The position

A position as full time Professor/Associate Professor is available at the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences within the field of medicinal chemistry/bioanalytical chemistry.

The Department of Pharmacy consists of seven research groups: Cell signalling and Targeted Therapy, Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacoepidemiology (IPSUM), Computational Pharmacology, Drug Transport and Delivery, Infection Biology (InfBio), Microbial Pharmacology and Population Biology (MicroPop), and Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry. The Department has 32 permanent positions, and in addition there are a variable number of PhD students-, postdoctoral researchers, and part time positions. The department is responsible for educating bachelor- and master students in pharmacy, and teaching is given at bachelor-, master- and doctoral level. Additional information can be found at this link.

The workplace is at UiT campus Tromsø and the Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry research group. The candidate must be able to start in the position within 4 months after receiving the offer.

The position’s field of research and work

The position will contribute to strengthening the department's research and teaching in medicinal chemistry and bioanalytical chemistry and will play a key role in the further development of the long-term research activities of the Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry research group.

The research group

The Natural Product and Medicinal Chemistry research group currently consists of two Professors, one Associate Professor, two technicians-, researchers, and PhD students. The position will have teaching and supervision obligations corresponding to about 50 % of the position. The research group teaches courses in pharmaceutical chemistry, medicinal chemistry, natural products chemistry, and analytical chemistry at bachelor´s, master´s, and PhD level.

The main scientific disciplines of the research group are:

1. Medicinal Chemistry - bioactive compounds and hit-to-lead synthesis: Research projects in medicinal chemistry include synthesis and studies of bioactive peptides and peptidomimetics for lead-compound identification, structure activity-relationship studies and mode-of-action studies. Of special interest is development of lead-peptides and lead-peptidomimetics based on marine natural products with antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity, as well as cytotoxic activity against cancer. The group is member of CANS - Centre for New Antibacterial Strategies – A new strategic research initiative at UiT, which is an interdisciplinary collaboration between 130 researchers from different national and international research groups with focus on antimicrobial resistance. The research group has established modern infrastructure for automatic microwave assisted solid phase peptide synthesis and preparative HPLC for isolation and purification, as well as methods for quality control (LC-UV and LC-MS).

2. Bioanalytical chemistry - LC-MS based bioanalysis: The focus of the research group within bioanalytical chemistry is systems biology and LC-MS based -omics studies, including proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics, as well as targeted quantification of small molecules from biological samples. The research group has a specific focus on developing LC-MS based bioanalyses of clinical samples and other biological materials. The system biology-based analyses are tightly connected to clinical studies in close collaboration with health professionals at the University Hospital of North Norway (UNN). The research group has an active role in the Proteomics and Metabolomics Core Facility (PRiME) at UiT. The groups competence within proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics is also widely used in studies of marine organisms, especially with effects and nutritional value as focus points. The group has a well-developed interdisciplinary collaboration within this field.

The position will give an exciting possibility to work with a well-established research group and the candidate is expected to work within the groups specified scientific disciplines. The candidate is expected to contribute to secure additional funding through national or international grants and ensure additional long-term financing of the group’s activities. The group has a dedicated staff of technicians and good research infrastructure. As a core member of the Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry research group, the appointee will be expected to contribute to group activities in all its aspects, including development of research programmes, recruitment and supervision of master and PhD students, and public outreach activities essential for the profile of the group.

The candidate will also become an active participant in the team of department members responsible for teaching delivery on all levels, curriculum development and student supervision. In particular, the candidate will lead teaching of bachelor students in pharmaceutical organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry and contribute to teaching of master and PhD students on more advanced levels within topics given by the research group. The candidate is also expected to contribute to the development of the pharmacy curriculum in general.

Contact

Further information about the position is available by contacting:

• Associate Professor Terje Vasskog: e-mail: terje.vasskog@uit.no
• Professor Morten B. Strøm, e-mail: morten.strom@uit.no
• Head of Department / Professor Guro Forsdahl, e-mail: guro.forsdahl@uit.no.

