and to avoid rebound effects.

The junior professorship with tenure track or the full professorship “Sustainable Chemistry”, located at the School of Sustainability at the Institute for Sustainable Chemistry, is intended to address these deficits. The future position holder is expected to make substantial contributions to the field of sustainable chemistry. This also applies to experimental and practical contributions that shape the discourse. Relevant topics are e.g. specific experimental, modeling and digital approaches, especially digitalization in sustainable chemistry, i.e., the development of new substances, materials, products and processes, for example, the design and use of chemicals for improved service, performance, reduced unwanted end of life impacts on the socio-environment. Furthermore, you will expand and enrich the field of sustainable chemistry and circularity on a local to global scale and you know how to transfer your research into practice, which contributes, to a sustainable transformation. Thus, your engagement in interdisciplinary research and teaching concepts is important to you and you share our interest in common transdisciplinary research and teaching projects. As well, an international profile and a methodically and systematically broad chemistry-based expertise is mandatory for research and teaching. Your work includes an understanding of the role and contributions of chemistry to sustainability in general, considering the SDGs of the UN in science and the industrial sector. A strong interest in research collaboration within the Institute for Sustainable is essential and expected and your focus complements the existing research.

Depending on the applicant’s qualifications, the professorship will be filled either as a junior professorship with tenure track (pay grade W1 with tenure track leading to W2) or directly as a permanent university full professorship (pay grade W2). The junior professorship with tenure track is initially limited to a period of three years. The position will be extended for an additional three years, subject to a positive academic evaluation (in accordance with the guidelines for the mid-term evaluation of junior professors of Leuphana University Lüneburg). After six years, a positive tenure evaluation process according to the Tenure-Track Regulations of Leuphana University Lüneburg will lead to a permanent full-time professorship (W2).

For the junior professorship W1 with tenure track leading to W2, we are seeking a committed early-career researcher, who shows promise of excellence in teaching and research as well as unique ideas to impact their field and society. This is demonstrated by your dissertation and/or additional first publications in the field of sustainable chemistry in high-ranking international peer-review journals. Ideally, you have already contributed to newer approaches, involving for example, experimental, modelling, digitalization (e.g., artificial intelligence, machine learning) and other relevant innovative approaches. You have already established your own network including interdisciplinary research cooperations, publications with various co-authors, research stays and/or active participation in scientific conferences. Applicants ideally bring as far as possible initial experience in submitting research proposals applications (e.g. through independent acquisition of grants, collaboration on larger applications, experience with the handling of third-party funding projects, first own successful third-party funding acquisitions) that indicate a successful approach to acquisition of third-party funding as well as supporting the development of a viable third-party funding strategy during the junior professorship. You can document prior teaching experiences in courses in the subject areas of this junior professorship. Ideally you have supervised theses on B.Sc. and M.Sc. levels and you also have some experience in co-supervising Ph.D. students. Formal requirements according to § 30 of the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act (NHG) are: a university degree in chemistry or in a discipline relevant to the open position; a doctoral degree in chemistry or related fields; aptitude in teaching, and an ability to engage in independent academic research, as demonstrated by the outstanding quality of your dissertation.

For the W2 full professorshipwe are seeking a committed researcher with an outstanding international research profile in combination with a track record of unique ideas put into action, impacting their field as well as society. You have a strong and consistent publication record in international, peer-reviewed scientific journals with significant contributions to the field of sustainable chemistry ideally including newer approaches in this field, involving for example, experimental, modelling, digitalization (e.g., artificial intelligence, machine learning) and other relevant innovative approaches. You have successfully acquired third-party-funding (relative to opportunity), ideally DFG or comparable funding programs. Your academic work gives evidence of innovative contributions to teaching and research, your talent for cooperating with international partners inside and outside academia and your strong commitment to interdisciplinary dialogue. You can document your teaching experiences in seminars, and ideally also lectures, in the subject areas of this professorship. You have proven experience in the supervision of students (Bachelor, Master, Ph.D.) Formal requirements are based on § 25 of the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act (NHG) and include a university degree in chemistry or in a discipline relevant to the open position and a doctoral degree in chemistry or related fields; your aptitude for teaching, your ability to engage in independent academic research as demonstrated by the outstanding quality of your dissertation, and additional academic achievements obtained, i.e. in the course of being an assistant professor, during your postdoctoral lecture qualification (German: Habilitation) or other achievements recognized as being equivalent to a postdoctoral qualification.

You have an excellent command of English and are demonstrably able to teach courses in English. If you do not speak German, you are willing to learn it within a reasonable period.

At Leuphana you will find an academic community that is open to changes in perspective and cultivates dialogue among the different disciplines as well as between research and practice. With spirit and initiative, we address challenges of civil society in the 21st century. Pursuing our idea of liberal education, our students are enabled to think, question and act upon it. Our professors foster the awareness of gender and diversity aspects in teaching as well as research.

Leuphana University is an equal opportunities employer. The university aims to increase its number of female professors. Qualified women are especially invited to apply.

For further information, please contact the Dean of the School of Sustainability, Prof. Dr. Harald Heinrichs (harald.heinrichs@leuphana.de) or Prof. Dr. Vânia Zuin Zeidler at the Institute for Sustainable Chemistry (vania.zuin@leuphana.de).

Please submit your application (without submission of an application photo) consisting of the following materials in two separate PDF files: a) motivation letter, CV, full publication list, copies of academic degrees, b) three relevant publications. Please enclose the completed application form (as Excel file) with your documents. Guidance on the required application materials can be found here.

Applications should be sent preferably by email using the key word “Sustainable Chemistry” (W1 TT W2 or W2) to beko@leuphana.de or to the President of Leuphana University Lüneburg, Post Box 2440, Lüneburg D-21314 byDecember 8, 2024. Please be aware that we cannot return application documents sent physically.

By submitting your application, you consent to your data being stored and processed for the purpose of the recruitment process.

Please note our Data Protection Notice for Applicants (in English or in German).