Job description

The TIK Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture invites applications to a four year temporary position as Associate Professor in Science & Technology Studies (SKO 1011) with an expected starting date in summer 2023. The position will substitute teaching and supervision duties of one of our professors who is currently director of TIK.

The successful candidate will be expected to initiate and lead research within Science and Technology Studies (STS), to acquire external funding to research projects in this area, to supervise Ph.D. and MA candidates, to coordinate and participate in teaching, exam work and evaluation at both levels, to carry out administrative work in accordance with the needs of the Centre, as well as contribute to the on-going work of building, sustaining and leading the Centre’s research and teaching environment.

The associate professor will be expected to participate in developing the Centre´s STS-research group “Science, Technology and Culture”. Science and technology are studied as cultural and material practices that are shaped by society and crucial in the production of social and political reality. It is expected that the successful candidate will participate in research and other activities that are relevant to the research group’s scientific profile in STS.

Qualification requirements and assessment criteria

The successful candidate must have the following qualifications:

• Ph.D. within STS or related fields
• In-depth theoretical knowledge of and empirical work within STS; strong documented research competence within this field, particularly within the past five to seven years
• Documented experience and skills in teaching, academic leadership and administration included documented pedagogical skills.
• Leadership skills, personal suitability and motivation for the position
• Good oral and written skills in English are required and knowledge of one of the Scandinavian languages is an advantage.

The following qualifications will be given particular weight in the assessment:

• Strong academic qualifications and academic contributions to STS where originality and innovative thinking in developing analytically and methodologically driven empirical research will be emphasized
• Documented research competence and interests in areas that are relevant to the Centre’s core scientific profile in science, technology and culture
• Pedagogical qualifications on Ph.D. and master levels (including Ph.D.-supervision)
• Collaborative skills and documented experience with initiating joint research projects; collaboration across established academic disciplines, as well as an ability to build international networks
• Documented ability to acquire external research funding
• Ability to contribute to the long-term development of the interdisciplinary academic and research environment at the Centre
• Communication skills, interpersonal skills and documented experience with public outreach activities

In the assessment of the qualified candidates, all criteria listed above will be explicitly addressed and assessed. Applicants will be evaluated based on their documented academic qualifications as well as qualifications in teaching, management and administration.

The department’s overall needs will be part of the considerations made in the hiring process. The successful candidate for this temporary 4-year position will be teaching and supervising as part of TIKs Master’s program and participate actively in all the functions that the position entails, including administrative tasks. Knowledge of one of the Scandinavian languages is therefore an advantage. Residency in or close to Oslo is expected. Applicants who do not have basic pedagogical competencies must acquire such within the two first years of employment.

Interviews will be part of the appointment process, along with a trial lecture.

We offer

• Salary NOK 661 400 to NOK 790 100 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Associate Professor (position code 1011)
• Academically stimulating working environment
• Focus on working conditions for academic staff and researchers
• Good pension benefits under the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund scheme
• Good welfare benefits

How to apply

The application must include:

• Application letter and research plan: The letter should include a short description of the applicant’s academic profile, how the applicant views his/her academic orientation in relation to the core areas of the TIK Centre and its STS-research group and how the applicant will contribute to the development of TIK. The application must also contain a research plan which outlines what the applicant aims to achieve in the position.
• CV (complete list of education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience, project acquisition and coordination experience, and other qualifying activities)
• A complete list of publications. The applicant is requested to indicate (but not send, see below) up to five academic publications for particular consideration during the assessment process. Copies of these works must be made available on request.
• Educational portfolio documenting educational competence and experience

• References (list of 2-3 persons with name, title, email and phone number)

A screening committee will invite a limited number of candidates (“short list”) to submit a portfolio of academic work (i.e. up to five publications) that are particularly relevant for the position. Academic texts shall therefore not be enclosed with the application. In relation to larger volumes (monographs), the selected applicants should specify particular parts of the publication for review. After first assessing the candidates’ formal documented competence in STS, the screening committee will assess candidates for the short list based on documented track record in publishing as well as in teaching and supervision. An expert committee will then assess and rank the short-listed candidates as the basis for an appointment decision by the Social Science Faculty.

Application with attachments must be submitted via our online recruitment system. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

Formal regulations

Please refer to the Rules for Appointments to Professorships and Associate Professorships at the University of Oslo, the Guide for Applicants and Members of the Assessment Committee and Rules for practicing the requirement for basic pedagogical competence at the University of Oslo.

Pursuant to section 25(2) of the Freedom of Information Act, information concerning the applicant may be made public, even if the applicant has requested not to appear on the list of applicants.

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.

The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

Contact information

• Head of STS research group, Professor Susanne Bauer
• Head of Administration, Inger-Johanne Ullern

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