SDU - Postdoc Position in Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering, Odense, Denmark

SDU UAS Center at the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute (MMMI), University of Southern Denmark in Odense, invites applications for an open position in Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering at the postdoc level. The 3-year position is available from December 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

What we offer
The successful candidate will become part of the SDU UAS Center, located at SDU Campus and in HCA Airport where we have state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor laboratories for drones. You will be part of an interdisciplinary and agile research team with many opportunities for developing your own research. We offer a positive work environment and a close connection to the world-leading robotics community of Odense. We expect the candidate to contribute to ongoing research projects at SDU UAS Center and to eventually acquire their own research funding. The candidate will be conducting teaching in the context of our Master of Science education in Drones and Autonomous Systems, which is part of the Robotics Master of Science education at the University of Southern Denmark.

What we expect
We expect candidates to have documented expertise in systems engineering for unmanned aerial systems with real-world applications. The candidate will be expected to conduct research in aerial robotics, focusing on the design and implementation of unmanned aerial systems operating in realistic outdoor environments. Relevant areas of research include (but are not limited to) drone systems, multi-drone systems, integrated systems and control, UAS hardware modeling and deployment, safety and reliability, and software engineering. Experience in real-world applications relevant to the green transition (https://ec.europa.eu/reform-support/what-we-do/green-transition_en) is considered an advantage, with a particular focus on those application areas already addressed by SDU UAS. 

Commensurate with the seniority of the position applied for, the candidates should have:

• Relevant research and publication record,
• Teaching experience in undergraduate or graduate programs,
• Experience with industrial collaboration.

Moreover, experience attracting research funding is considered an advantage.

Research environment

SDU UAS Center conducts research in UAS technologies and future UAS applications within areas such as infrastructure inspection, healthcare logistics, precision agriculture, nature conservation, and environmental monitoring. We are an interdisciplinary team of researchers with specializations within robotics, computer vision, software, embedded systems, ethics, and the design and construction of drone systems. Together we create drone solutions for a flourishing European society. Learn more about the center at https://www.sdu.dk/en/uas.

For further information please contact Professor Ulrik Pagh Schultz Lundquist, ups@mmmi.sdu.dk,  65503570

If you experience technical problems, please contact hcm-support@sdu.dk. 

Application procedure

Applicants are advised to read the SDU information on how to apply.

Assessment of the candidates is based on the application material, and an application must include: 

• Motivated application.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Master’s and PhD degree certificate or equivalent (copy of original/official English translation).
• Complete list of publications.
• Publications most relevant to the position (must be attached as PDF-files).
• Summary and documentation of experience in teaching, if relevant to the position. You may attach as a Teaching Portfolio.
• A research statement may be included.
• References/reference letters may also be included.
• A statement/documentation of other qualifications relevant to the position may also be included.

All documents must be in English and PDF format, no more than 5 MB per file. Documents should not contain a CPR number (civil registration number) – in this case, the CPR number must be crossed out.

UPLOAD GUIDE: Motivated application shall be uploaded as ‘Cover letter’, Curriculum Vitae shall be uploaded as ‘Resume’. All other documents shall be uploaded as ‘Miscellaneous documents’. 

The application deadline is June 1, 2025, at 11.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST) 

Assessment and selection process

Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. Shortlisting may be applied, and only shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment. Read about shortlisting at SDU. Interviews and tests may be part of the overall evaluation.

Read about the Assessment and selection process.  

Conditions of employment

Appointment as postdoc is temporary and for an initial 3-year period, and extension may be possible depending on available funding.

Employment as a postdoc requires scientific qualifications at PhD level at the time of employment.

Employment will be in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the state with the associated circular on the protocol for the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for postdoc as described herein. Further information on salary and taxation.  

The person employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial evaluation, be exempted from time registration, also known as a “self-organiser”.

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The University of Southern Denmark wishes our staff to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position. SDU conducts research in critical technologies, which, due to the risk of unwanted knowledge transfer, are subject to a number of security measures. Therefore, based on information from open sources, background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position.

Further information for international applicants about entering and working in Denmark. You may also visit WorkinDenmark for additional information.

Further information about The Faculty of Engineering.

What we expect
We expect candidates to have documented expertise in systems engineering for unmanned aerial systems with real-world applications. The candidate will be expected to conduct research in aerial robotics, focusing on the design and implementation of unmanned aerial systems operating in realistic outdoor environments. Relevant areas of research include (but are not limited to) drone systems, multi-drone systems, integrated systems and control, UAS hardware modeling and deployment, safety and reliability, and software engineering. Experience in real-world applications relevant to the green transition (https://ec.europa.eu/reform-support/what-we-do/green-transition_en) is considered an advantage, with a particular focus on those application areas already addressed by SDU UAS. 

Commensurate with the seniority of the position applied for, the candidates should have:

• Relevant research and publication record,
• Teaching experience in undergraduate or graduate programs,
• Experience with industrial collaboration.

Moreover, experience attracting research funding is considered an advantage.

Conditions of employment

Appointment as postdoc is temporary and for an initial 3-year period, and extension may be possible depending on available funding.

Employment as a postdoc requires scientific qualifications at PhD level at the time of employment.

Employment will be in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for academics in the state with the associated circular on the protocol for the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for postdoc as described herein. Further information on salary and taxation.  - 

The person employed in the position may, based on a specific individual managerial evaluation, be exempted from time registration, also known as a “self-organiser”.