Faculty position at the University Centre in Svalbard – Associate Professor in Deep-time geology
Deadline: 15.03.2026
Publisert
The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), located in Longyearbyen at 78°N, is the world’s northernmost institution for higher education. UNIS specializes in Arctic studies and offers field- and research-based courses at bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD level in Arctic biology, geology, geophysics, technology, and safety. UNIS makes use of its year-round presence in the unique Arctic environment, using the environment as a natural laboratory for research and education.
We attract around 700 students annually from all over the world. All teaching is conducted in English and roughly half of both staff and students are international. UNIS was established in 1993 and is operated as a state-owned company under the Ministry of Education and Research. The administrative language is Norwegian. UNIS’s values are inclusion, transparency, engagement, reliability, and respect.
About the department
The department of Arctic Geology seeks candidates for a permanent, full-time position as Associate Professor in Deep-time geology. Currently the department consists of 3 professors, 3 associate professors, 2 researchers, 4 PhDs and 5 adjunct professors, and we are in the process of hiring two more permanent associate professors, including this position.
The department conducts research and education in Arctic terrestrial and marine geology, and currently provides 18 courses at bachelor, MSc and PhD levels. The importance of field studies and integration between research and teaching is stressed at all levels throughout the teaching programs.
The department focuses on the Arctic earth system and currently conducts research projects onshore and offshore focusing on the cryosphere, landscape dynamics, Quaternary and deep time paleoclimate, basin geology including tectono-stratigraphy, digital geology, solid earth geophysics and field teaching. The geological record of Svalbard comprises sedimentary basins from Palaeozoic to Palaeogene age, formed under both extensional and compressional regimes, where glacially eroded fjords and valleys provide world-class outcrops. In addition, drill-cores and geophysical data exist from several basins, providing field-based research and teaching laboratories in basin geology. We also have field-based laboratories focusing on surface sediment dynamics and implications for high latitude sedimentary systems.
In the context of the announced position the SVALCLIME initiative aims to drill and fully core Permian to Paleogene strata from Svalbard to decipher how the global climate changed in the past, and the candidate is expected to contribute to the project along with other members of the department.
More information about the department can be found here.
About the position
The department of Arctic Geology is looking for candidates for a permanent, full-time position as Associate Professor in Deep-time geology.
We seek a motivated candidate with a research background in Arctic basin geology and a desire to take the next step in their academic career with Svalbard’s rock record as their “office”. Ideally, we seek an ambitious geoscientist who is equally comfortable working in the field, with drill cores and in the office and develops an active research presence (i.e. publications, grant capture, networking). Current research is then used to support teaching at UNIS, ideally also involving students in active research projects (e.g., MSc projects).
The appointed person will be responsible for both undergraduate and graduate level teaching courses and for supervising students at BSc, MSc and PhD levels. They will also be expected to develop their teaching within the framework and strategy of the department. The candidates should have well-documented teaching experience at different academic levels. UNIS has a strong focus on educational quality and SoTL based education practice. Participation in UNIS internal committees and other administrative and departmental activities will be required.
Required qualifications
A PhD degree or an equivalent academic competence is required.
Research background in basin geology for example, source-to-sink studies, tectono-stratigraphy and deep-time palaeoclimate
Ability to create a strong independent field-based research program in Svalbard
Expertise in sedimentological field work on both outcrops and drill cores
A research agenda and skills complementary to current staff in the department
Interest in interdisciplinary collaboration across UNIS’ departments
Required teaching experience and formal pedagogical competence (and interest in developing high quality education at all levels).*
Ability to teach broadly across the geology courses offered by the department and contribute to interdisciplinary courses
Experience with Arctic/ high latitude or remote fieldwork
Driver’s license class B (valid for Svalbard)
Good oral and written communication skills in English and Norwegian (B2-level)**
* See information regarding teaching experience and required pedagogical experience
** See information about language requirements
Required teaching experience and formal pedagogical competence
For a position as an associate professor, basic competence in teaching and supervision at university and university college level is required.