For practical questions regarding employment at UiT, salary, UiT working conditions and policy, moving to Tromsø, accommodation / housing in Tromsø etc. please contact:

• Head of office Morten Boland Jørgensen, e-mail: morten.b.jorgensen@uit.no

Qualifications

The candidate must have:

• A master’s degree in pharmacy, and document research experience within fields such as pharmaceutical chemistry, medicinal chemistry, natural products chemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, or related scientific fields.
• A description of motivation and ideas for their research profile and how it would complement the Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry research group research activity.
• Relevant teaching experience to teach bachelor students in pharmaceutical organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry. The applicant must also be able to contribute with teaching/development of other courses at master’s and PhD level at the Department of Pharmacy.
• A good command of Norwegian or other Scandinavian languages since the teaching language is Norwegian. Any non-Norwegian speaking appointee is expected to manage Norwegian at a level equivalent to "Bergen test level 2B" and must be able to teach in Norwegian within two years after employment.

It will be considered advantageous if the candidate has:

• Good ability to independently initiate and lead research activities.
• Experience from teaching and supervision of bachelor, master and/or PhD students.
• Experience from international activities, dissemination and popularization of scientific results, as well as engagement in academic policy and administrative work.
• Good track record applying for external funding.
• Engagement in innovation activities.

At UiT we put emphasis on the quality, relevance and significance of the research work and not on where the work is published, in accordance with the principles of The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).

The assessment will emphasize motivation and personal suitability for the position. We want a well-motivated and dedicated employee, and therefore place great emphasis on the personal qualities of the successful applicant. The applicants must have good communication and collaboration skills, along with ambitions to contribute to the development of the scientific environment and teaching, and contribute to institutional and group specific responsibilities.

UiT wishes to increase the proportion of females in academic positions. In cases where two or more applicants are found to be approximately equally qualified, female applicants will be given priority.

Qualification requirements for the position as Professor:

• Academic level conforming to established international or national standards for position of Professor in the subject area concerned
• Documented pedagogical competence

In addition, you must document:

• Development of the quality of one's own teaching and supervision over time, and
• Broad supervision experience, preferably at master's/PhD level, and
• Participation in the development of educational quality in academic communities

To be awarded a professorship, you must document substantially more extensive research of high quality than that required to be awarded a doctorate degree. You must document academic activity at a high level over the previous six years, and that this points forwards towards continued activity at professorial level.

In addition, UiT assess applicants according to national guidelines for assessment of professorial competence, decided by Universities Norway (UHR), Disciplinary strategic unit: mathematics, natural sciences and technology (MNT). You can find the guidelines here.

Qualification requirements for the position as Associate Professor:

• Norwegian doctoral degree in subject area concerned or a corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognised as equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree, or competence at a corresponding level documented by academic work of the same scope and quality
• Documented pedagogical competence

The following documentation will be considered as important:

• Independent research after PhD
• Experience with applications for external research funding
• Completed stays abroad and national/international research networks.

Independent research after PhD can be documented with scientific publications without PhD-supervisors as co-authors.

Experience with application for external research funding means that the applicant can show independent application work but may not necessarily have obtained external funding. Evaluations that show application quality will be useful for assessing applicants' qualifications. Contributions to larger applications can also be considered if the contribution is documented.

International mobility will be assessed according to duration / number of stays and whether the stay has led to scientific publications and/or joint applications for external research funding.

Scientific cooperation, nationally and/or internationally, should be documented through joint publications and/or application work.

Pedagogical competence (basic pedagogical competence)

All applicants for teaching and research positions shall document their pedagogical competence.

The candidate must have acquired basic competence for teaching and supervision at higher education level. This includes basic skills in planning, conducting, evaluating and developing teaching and guidance.

