At the Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, our
mission is to conduct research-based teaching as well as
world-class fundamental and applied research, at regional, national, and international levels. We generate knowledge for the world and educate bachelors, masters, and PhDs in biology, chemistry, biotechnology, bioengineering, environmental science, and chemical engineering.

Our research generates fundamental and applied knowledge that contributes to solving important and critical challenges, and benefits society on regional, national, and international scales. Our contributions help to achieve United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and we align with AAU’s overall strategy for generating Knowledge for the World. By bridging engineering and natural sciences, we create results and synergies in research, problem-based learning, and knowledge collaborations. We incorporate the latest research in our problem-based educations, and we are committed to provide our graduates
and PhD’s with independent, collaborative, and solutionoriented mindsets, founded on deep knowledge, understanding, and competencies within their fields of expertise.

We have a strong position as an international research and teaching environment with a committed focus on excellence within innovation and fundamental knowledge generation and sharing, as well as interdisciplinary collaboration. Our staff deliver world-class basic and applied research as well as teaching through curiosity-driven, problembased, and mission-driven approaches. Our technical and administrative staff contribute to value creation at the department by being proactive, relevant, and service- and solution-oriented in their processes and support functions and have a focus on the department’s core activities. We continuously improve our department as an attractive place of work and study.

Together, we create a professional, dynamic, and diverse place of work and study. We strive to promote creative and innovative thinking in research and teaching. We value being an attractive and trustworthy partner for external collaborators. We are inclusive and have respect for individuals, communities, and cultures. Our work culture is founded on openness, curiosity, transparency, and involvement.

We share the responsibility to stay committed to always
having a constructive, open-minded, and proactive
approach to improving our work culture. We offer each
other constructive feedback based in mutual respect
and integrity, and we celebrate each other’s big and
small achievements.

Enhancing the sense of community within our diverse
department. We work to enhance the possibility to
specialise and diversify as well as come together as one
department across sections and job categories.

Supporting a wide range of careers and career paths to
secure and promote development and diversification of our staff on all levels. We will focus on clear career paths, clear expectations, and flexible organisation of research groups.

Continuously improving and strengthening individualised work-life balances while securing a vibrant academic environment at the department. We wish to provide clear routes to support work-related needs regarding mental and physical health.

Strengthening and developing the possibilities for formal
and informal involvement – from local research groups
to international collaborations. This includes increasing
awareness about the department’s organisation and
representatives in councils and committees.

Strengthening coherent support and knowledge-sharing
opportunities regarding administration, management,
teaching, funding, and research within the organisational
structure as well as with AAU support units and other
relevant collaborators.

Ensuring an open and accessible management with
transparent communication, as well as encouraging a
general open-door culture that enhances both formal
and informal collaborations, unity, and inclusion within
the department.

Ensuring a systematic approach to talent and competency development for all employees to meet the demands of a changing world regarding soft and technical skills.

Increasing the focus on career clarification for all employees and especially for non-tenured staff and master students. We wish to support individualised, realistic, and transparent career plans whether at the department or elsewhere.

Developing a systematic approach to promoting relevant
competency development activities. We look into both
external, AAUs, and internal activities to address the
diversity of needed skills.

Continuous development of educational programmes
and the competencies of employees, in accordance with
the future needs and interests of our candidates, the
latest research, and resource efficiency. We will focus on
changes (demographic, motivational, behavioural, etc.)
in student populations as well as students’ well-being
and completion. We will secure our competitiveness in
attracting both national and international students.

Securing involvement of scientific staff in study development, quality of studies, and engagement in teaching activities via interesting, balanced, and appropriate teaching tasks.

Implementing and adapting to upcoming educational
reforms and declining populations of potential students
while ensuring relevant competencies and employability
of our graduates.

Securing a collaborative culture and relevant infrastructure (or access to such) to support research-based educations, high-level research, and innovation through knowledge collaboration, interdisciplinary idea generation, and optimised funding processes.

Developing coherent research strategies, which are
shaped and sharpened in collaborations between research groups, sections, and management. The strategies are developed with focus on strongholds, academic diversity, and individual freedom of research. We engage actively in the relevant missions, mission platforms, and other research initiatives.

Developing an operational structure at the department
that supports and promotes a disseminating culture with
transparent and timely communication strategies.