Associate professor in Life Cycle Assessment for the green transition

The Department of Sustainability and Planning at The Technical Faculty of IT and Design invites applications for a position as associate professor in the field of Sustainability Science and Industrial ecology and specifically Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as per June 1st, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a permanent position.

The Department of Sustainability and Planning (PLAN) at Aalborg University conducts research and teaching on development and planning in a broad sense, combining both social science perspectives and technical approaches. Its study programmes and research activities are rooted in sustainability and the green transition, spanning areas such as circular economy, technology, urban, energy and environmental planning, sustainable transition and design, as well as environmental assessment, marine management, nature restoration and climate adaptation. 

You can read more on the Department here and the faculty here.

Your job responsibilities
As associate professor of Life Cycle Assessment for the green transition you will join the Life Cycle Sustainability research group at PLAN, and will contribute to the department’s research and teaching environment and to the faculty’s overall research strategy. You will contribute to the development of the department both independently and in collaboration with others via your research of high international quality. You ensure that your teaching maintains a high academic and didactic standard. You possess excellent collaborative skills and a broad academic network which you can bring into play in your contribution to the academic development of Aalborg University and its profile both nationally and internationally.

Your main tasks will consist of:

• Research of high international quality, including publication in top international journals and communicating your research in national and international academic networks.
•  Teaching and supervision of bachelor’s and master’s degree students and contribution to the development of new teaching activities.
• Writing of grant applications for external research funding.
• Supervision of PhD students and contributing to the development of the faculty's PhD courses. 
• Involvement in assessment and committee work at Aalborg University.
  Dissemination of your research to the outside world. 
  
  

More specifically, key tasks for this position will be to:

• Conduct high‑quality research and disseminate it in high-ranking journals within the domains of Industrial Ecology, Sustainability Science, and Environmental Systems Analysis.
• Advance methodological development in LCA, including harmonization, modelling approaches (consequential, while life cycle carbon, prospective), and integration with other sustainability frameworks. 
• Conduct LCA and sustainability assessment studies and across diverse areas of applications relevant for the green transition, such as bio-based production and bioeconomy, circular economy, circular construction, digitalization.
• Lead and participate in sustainability assessment-related tasks within national and international research projects, including proposal development and consortium collaboration.
• Support the development of interdisciplinary research agendas related to sustainability assessment, as well as capacity building in LCA, and strengthen the group’s role in national and international networks.
• Teach courses related to LCA and environmental assessment using Aalborg University’s problem based learning (PBL) model.

You will report to the Head of Department Anne Merrild.

Your competences
You have established yourself with a prominent, independent research profile within Industrial Ecology and Sustainability Science and possess documented solid research and teaching qualifications at a high international level, as well as you have experience with academic leadership tasks in a research group. You have broad international cooperative partnerships and experience of collaborations with private and public-sector organizations. At the same time, you have experience of applying for funding from national and international funding bodies. It is an advantage if you have stayed or been employed at one or more internationally recognized research institutions. Specifically as ideal candidate for this position you have substantial documented research experience and publication record in LCA and can demonstrate a strong ability to develop and apply LCA methods and approaches that support evidence‑based decision‑making at different scales, such as consequential LCA, input-output LCA, hybrid LCA, in different areas such as sustainable production and consumption, circular economy, climate mitigation, construction, and bio‑based systems. Familiarity with integrating structured and open data practices in LCA workflows will be considered a plus. Additionally, you have a proven track record of teaching LCA in higher education. Teaching experience with the problem based learning (PBL) model is a strong plus. 
As a person, you are dedicated and possess advanced communication skills. You can build relationships based on trust with students, colleagues and partners. As a lecturer you communicate the newest and relevant knowledge in a committed, clear and comprehensible manner. As a supervisor you are competent, inspiring and supportive.
You are ready to take co-responsibility for the development of the department's research and education at the highest international level and for ensuring that we maintain a good work environment. You naturally involve yourself in interdisciplinary collaboration at departmental, faculty and university level as well as nationally and internationally.
We expect you to be able to write and speak English at the academic level. International applicants are expected to learn Danish, and Aalborg University arranges Danish teaching.
To be assessed qualified for an associate professor position, you must meet these academic criteria 

Shortlisting will be used.

Questions about the position
If you have any questions about the position, please contact Massimo Pizzol by telephone: +45 9940 8369 and mail massimo@plan.aau.dk.

Your place of work will be the Department of Sustainability and Planning, Rendsburggade 14, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark.

Qualification requirements
Appointment as an associate professor requires research and teaching qualifications at the level that can be achieved through the satisfactory completion of a period of employment as an assistant professor but may also be obtained in other ways.

It is a precondition that applicants have documented research at an international standard. In addition, applicants are assumed to have received supervision and pedagogical skills development and to have obtained a positive written assessment of their teaching qualifications.

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 (master's 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 ten publications. You must submit a co-author statement, see template for co-author statement 
• Documentation of teaching qualifications.
•  Please see guidelines for teaching portfolio at The Technical Faculty of IT and Design, 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 University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's 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) (in Danish) and protocol on certain terms of employment of academic staff at universities (in Danish). 

There is a mutual probationary period of 3 months for the position.

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 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.