New deputy director for AU Research with experience in the sector

Jacob Schmidt will soon take up his position as deputy director for AU Research, and he has considerable experience as a senior manager to draw on. He has previously been university director at the University of Southern Denmark, director of the Danish Safety Technology Authority, and a deputy director at DSB. In his most recent position, he was administrative centre manager at the Danish National Academy of Music. Jacob Schmidt has an MSc in Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark and, since graduating, he has also obtained a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (HD) and completed a number of management programmes, including at INSEAD and Stanford.

University Director Kristian Thorn, who headed the appointment committee, highlights his extensive management experience and his in-depth knowledge of the sector.

“Jacob Schmidt brings with him considerable knowledge of the university world and administration in complex organisations – as well as a solid insight into the administrative side of research and innovation. He also has a wealth of experience leading organisations through periods of change. With this and his strong focus on collaboration, it was a unanimous appointment committee that chose in favour of Jacob Schmidt. I very much look forward to working with him”, says Kristian Thorn.

As deputy director, Jacob Schmidt will help determine the strategic direction of all research administration at the university and ensure the continued development of AU Research as an area of central administration. Research administration is a rapidly developing area, which is driven by new opportunities for collaboration and increasing external demands. One of his first important jobs will be to ensure that activities in AU Research are structured effectively, which includes establishing a new unit for research data and administration.

Jacob Schmidt is looking forward to leading AU Research and to delving into the professional expertise connected to research administration.

“I am looking forward to working with managers, employees and members of the academic community to ensure that researchers have the best possible opportunities to secure funding and conduct research. I believe this is an extremely important task. But it’s also a complex task that we need to work on together. As a leader, I am interested in people and collaboration – we can achieve more collectively than we can individually, and I am looking forward to supporting close team collaboration – both in AU Research, across the university, and with external partners”, says Jacob Schmidt.

Jacob Schmidt lives in Odense with his wife, who is a researcher. They have four children, two of whom still live at home.