Documentation requirement

a) Applicants who have completed education or courses designed to provide teaching competence for teaching at universities and colleges, equivalent to a minimum of 200 hours, must attach diploma and curriculum for the completed course.

b) Other applicants shall describe, assess and document their competence as a teacher and supervisor. The skills must be documented in the form of a teaching portfolio.

For Professor positions, experience with teaching and supervision in higher education corresponding to three years in a full-time position is required.

For Professor positions, the teaching competence can be developed and documented through a combination of courses and teaching portfolio.

Applicants for Professor positions shall also document that the supplementary criteria are satisfied:

• Description of and reflection over your work involving development of your teaching and supervision. This should be documented with specific examples that demonstrate development over time, as well as a description of and reflection over the process and result
• Description of experience with supervision at master's and PhD level. In addition to describing the scope of the supervision, you shall also summarize your supervision experience and point to possible development areas
• Description of and reflection over your own leadership, participation and role in development of the educational quality in the academic community

If the pedagogical competence can be acquired within two years of appointment, applicants shall not be ranked based on pedagogical competence.

Those who do not satisfy the requirements may be appointed on a permanent basis on the condition that they satisfy the requirements within two years of appointment.

For information about basic pedagogical competence and teaching portfolio, see this link (unfortunately only in Norwegian)

Interim appointment

If there are no fully qualified applicants for the position, an interim appointment to qualify scientifically may be made for a period of three years. Application for permanent employment with a new assessment shall be applied for within the three year-period. The appointment will become permanent if you are found to be suitably qualified before the three-year period elapses.

We offer

• Career opportunities: New department members are prioritized when assigning internal PhD-positions
• R&D sabbatical conditions which are considered some of the best in the country
• Good welfare arrangements for employees
• Good arrangements for pension, insurance and loans in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

Work- and salary conditions

The successful candidate must be willing to get involved in the ongoing development of their department and the university as a whole.

The allocation of working hours is flexible and allocated on a case-by-case basis. In general, Professor/Associate Professors will spend an equal amount of time on teaching and research and development work. As a norm, the time resources spent on administrative duties constitutes 5 % for academic staff.

The remuneration for Professor is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1013. The remuneration for Associate Professor is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1011. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted.

Inclusion and diversity

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is working actively to promote equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students, and to create an inclusive and safe working environment.

We believe that inclusion and diversity is a strength, and we want employees with different competencies, professional experience, life experience and perspectives.

If you have a disability, a gap in your CV or immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box for this in your application.

If there are qualified applicants, we invite least one in each group for an interview. If you get the position, we will adapt the working conditions if you need it.

Apart from selecting the right candidates, we will only use the information for anonymous statistics.

Application

The application must include:

• Cover letter including a short description of interests and reasons for applying for the position.
• A short written account of their visions of how they envisage implementing and developing teaching and guidance in medicinal chemistry and bioanalytical chemistry.
• CV containing a complete overview of experience, professional work and references
• Diplomas, diploma supplements and transcripts (all degrees, in original language and translated)
• Written references
• Two references with contact details
• Documented pedagogical competence
• A list of your academic production
• Description of your academic production, stating which works you consider most important
• Academic works (up to ten) you wish us to take into consideration in the assessment. The doctoral thesis is regarded as one work.
• Documentation of English proficiency.

Proficiency in the English language can be documented in the following ways:

• Diploma from a Norwegian upper secondary school with both spoken and written English (140 hours)
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
• IELTS (International English Testing Service)
• Completed university degree in the field of English language or literature
• One years completed university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or USA, for which English was the language of instructions.

Documentation has to be in English or a Scandinavian language. The application and submitted documents must be sent electronically via www.jobbnorge.no

Assessment

The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. The committee's mandate is to undertake an assessment of the applicants' qualifications on the basis of the written material presented by the applicants, and the detail description draw up for the position.

The applicants who are assessed as best qualified will be called to an interview. The interview shall among other things, aim to clarify the applicant’s personal suitability for the position and motivations. A trial lecture may also be held.

General information

The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.

More information about moving to Norway and working at UiT.

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

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