Job description

A full-time position as Associate professor in computational life science is available at the Department of Pharmacy, Section for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo.

The Department of Pharmacy seeks a dynamic and innovative researcher to become part of the BioNatH (Bioactive Natural products and Health effects) research group. BioNatH deals with the pharmaceutical field of pharmacognosy with focus on the isolation and structural elucidation of biologically active components derived from plants and mushrooms as these components may have potentials as new pharmaceuticals. The position will be allocated to the BioNatH research group and the applicant must possess a solid knowledge of pharmacy and life science.

The new researcher shall contribute to further development of the current research areas within pharmacognosy, but also in collaborations towards other disciplines at the Department of Pharmacy, e.g. medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics and microbiology. The successful candidate will have experience within one or more of the following research areas:

• Computational methods in life science research, such as molecular modeling towards biological targets using docking; identification and structural elucidation of natural products combining computational and spectroscopic methods; pharmacophore modelling; QSAR-studies; ligand-based and target-based virtual screening; homology modelling for the identification of biological targets; and the use of computational methods in metabolomic research.

The person appointed should be able to carry out research-based teaching within pharmacognosy, chemistry and biochemistry at bachelor, master and PhD-levels. Supervision of master and PhD students also applies. The successful candidate will be expected to attract extramural research funding. A teaching load of 50 % applies, including courses under the five-year pharmacy master program, and supervision of master and doctoral students. The person appointed can also be requested to undertake administrative duties.

The department will move into a new Life Science building in 2024, and computational life science is one of the thematic research areas to be developed in the new life science building. The successful applicant will contribute within convergence and interdisciplinary life science projects. In addition, the applicant will act as a contact person between the Department of Pharmacy and the Centre for Bioinformatics. At present, a number of core facilities are available including the UiO NMR Centre, MS-facilities and cell culture laboratory (BSL-2).

Qualification requirements

• The successful candidate must hold a PhD-degree within computational methods, molecular modeling, pharmacy, pharmacognosy or a nearby relevant research area (e.g. natural product chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology)
• It is required that the candidate can document scientific experience and qualifications within the research areas indicated above, and especially related to computational life science research
• It is an advantage with research experience using computational methods in pharmacognosy or natural product chemistry
• Teaching experience is an important factor in the evaluation of the candidates 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)-criteria:
  • Focus on the students’ learning
  • A definite development over time
  • A research attitude to teaching and learning
  • A collegial attitude and practice

• The candidate must be able to teach in Norwegian or in another Scandinavian language. Applicants who are not competent in Norwegian, Swedish or Danish must acquire such competence within two years subsequent to their appointment
• Collaborations within life science related to the areas indicated above is an advantage
• It is an advantage if the candidate can document a previous record of obtaining external research grants, and has experience from participation and coordination of research projects
• Documented experience in supervision of PhD and master students is an advantage

Personal requirements

• Ability to create an attractive, inclusive and competitive research environment
• Networking skills, ability to collaborate and conduct scientific leadership
• Ability to enthusiastically communicate complex scientific topics to students, colleagues and the general public

We offer

• Salary NOK 615 900 - 813 400 per year depending on qualifications in position as Associate Professor (position code 1011)
• A professionally stimulating working environment
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities
• The opportunity to apply for promotion to full professorship at a later stage

How to apply

The application must include:

• Cover letter (incl. statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest and how the candidate will contribute and strengthen the BioNatH research group)
• CV (complete list of education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience, project acquisition and coordination experience, a complete list of publications and other qualifying activities)
• Up to 10 selected scientific publications the applicant wishes to include in the evaluation
• A teaching portfolio describing the applicant's qualifications in view of the SoTL-criteria, see list of criteria in the text above. The teaching portfolio is expected to include:
  • Listing of teaching experience as well as work on developing/ revising/ renewing study plans and the design of courses
  • Documentation of teaching qualifications and supervision of Master and PhD students.
• A research plan describing the applicant’s scientific ambitions for the position
• PhD Diploma
• List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “Apply for this job”. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

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

Interviews will be used in the appointment process, and applicants may also be required to give a lecture of their research and a trial lecture on a topic relevant for a Bachelor level course in the pharmacy curriculum.

Formal regulations

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.

As a general rule an interview will be used in the appointment process, and it may be appropriate to require trial lectures. The basis for assessment will be the scholarly production of the applicant, other qualifications, pedagogical or educational, the applicant’s qualifications within leadership and administration as well as the general personal suitability. In ranking the competent applicants, the full range of qualifications will be considered and explicitly assessed. Cf. the Rules for appointments to associate professorships. For more information see:

https://www.uio.no/english/about/regulations/personnel/academic/rules-appointment-professor.html

Rules for the assessment and weighting of pedagogical competence for appointments to permanent academic posts which include teaching duties:

https://www.uio.no/english/about/regulations/personnel/academic/rules-basic-pedagogical-competence.html

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.

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

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

The University of Oslo has a goal of recruiting more women in academic positions. Women are encouraged to apply.

Contactinformation

• Head of Section Professor Trond Vidar Hansen, phone: +47 22857450, e-mail: t.v.hansen@farmasi.uio.no or
• Professor Helle Wangensteen, phone: +47 22856567, e-mail: helle.wangensteen@farmasi.uio.no

For technical questions regarding the recruitment system, please contact HR Adviser Therese Ringvold, e-mail: therese.ringvold@mn.uio.no

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