This includes basic skills in planning, implementation, evaluation and development of teaching and supervision and can be achieved through having completed:
A pedagogical training course at minimum 200 hours with the aim of qualifying for all aspects of the basic competence or
Relevant courses in combination with own teaching which the institution considers to be equivalent to a pedagogical training course of at least 200 hours.
Teaching competence must be documented through a teaching portfolio. This shall include an overview of practical teaching experience and competence, documentation of this and a brief reflection note. The reflection note shall primarily be linked to one's own teaching philosophy and evaluation of one's own teaching in relation to knowledge about students' learning in higher education.
Applicants that cannot document formal pedagogical competence at the time of employment must acquire this within the first two years after their appointment.
Language Requirements:
UNIS is a Norwegian institution and all the education we offer is to be compliant with Norwegian universities. Non-native Scandinavians must pass an approved Norwegian language test at B2 level on the Council of Europe Level Scale for Languages (CEFR) within two years.
Advantageous qualifications
Experience with quantitative methods in basin geology
Experience with geoscience modeling and process understanding, for instance in source-to-sink systems, depositional environments and deep-time paleoclimate studies
Experience with educational development/(field) teaching quality/ EDI in teaching and learning
Experience with Norwegian/Nordic education systems
Experience with supervising and supporting MSc students, especially with field-based research projects
Experience with securing external funding
Field leadership experience, ideally in polar environments
Active collaboration and access to national and international research collaborations
We offer
UNIS offers a challenging and varied job in an exciting, friendly, and international environment. As an employee, you become a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which provides one of the best retirement pension schemes on the market. We also offer excellent insurance arrangements, coverage of travel and relocation expenses upon starting the position for yourself and your family members moving with you, and subsidized housing in accordance with our current regulations.
The position is classified under the job code “førsteamanuensis” (Associate Professor, code 1011). The offered salary will depend on experience/seniority. In addition to base pay, UNIS provides an annual Svalbard allowance of, currently, NOK 44.640. A 2% contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. The current income tax rate in Svalbard is 8%, and a national insurance contribution of 7.6% is also deducted.
Required documentation
Required documentation
Cover letter explaining motivation and suitability for the position
Full academic CV (full list of publications and previously held grants)
Education and teaching certificates
Teaching portfolio, outlining a teaching and learning philosophy, teaching experience and own development in teaching and learning* see text about teaching experience and language requirements
Five-year research plan (max two pages) demonstrating how the research field and experience of the applicant can contribute to the strategy of the Department of Arctic Geology and UNIS’ Strategy 2030.
Name and contact details for three references
Applications lacking required documentation will not be considered.
Applications, including all required documentation, must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge.
When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results: if you have studied in Norway this must be retreived from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If you have studied in other countries, we ask you to upload certified copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.
How to apply
Inquiries about this position may be directed to:
Maria Jensen, Head of Arctic Geology via email: MariaJ@UNIS.no
Application deadline: 15.03.2026
Public disclosure:
It is possible to request that your name/application be exempt from public disclosure in accordance with Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act. Such a request must be justified. Please note that if the request is not granted, the applicant will be contacted and given the opportunity to withdraw the application.
Security policy cooperation:
UNIS prioritises applicants who are citizens of countries with a security policy cooperation with Norway. This mainly includes countries that are members of the EU/EEA or NATO. Employees holding citizenships from countries outside EU/EEA or NATO may encounter difficulties accessing the government infrastructure that UNIS relies on to hold our courses and perform research work.
Selection and appointment:
Qualified applicants will be assessed and ranked by an expert committee based on the requirements outlined above. An internal committee will evaluate and invite the top-ranking applicants to an interview as well as a trial lecture. Care will be taken to base the assessment not only on quantitative criteria (e.g., the number of publications and associated impact factors), but to weigh quantitative and qualitative aspects of the candidates’ profiles. The appointment board will make the final decision.
Diversity, equality, and inclusion
One of UNIS’s core values is inclusion. We are committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment in the High Arctic. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age or other characteristics.
