Research assistant within sensory and food science

At The Department of Food Science at Aarhus University, there is a position as research assistant available. We are seeking a dynamic and motivated candidate with a strong interest in food quality. The position is available from January 1st, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The Position

The position as research assistant will be affiliated to the Research Group of Food Quality, Perception and Society at the Department of Food Science, Aarhus University (http://food.au.dk/en/foodresearch/science-teams/food-quality-perception-society/). The focal area for the position will be different tasks about measurement of food and sensory quality as well as contribute to science-based advice to national authorities, government agencies and public administration The work will comprise development of study designs, conducting experimental work, data analysis and report writing. The work will be done on an individual basis or in a team with staff.
Your main responsibilities will include:

• Assisting the panel leader for the trained sensory panel in FQS. This includes sample preparation, facilitating the tasks for the sensory panel and data analysis.
• Assisting with science-based advice tasks to national authorities, government agencies and public administration. This include conducting intervention studies, data analysis and report writing.
• Assisting with food analyses of different products.

Qualifications

We are looking for candidates with the following qualifications:

• A relevant MSc degree in food science or sensory science
• Proven experience in planning and conducting scientific experimental studies
• Documented knowledge in sensory analysis
• Excellent qualification in writing Danish and English since the reports will be written in either Danish or English

We Offer

• A vibrant, interdisciplinary, and supportive work environment.
• Opportunities to work on innovative, high-impact projects

The Department of Food Science

The Department of Food Science is part of the Faculty of Technology, Aarhus University and includes research across the food value chain within the areas of Plant Production Systems, Biofunctional Food, Systems Biology, Food Chemistry and Technology, Food Quality, and Sensory and Consumer Science. The Department currently employs approx. 60 full time research staff and 80 PhD students and Postdocs, with an additional approx. 60 Master and Bachelor thesis-based students and visiting researchers, who together contribute to an international research environment where English is the preferred language in the laboratory, at meetings and at seminars.

We offer a challenging and independent job opportunity in an ambitious and inspiring research and education environment with an informal atmosphere. We are looking for a dynamic employee who is able to work independently and maintain an overview during periods of high workload. We expect that you are efficient at planning your time and organizing major tasks. You enjoy interaction with both scientific staff, students and technical-administrative staff and you have a flair for establishing collaborative relationships. The Department works in teams and therefore self-leadership, clear and open communication, success in mentoring, supervising and teaching are important qualities needed to be successful in the Department. In addition, the Department has a strong culture that is based on openness, equality, consultation and inclusion, and contributing to the Department strategy and working environment is viewed as important.
The Department is responsible for a Master’s programme in Molecular Nutrition and Food Technology, taught at AU, Denmark, and a Master’s programme in Food and Health at the Sino-Danish Center in Beijing, China. In addition, Department staff contribute to several other key interdisciplinary educations, including Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in Agrobiology, and a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering in Food Technology, Aarhus University. Staff also teach on a number of other educations offered at other Universities in Denmark and China.

The Department also conducts research-based advice of the Danish Government in the areas of plant production and food quality.
Please refer to http://food.au.dk/ for further information about The Department of Food Science and to https://tech.au.dk/en/and http://www.au.dk/en/ for information on Faculty of Technical Sciences and Aarhus University, respectively.

Place of work and area of employment

The place of work is Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark. The working hours are 37 hours per week. The position is temporary and will end June 1st 2027.

For further information contact Associate Professor Ulla Kidmose, email: ulla.kidmose@food.au.dk, cell phone +45 20865197

Living in Aarhus / Denmark

Please visit the International Centre website (http://www.au.dk/en/internationalcentre/) for information about arriving, working and living in Denmark.
 

Application procedure

Short-listing is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the assessment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. The selection is made on the basis of an assessment of who of the candidates are most relevant considering the requirements of the advertisement. All applicants will be notified within 6 weeks whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee and will receive his/her assessment. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.

Letter of reference

If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

If you wish to add a referee after you have submitted your application, you must send this person’s details (name, job title, place of work, and email address) as well as the name of the position you have applied for to: HR.Nattech@au.dk

Formalities and salary range

Natural Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here.

Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.

Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.
 

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/