Position as a Sensory Panel Leader at Aarhus University

Deadline 30 Nov

Expected start 1 Jan

AC-TAP position as a Sensory Panel Leader at Aarhus University

The Department of Food Science is seeking applications for an academic employee (AC-TAP). The position as a sensory panel leader, includes scientific, administrative, facilities coordination as well as teaching duties at the Department of Food Science within sensory and consumer science. The intended start date for this appointment is January, 2020, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The candidate
The candidate is expected to contribute to:

  • Independently lead, train and maintain internal and external descriptive panels.
  • Maintain all descriptive panels via an ongoing program for recruitment and screening of new panelists
  • Ensure panel quality via continuous monitoring of panel performance and initiating appropriate training programs
  • Recruitment of consumer panels via data bases, social media and other means for both internal and external contexts
  • To manage and ensure the optimum working of sensory facilities (booths, labs, computers/software, databases etc.) and ensure the appropriate supply of materials required
  • To integrate closely with the Sensory team to ensure good coordination of a wide portfolio of projects so that all sensory duties and responsibilities are completed in a professional and timely manner
  • To help prepare, manage and deliver sensory projects in collaboration with researchers, by applying appropriate methodologies to meet project objectives
  • Support young researchers/students in analyzing, interpreting, reporting and presenting project results to facilitate that key insights can be communicated
  • Support the sensory team in product design, development and scale up via product production trails linked to our pilot plant facilities
  • Document and report methods, results, conclusions and recommendations effectively, where required, including appropriate information and levels of detail in collaboration with scientists and external clients
  • Participate in teaching of relevant sensory and consumer related laboratory courses at the Department of Food Science including the assisting of students in development and implementation of sensory data collection software and basic data analysis
  • Responsible for implementing good laboratory practices and safe laboratory behaviour
  • Deliver on various additional duties related to the Department of Food Science

The position is aligned to the Science Team ‘Food Quality Perception and Society’ (FQS) at the Department of Food Science. https://food.au.dk/en/foodresearch/science-teams/food-quality-perception-society/ .The Science Team has access to state-of-the-art sensory and analytical facilities and advanced infrastructure, with a professionally trained and tested sensory panel and an ISO-approved sensory laboratory. Core to the team’s research approach is the synergy of human sensory measurements with instrumental techniques utilizing advanced facilities available in house e.g. texture analysers, 3D printing, EEG, biometric analysis, observation, eye tracking, GC-MS, LC-MS and NMR. There is also potential to access complementary research infrastructure via our close collaborators in psychology, physiology and neuro-imaging fields.

We offer a challenging job opportunity to be part of a global and dynamic Sensory research team, 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 should enjoy interacting with scientific staff, students and technical-administrative staff, and you should have the ability for establishing collaborative relationships with both scientific and with industrial clients.

Qualifications
The successful candidate must have:

  • a BSc or MSc degree in food science, nutritional science, biochemistry or similar with a sensory/consumer science focus
  • Minimum 1-year of experience in sensory evaluation, panel management and operation of sensory facilities role
  • In-depth knowledge of objective sensory methodologies, key being sensory profiling in food contexts
  • The ability to coordinate and deliver project reporting to meet deadlines
  • Excellent planning, organizational and communication skills
  • Excellent team working skills
  • Precise, responsible, and conscientious worker
  • Logical, analytical mind and curious
  • The ability to work independently
  • Documentation of strong communication skills in English is required and Danish would be a distinct advantage
  • Strong knowledge of data acquisition software, preferably Compusense, and data analysis programs such as R, Unscrambler, XL Stat, Minitab, SPSS would be an advantage

The Department of Food Science
The Department of Food Science is part of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Aarhus University and includes research within the areas Biofunctional Food, Systems Biology, Food Chemistry and Technology, Food Quality, Food Metabolomics, Sensory Science and Plant Production. The Department currently employs 60 full time scientific staff, approx. 50 PhD students and Postdocs, plus approx. 30 visiting students and staff who together contribute to an international research environment where English is the preferred language in the laboratory, at meetings and at seminars.

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. Contributing to the Department strategy and working environment is viewed as important.

Please refer to http://food.au.dk/en/ for further information about The Department of Food Science and to and http://www.au.dk/en/ for information on Science and Technology and Aarhus University, respectively.

Place of Work and area of Employment 
The place of work is Agro Food Park 48, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.

Living in Denmark
Please visit the International Centre website http://www.au.dk/en/internationalcentre/ or information about arriving and living in Denmark.

For further information contact Professor, Derek V. Byrne, Science Team Leader, Food Quality Perception & Society, e-mail: derekv.byrne@food.au.dk

Application procedure
The application should be in English and include curriculum vitae, degree certificate and a description of previous relevant experience. The application should include the names and e-mail addresses of three people who can provide a letter of reference.

Application deadline is 30. November, 2019
Formalities and salary range

Salary and terms as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Confederation of Professional Unions.

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background.

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

Further information

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