About the position

The Department of Chemistry at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, has a vacant Associate Professor position in organic chemistry. We are looking for a person who will strengthen our profile within organic chemistry. The person should have relevant expertise in organic chemistry, and a strong dedication to both teaching and research.

More about the position

The Department seeks a person who will be a potential scientific leader in organic chemistry, and who has clear educational and research visions, and abilities to establish and lead research projects. The candidate should be a chemist in an early stage of his/her career, who will contribute to strengthen our research and education within one or more of the following areas: organic synthesis (including synthesis in the direction of medicinal chemistry) and reactivity; organometallic chemistry; and homogeneous catalysis.

The majority of research within organic chemistry at the Department is organized within the Section for Catalysis and Organic Chemistry. Existing activities within organic chemistry are focused on the development of new tools in molecular chemistry, organometallic chemistry, hybrid materials, catalysis, structure and spectroscopy, and synthesis in fundamental and applied research in a context of sustainable development. Additional interdisciplinary activities are carried out in collaboration with other Sections at the Department. The current research environment is characterized by strong transversal research activities and inter-team interactions.

The Department of Chemistry manages the Oslo NMR Center, which is a national research infrastructure for NMR spectroscopy. The Section has a clear philosophy for internal collaborations – each team member contributes towards common goals and ambitions by contributing to joint projects and activities, while at the same time maintaining and developing his/her own core activities.

The successful applicant may furthermore be required to take on other teaching duties and administrative tasks, by request from the Department or the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.

Qualification requirements

Applicants must document academic qualifications in their field, equivalent to an Associate professor position. The successful applicant must be able to teach at all levels and to supervise Master and PhD students. 

The successful candidate must have actively conducted research in fields of organic chemistry after the reception of the doctorate degree, and document scientific achievements and experience in education and research supervision and leadership.

Required academic qualifications:

• The successful applicant must have completed a PhD in organic chemistry or a closely related area.
• The candidate should document expertise in organic chemistry, as a prerequisite for organic chemistry teaching at all levels (relevant courses may include lectures, laboratory, and group teaching activities). 
• The candidate must have extensive documented research experience within one or more of the following areas: organic synthesis and reactivity (including in the direction of medicinal chemistry), structural characterization including NMR spectroscopy, organometallic chemistry, homogeneous catalysis, reaction mechanisms, computational approaches, and catalytic reactions.
• The candidate must be able to supervise students and candidates at all levels within experimental, organic chemistry.
• Scientific qualifications will play a major role, and main emphasis will be on the candidate’s scientific production from the last five years.
• Documented potential for acquisition of external funding.
• Pedagogical qualifications and teaching and supervision experience at all levels will be an important factor in the evaluation process and should be well documented in a teaching portfolio. The applicant should describe her/his qualifications in view of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) framework which includes:
  • Focus on student learning.
  • A clear development over time.
  • A researching approach.
  • A collegial attitude and practice.
• The successful candidate who at the time of appointment cannot document sufficient teaching qualifications (minimum formal requirement is a 200 hours pedagogical program) will be required to obtain such qualifications within a two-year period.
• The successful candidate must demonstrate mastery of both English and one of the Scandinavian languages as working languages, in order to be able to teach and otherwise participate in all functions the position may involve. If the successful candidate does not have sufficient mastery of a Scandinavian language, B2 level, the candidate will be required to learn sufficient Norwegian within three years of employment.

Desired qualifications:

• Candidates should be able to establish, lead and conduct research projects, also as a collaborator. A track record in scientific and administrative leadership is an advantage, as well as participation in the acquisition of research grants.
• Experience in collaboration with industry and the institute sector is an advantage.
• International network, outreach activities, collegiality, and the ability to create a good working environment will be part of the evaluation.
• The person appointed will be requested to take on some administrative duties. Hence such experience will be an advantage.

Personal qualities

• Ability to create and contribute to a well-functioning, inclusive and productive research environment.
• Networking skills, ability to collaborate and conduct scientific leadership.
• Ability to cooperate and communicate well with other members of staff.

The successful candidate should have an international profile with respect to the above criteria. The candidate for this position will be selected based on excellence and fit with the section’s research profile.

We can offer you

• Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
• Committed colleagues in a good working environment. A pleasant and stimulating work environment 
• Good welfare schemes.
• Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours.
• A workplace with good development and career opportunities. 
• Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.
• The opportunity to apply for promotion to full professorship at a later stage only pertains to employment as Associate Professor.
• Salary in position as Associate Professor, position code 1011 in salary range NOK from 679 700 - to 870 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.

Read more about the benefits of working in the public sector at Employer Portal.

Inclusive worklife and diversity at UiO

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. 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.

We hope that you will apply for the position. 

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

Application

Your application should include:

• Application letter and motivation for the position.
• A research position paper (1–4 pages) describing the applicant’s vision and scientific ambitions for the near future.
• A detailed CV, including a complete list of education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative management, project acquisition and coordination experience, and other qualifying activities.
• Copies of educational certificates, PhD diploma, transcript of records and letters of recommendation.
• A complete list of publications and academic merits and awards (if not included in the CV).
• Full text of up to 10 selected scientific publications the applicant wishes to include in the evaluation.
• A document discussing the importance, interrelation, and relevance of the selected papers for this position.
• Educational portfolio of 3–6 pages documenting educational competence and experience, including a reflection note in which your own teaching practice and view of learning is anchored in the SoTL framework (focus on student learning, development over time, a researching approach and a collegial attitude and practice)
• List of reference persons: 2–3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for the position".

When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

General information

As a general rule an interview will be used in the appointment process, usually supplemented with a trial teaching session. The basis for assessment will be the scientific production of the applicant, the teaching portfolio, pedagogical and educational qualifications, the applicant’s qualifications within leadership and administration, other qualifications as well as general personal suitability for the position. In ranking the competent applicants, the full range of qualifications will be considered and explicitly assessed.

Rules for appointments to associate professorships. 

Rules for the assessment and weighting of pedagogical competence for appointments to permanent academic posts which include teaching duties: Rules for practising the requirement for basic university pedagogical competence at UiO - University of Oslo

Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we can't, you will hear from us.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results, see here.

In addition, the University of Oslo aims for its employees to reflect the diversity of the population to the greatest degree possible. We therefore encourage qualified applicants with disabilities or gaps in their CV to apply for the position. The University of Oslo will adapt the workplace to suit employees with disabilities. Applicants who indicate that they have disabilities or gaps in their CV are made aware that this information may be used for statistical purposes.

All candidates will have to undergo a check versus national export, sanctions and security regulations. Candidates may be excluded based on these checks. Primary checkpoints are the Export Control regulation, the Sanctions regulation, and the national security regulation.

Apply for the position

Questions about the position

• Stian Svelle (Professor), +47 228 55601, stian.svelle@kjemi.uio.no

• Line Altern Halvorsen Valbø (Head of Office), +47 228 55472, line.valbo@kjemi.uio.no

For questions regarding Jobbnorge, please contact: 

• Nina Holtan (HR Adviser), nina.holtan@mn.uio.no