Job description

A permanent position of Associate Professor of Museology and Cultural History at the Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages, University of Oslo.

The successful candidate will take part in initiating and leading museological research, supervise PhD candidates, and teach at all levels.

The holder of the position is expected to play a leading role in running and developing the Master program in Museology and Heritage, teaching on the Bachelor program in Cultural History and on PhD level, as well as taking part in the development of research and education connected to a broad heritage field.

Cultural History and Museology is a section within the Department with a broad research portfolio including history of exhibitions, collections and museums; heritage studies and the history of heritage; memory and time studies; the history of knowledge and the cultural history of nature; indigenous studies; folklore and ethnology. Currently the section houses two large projects with relevance for the position: SAMLA, digitization of The Norwegian Folklore Archives, and HEI – The Heritage Experience Initiative. We expect the candidate to relate to one or more of these fields.

Qualification requirements

• PhD or equivalent academic qualifications within museology and cultural history.
• Documented pedagogical skills (either a teaching course certificate or based on teaching experience) see how to document your pedagogical skills
• Documented potential for project acquisition
• Documented experience and ability in research and teaching administration and leadership
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English and preferably also in a Scandinavian language (see Formal regulations below)
• Personal suitability and motivation for the position

The following qualifications will count in the assessment of the applicants:

• Academic qualifications and academic production in museology and cultural history. We expect the candidate to complement and strengthen existing research in the section. Emphasis will be on works published within the last five years and works accepted for publication. Originality and innovative research will be weighted more heavily than quantity. Academic production will be evaluated in relation to the career stage of individual applicants.
• International peer-reviewed publications
• Experience with research projects
• Experience from work in the museum and heritage sector
• Potential to contribute to the long-term development of the academic and research environment at the Department
• Pedagogical qualifications, documented results from teaching and supervision, and disposition to inspire students
• Experience with teaching courses in cultural history and/or museology at university level
• Interest and ability in leadership and administration
• Ability to create and contribute to a positive environment for collaboration
• Experience with and ability to build international networks
• Skills within popular dissemination, public outreach and innovation

In the evaluation of the qualified candidates, the full range of these criteria will be explicitly addressed and assessed.

Academic quality, development potential and breadth will be prioritised in this order. The selected candidates are expected to contribute to the objective in the University of Oslo’s strategic plan to “strengthen its international position as a leading research-intensive university through a close interaction across research, education, communication and innovation”.

The successful candidate should demonstrate mastery of both English and one of the Scandinavian languages as working languages. If an appointee is not fluent in a Scandinavian language, s/he is expected to reach proficiency equivalent to level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) within two years. Within three years the appointee is expected to, in Norwegian, be able to actively participate in all functions the position may involve, including teaching. The Faculty of Humanities will aid and facilitate the appointee in reaching said proficiency.

We offer

• Salary NOK 604 700 – 702 100 per annum depending on qualifications
• A professionally stimulating working environment
• Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Attractive welfare benefits
• The opportunity to apply for promotion to full professorship at a later stage

How to apply

The application must include:

• Application letter (statement of motivation, summarising scientific work and research interest)
• Curriculum Vitae (list of education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience, project acquisition and coordination experience, and other relevant qualifications)
• Complete list of published works
• Description of one or more research projects which may be relevant for the Department)
• List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language), either in the original or in translation.

Applicants are required to describe and document the entire range of qualifications and criteria described in the announcement of the post with concrete examples.

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “Apply for this job”.

Selection procedure

As the first step in the evaluation process, a Selection Committee will assess all applications and invite the most qualified applicants to submit a portfolio of educational certificates and academic works (up to 10 publications, which should not exceed 500 pages in total) for expert assessment. Academic texts shall therefore not be enclosed with the application. Applicants who are invited to submit academic works are asked to select three works, published within the last 5 years or accepted for publication, to be considered as most relevant for the position. In longer publications (monographs), applicants should specify the relevant pages. Applicants are further asked to submit a description of one or more research projects considered relevant for the Department. Applicants are also asked to submit an educational portfolio of 3-6 pages documenting educational competence and experience, including a reflection note in which your own practice and learning vision is anchored in the SoTL criteria (focus on student learning, development over time, a research approach and a collegial attitude and practice)

Finally, the most highly ranked candidates will be invited for an interview and a trial lecture.

Formal regulations

Please see the rules for appointments to Associate Professorships.

The successful candidate who at the time of appointment cannot document basic teaching qualifications will be required to obtain such qualifications within a two-year period. Please see the rules for practicing the requirement for basic university pedagogical competence at UiO.

Within his/her normal duties and in accordance with his/her academic competence, the person appointed may also be asked to work outside his/her Department. The appointment is made under the condition that the employer may change the subject area and assigned tasks according to the needs of the Department

According to the Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) § 25, Chapter 2, demographic information about the applicant may be used in the public list of applicants, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo has an Acquisition of Rights Agreement for the purpose of securing rights to intellectual property created by its employees, including research results.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contactinformation

For questions about the position:

• Head of Department Rune Svarverud
• Professor Ane Ohrvik

For questions on how to apply:

• HR-Officer Natali Helgesen

Apply for this job