Tenure-track Assistant and Associate Professorship positions in Data Science and Machine Learning at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science

Syddansk Universitet (SDU)

The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science (IMADA) at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) invites applicants for one or more positions in Computer Science on Assistant Professor (tenure-track) and/or Associate Professor levels with a focus on Data Science and Machine Learning. 

The expected starting date is summer 2026, with room for flexibility.

Depending on the profile of the candidate, the position can be at our established campus in Odense or at our developing new campus in Vejle. 

What we are looking for

We are looking for new colleagues who can strengthen or add to our competences in the Data Science and Statistics section, and who can contribute to the department’s strategic development in data science, artificial intelligence, and related topics. We are particularly, but not exclusively, interested in candidates with competence in data management and data mining, machine learning, large-scale optimization methods, and natural language processing. 

With a position in Campus Vejle, the hired candidate will, in addition to the Data Science and Statistics section, also join the new SDU Centre for Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence in Campus Vejle.
 
Successful candidates will have to fulfil the following key selection criteria: 
Research: 

• A promising research track record within the area of this call.  

Successful candidates to the associate professorship positions should also have:  

• An international research profile with a distinguished research record within the area of this call.  
• Proven ability to attract third-party funding. 

Demonstrated success in building and leading dynamic research teams and a strong track record of developing and executing research and innovation will be a plus.  
 
Teaching: 

• Some teaching and supervision experience on BSc and MSc levels.  

Successful candidates to the associate professorship positions should also have:  

• Extensive teaching and supervision experience across BSc and MSc levels.  

The tenure-track assistant professorship positions 

For the tenure-track assistant professor positions, applications from promising early-career talents are highly encouraged. The Danish tenure-track employment is a focused assistant professorship with a guaranteed assessment for a position as tenured associate professor: before the end of the sixth year of employment and contingent on a positive academic assessment, the assistant professor will transit into a permanent (tenured) position as associate professor. A tenure-track assistant professor can request assessment for tenure earlier. If this assessment is negative, the assistant professor can request a second assessment within the final six months of employment. 

The Danish tenure-track employment 

The Danish tenure-track employment is a focused assistant professorship with a guaranteed assessment for an open-ended position as an associate professor within the tenure-track assistant professor’s field of study.

Tenure-track assistant professsors are assessed based on their potential to reach the assessment criteria for an associate professorship during the tenure-track period. These criteria are mapped out in the hosting faculty’s policy on academic career and recruitment, specifically the performance indicators on research, teaching, and academic citizenship. 

Workplace description 

The Data Science and Statistics section

The members of the Data Science and Statistics section cover a wide range of data science topics. Central research interests are data mining and data visualization, machine learning and artificial intelligence (deep learning, natural language processing, reinforcement learning, multi-agent systems, optimisation), statistics (extreme value theory, time series, functional data analysis, multivariate analysis), and bioinformatics (biological networks, multi-omics data). We are interested in both, fundamental research and applications, for example in digital humanities, sciences, and health. 

The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science 

The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science (IMADA) is a thriving research hub at SDU’s main campus in Odense, with approximately 800 students and 200 staff, of which more than 60 are assistant, associate and full professors. Our research sections, in addition to the Data Science and Statistics section, include: 

• Algorithms, focusing on online and approximation algorithms, graph and parameterized algorithms, string algorithms, data structures, combinatorial optimization, algorithmic cheminformatics, differential privacy and cryptography. 
• Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Programming Languages, focusing on choreographic programming, distributed computing (cloud, edge, IoT, microservices), Dev(Sec)Ops, information security, formal methods (concurrency theory, theorem proving, type systems, etc.), logic and knowledge representation, optimisation, and post-quantum and embedded cryptography. 

We also offer:  

• World-class facilities: Access to state-of-the-art local High-Performance Computing through CPU and GPU clusters at the SDU eScience Centre, as well as to national and European systems. 
• Strong industry links: Collaborations with local, national, and international industries, fostering impactful research and innovation. 

In addition to the research sections mentioned above, the research environment at the department covers a wide area of topics in pure and applied mathematics and mathematical and IT didactics. Our department’s vibrant and collaborative environment is underpinned by its commitment to research excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement.  
 
Application deadline: 31 January 2026 at 23:59 hours local Danish time

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