New Head of Department at BMB with roots in Southern Jutland

As Jakob Møller-Jensen says himself , he "didn't hesitate to say yes" when Dean Martin Zachariasen asked him in late August if he would be interested in the position. He had never imagined that he would be appointed Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, but he is incredibly happy about the opportunity:

"I am so grateful for the way that everyone around me has taken the news. The academic staff, the technical and administrative staff, and my new management colleagues have offered me their support and encouragement, which means a lot to me. I'm really looking forward to working with everyone and to the new and interesting tasks that come with my new position," says Jakob enthusiastically.

Jakob is a real "product" of SDU. He started in 1993 on the common Science year, and had always thought that he would study chemistry. However, very early on he became fascinated by molecular biology, which he still works with today. He also earned his PhD at SDU before going to Cambridge as a postdoc from 2003-2006. A girlfriend enticed him back to Odense, though, and a Steno scholarship in 2007 allowed him to come back to SDU and BMB, first as a postdoc and later as an assistant professor. He has been here ever since.

Career defined by teaching and education

Even at the beginning of his career at BMB, it was clear to Jakob that teaching should define his career path, and when talking to Jakob there is no doubt that teaching is very close to his heart:

"I've always had a special affection for teaching. To see the new students on 1 September so full of expectations and thirst for knowledge is fantastic. They radiate an energy that gives a great deal back to the teachers. As a teacher, I always let my passion for what I'm talking about shine through. I remember as a student being inspired by lectures, and I want to do the same for my students too. I also hope that I can still continue to teach in spite of my new role," says Jakob.

For the past 6 or 7 years, Jakob has been involved with the Teaching Committee at BMB and has also been a member of the Study Board of Science for a number of years, so he has already had ample opportunity to make his mark on BMB's study programmes and teaching.

First thoughts about role as new Head of Department

Jakob is busy investigating what is involved in being Head of Department, and he has also used most of September absorbing knowledge:

"The past month has been really exciting. I've been allowed to get right into the inner workings of BMB in terms of purchasing, finance and so on, as well as the Faculty's Management Group, which I will of course also be part of. I'm really paying attention to how the other Heads of Department tackle things, and I'm intrigued by how differently things can be done. I need to find my own management style, but I'm getting inspiration from others," says Jakob.

It is an exciting time for BMB at the moment with a new Center of Excellence on the way, and Jakob is very proud to be involved with it:

"Susanne Mandrup's new Center will give the whole department a boost, and I'm really looking forward to being part of it in a different way than I had originally imagined. It will mean a lot for the whole Department in terms of concrete infrastructure, but I also think that it will contribute to our sense of self and give us a bit of a feeling of moving up into another league. It'll be fantastic," says Jakob with great optimism.

Jakob is going into his new role in the Jutlandish, slightly humble fashion, and he is being realistic about having a six-month contract:

“I'm very aware that I am Head of Department ad interim for only six months, and that I shouldn't come in and start changing everything. I can help sow some seeds and maybe start some processes, but if big decisions are to be made at the Department, it will have to be the Head who replaces me after six months who has that responsibility. A piece of good advice I got from one of my management colleagues is that a Head of Department's most important task is to keep everyone motivated. We have so many talented, ambitious and motivated staff, and I see the Head of Department's role as being more of a facilitator so that the talented people get the best conditions for realising their potential. I'm also really looking forward to interdisciplinary collaboration across Departments, which a role like this requires as well," explains Jakob.

If Jakob were to describe the kind of Head of Department he would like to be, his answer is:

"It's important to be able to manage both upwards and downwards. The decisions made for BMB should in my opinion always be as qualified as possible, and that means the inclusion of the staff is a crucial element. I also want to take the mandate of my colleagues upwards to the Faculty's Management Group, so it has another function than just information."

Originally from Southern Jutland

Jakob is originally from Vojens, a small town in Southern Jutland where, by his own definition, he had a very secure upbringing. He took part in many different sports during his childhood, and until he was 15 years old he also spent a lot of time playing the accordion:

"I actually miss playing an instrument. I feel bad that I don't have time for it as an adult, but I must admit that when you're 15 it isn't very cool to play the accordion. That's why I replaced it with a hifi system instead," says Jakob, laughing.

As an adult, he has played a great deal of badminton but had to stop a year ago as it didn't fit in with his family life. Instead, he now plays hockey once a week and goes for a run at the weekends as it is a little easier to fit in.

Jakob has two children - Laurits, 10, and Frida, 6 - with his wife Elin who works as a paediatrician for the City of Odense.

Renovation enthusiast

One year ago, Jakob and Elin bought a house originally built in 1934, and he spends a lot of time working on it:

"I'm not really a great handyman, but I'm fascinated by old houses, and I think it's fun to have projects I can make my mark on. I like things that are linear, and I think a house project is like that. You can see how far you've got, and it's so different from the university life, which is highly complex, and you don't always know where things end or are leading to. I like the contrast. As soon as I put my painting clothes on, I know I'm home," concludes Jakob.

So ends a cosy and pleasant interview, and through his dry but very humorous manner Jakob comes across as a very normal person - maybe too normal, as he says himself - but also one who is incredibly well-liked by his colleagues. Thank you, Jakob!